Emergency as jet overshoots runway (From Darlington and Stockton Times)
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Plane was about to take off from Durham Tees Valley when it was hit by a bird
8:00am Friday 10th August 2012 in News
By Vicki Henderson, Darlington reporter
AIR DRAMA: A Cobham Aviation Services Dassault Falcon 20. Picture: Robert Smith
EMERGENCY services were scrambled after a plane overshot the end of the runway at one of the region’s airports after it was hit by a bird.
The pilot and two crew on the Dassault Falcon 20 business jet escaped unharmed from the incident at Durham Tees Valley Airport, near Darlington, which happened at about 11am yesterday.
The plane, which can seat up to 14 people, was up to full speed on the tarmac and was about to lift off when the bird hit, causing the pilot to abort the procedure.
It overran the runway by about 100ft, coming to rest on a grassed area.
Police and fire services rushed to the scene after receiving a full-alert call, but were stood down shortly afterwards when it was found not to be serious.
An investigation has been launched by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch and the Civil Aviation Authority.
A spokesman for Cobham Aviation Services, which operates the plane from a base at the airport, said: “An aircraft operated by Cobham Aviation Services was involved in an incident at Durham Tees Valley Airport today.
“A bird strike was reported, resulting in an aborted takeoff and the aircraft over-ran the end of the runway.
“The three crew on board were uninjured and the aircraft has sustained some damage.
“Cobham Aviation Services has launched an internal investigation into the incident and are fully co-operating with the airport and with the Air Accident Investigation Branch, which will also conduct an investigation.”
Bird strikes are a frequent cause of air accidents and are particularly dangerous if the bird is sucked into a jet’s engine.
A spokesman for Durham Tees Valley said the airport continued to operate as normal.
Inspector Neil Bickford, of Darlington police, said: “Just before the moment of take-off, a bird flew into the plane so the captain decided to abort the take-off, but it was travelling at quite some speed.
“It went across the gravel at the end of the runway and came to rest on a grassed area about 100ft beyond the end of the runway.”
Comments(3)
doonhamer
says...
12:26am Sun 12 Aug 12
Tim1966Uk
says...
10:00am Sun 12 Aug 12
doonhamer wrote:Firstly, your comments about a bird strike are just ludicrous, and secondly, the comment about getting home safely was a light hearted conclusion to a serious point about the airpor not operating 'as normal.' the alternative is obviously not getting home safely because there has been an accident, such as a bird strike. It seems either you are unable to see beyond the literal or I have been drawn into responding to a poor piece of trolling!
What a load of rubbish. The plane was not hit by a bird as you incorrectly report, the plane HIT the bird, therefore pilot error, he should be done for flying without due care and attention (hee, hee). Get your facts right hinny before you spout such garbage. As for the previous comment, what is the alternative if a plane doesn't get you home safely ?????
Tim1966Uk says...
10:20am Fri 10 Aug 12