Freak accident at Aberdeen airport delays 50 passengers
08.10.05
More than 50 passengers were delayed overnight at Aberdeen Airport after their aircraft was damaged in a freak accident shortly before take-off. The drama happened when a support vehicle tangled with the propeller of a British Airways aircraft, causing all 57 passengers to be evacuated. Last night, the passengers were put up in Aberdeen airport hotels after the plane was taken out of action and the flight cancelled.
The BA4148 City Express 20:39 flight, bound for Manchester airport, was understood to have been getting a 'jump start' from a mobile Automated Power Unit when the accident happened. A cable leading from the vehicle tangled in the propellers and caused 'severe damage' to both the ground vehicle and the plane.
A BA spokesman stressed no-one was hurt in the incident, and added that an investigation would take place. He said: 'There is a connection from the vehicle which goes into the aircraft and starts it. The connection from that vehicle got caught up in the propeller just before they were about to go.'
'It was shortly before take-off - passengers have been put up in hotels. It certainly will be investigated by BA, and potentially, if it's serious enough, it might go beyond BA.'
A spokesman for Aberdeen Airport admitted that there was no chance that passengers would be able to make their journey any earlier than this morning. ' BA will be making desperate efforts to get another aircraft to take these people to Manchester, but it won't be tonight, he said.
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