In-flight toxic fume cases rise
02.12.07
Toxic fumes are increasingly being pumped into aircraft cabins during flights, putting the health of passengers and pilots at risk and raising the chances of an airline disaster, the Telegraph reports. Scientists estimate that 200,000 passengers a year are exposed to air contaminated with fuel vapours. Campaigners fear that such vapours could cause pilots to make deadly mistakes.
The newspaper says that figures released by the Department for Transport (DfT) show that 109 flights were polluted with contaminated air in 2006 - a rise on the previous year's total of 78. This year is on course for a record number of cases after 72 were recorded in the first six months. However, there are fears that the true figures may be higher, as crews are often reluctant to report incidents for fear of management reprisals.
The aircraft with the worst record is the Boeing 757, the transatlantic workhorse, which suffered 43 cases. But the BAe 146, of which fewer exist, was involved in 17 incidents, the second highest number. Flybe airline, which flies BAe 146s from Birmingham to Belfast City Airport and has suffered a number of fuming incidents on the route, has announced it is phasing out the aircraft by early next year as part of a fleet rationalisation plan.
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