Interesting. Has anybody got more info. Per article management has imposed a blackout on the incident and its causes.
http://new.globes.co.il/serveen/glob...706898&fid=942
El Al Boeing 777 grounded after door ripped off
A steward opened the door as the aircraft taxied before take-off.
Dror Marom 17 Jul 03 17:32
Sources inform “Globes” that an El Al steward caused a serious safety incident and severe damage to the airline’s new Boeing 777 plane earlier this week. El Al (TASE
LAL) management has imposed a blackout on the incident and its causes.
The steward opened the plane’s door during the taxi prior to taking off from Ben Gurion Airport. The door hit a truck carrying the boarding stairs, which apparently had not moved far enough away from the plane, ripping the door of the fuselage. The captain was forced to abort the take-off.
The plane was grounded for three days for repairs and testing for airworthiness. El Al had to order a new door from Boeing (NYSE:BA). In addition to the direct cost of the damage, indirect costs to El Al include the grounding of the plane at the height of the tourist season.
El Al CEO Amos Shapiro said in response, “The plane’s door hit the boarding stairs and was ripped off. We did not report the incident, since safety was unaffected and there was no risk to the passengers. We don’t like such incidents that affect our flight schedule.”
El Al has set up an team to investigate the incident and report its findings to the CEO.
Published by Globes [online] -
www.globes.co.il - on July 17, 2003