Rotting fruit forces jet to make emergency landing

[Bre901]

The Beeb (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3761781.stm)

"Last Updated: Sunday, 30 May, 2004, 11:41 GMT 12:41 UK

Gassy fruit forces airline alert

BA is still investigating the cause of the fire alert
A jet carrying 308 passengers was forced to make an emergency landing in Ireland on Sunday, after fruit fumes set off its fire alarm system.

The British Airways Boeing 747 en route from Miami to London Heathrow landed at Shannon Airport, after a warning light indicated there was a fire in the hold.

An airport spokeswoman said a closer examination found that rotting fruit was giving off unusual fumes.

British Airways says it was still investigating the cause of the alert.

A spokeswoman for the airline said flight BA206 landed safely at 0854BST, approximately two-and-a-half hours after its scheduled arrival time.

'No fire'

She said the plane had made a standard diversion into Shannon Airport after a fire alert indication light illuminated, setting off fire extinguishers in the hold.


A full technical assessment was undertaken by engineers and the aircraft was declared safe and serviceable to fly onto Heathrow

British Airways spokeswoman

"There was no fire on board the aircraft. The aircraft landed safely and the passengers and crew disembarked normally.

"A full technical assessment was undertaken by engineers and the aircraft was declared safe and serviceable to fly onto Heathrow," she said.

The airline has apologised to the passengers concerned but said: "Safety, as ever, is of paramount importance."

Shannon Airport said the cargo of fruit had been unloaded and was awaiting collection"

[rotornut]

The airline has apologised to the passengers concerned ... and gave them each a banana.

[airship]

A budget-airline spokesman declined to comment on reports that their catering contractors had purchased the afore-mentioned cargo at a giveaway price. Another low-cost airline official who preferred to remain anonymous proferred: "If it was good enough to be shipped air-freight halfway around the world, some of it will probably find its way into dessert over the next few days. The rest of it may well end up at the local zoo. All things being equal...!" :}

[DistantRumble]

RTE now reporting it has continued on its journey.

it only takes one rotten apple...

[411A]

This same sort of 'incident' has happened so many times before, have lost count.

WAKE UP airlines, you accept the cargo, you are responsible....period.

Good grief...some never ever learn...:mad: :uhoh: :uhoh:

[brakedwell]

It could have been worse folks. Many years ago, enroute from Nairobi to Gatwick with 40 tonnes of pineapples, we tech stopped in Cairo and went AOG. When the spare part arrived the following afternoon the F/E went to the airport to fit it. He entered the DC 8 through the front pax door and was confronted with a line of smoking pallets. Had it been a couple of hours later the load would have self ignited and destroyed the airplane. It took months before the stickiness left the inside of that DC8.

[Notso Fantastic]

From what I understand, the problem with large loads of fruit or vegetables in the holds is that of moisture and condensation on the fire detectors from thie large release of moisture. I don't understand how large loads of pineapples can spontaneously ignite- fruits are mainly liquids and thus subject to considerable evaporation. It is condensation on the faces of the fire detectors that causes the fire warnings. It is a well documented phenomenon that has happened before. I remember one of our Classics did an emergency landing in the Azores in a gale force storm, well recorded in a video- full evacuation, crew running around checking all pax- perfectly done!

[CR2]

Not the first time this has happened. I'd say it was pretty much as Notso has described.