oxide
7th Mar 2005, 08:39
Was wondering if anyone had any news on this still mystery incident with Oman Air and it's B738?
Here's the whole article:
Food poisoning ruled out in Oman Air flight recall incident
By A Staff Reporter
MUSCAT — Oman Air has ruled out food poisoning as the cause of a reported illness on board a scheduled Muscat-Salalah flight last week, that forced the return of the jet in mid-flight back to Seeb International Airport. In a statement issued here yesterday, the airline said laboratory analysis of food samples by both Oman Air and healthcare authorities had discounted bacterial poisoning as the likely cause. Ground checks of the aircraft, a Boeing 737-800 jet, had also failed to unearth anything untoward or abnormal.
According to Oman Air, the incident took place on its flight WY505 operating from Muscat to Salalah last Wednesday. Soon after take-off, the cabin crew reported to the cockpit crew that the cabin of the aircraft was colder than normal. The cockpit crew adjusted the temperature control to warmer temperature. Subsequently, the Senior Flight Superviser informed the Captain that two cabin crew were feeling sick. After a few minutes, the senior flight supervisor reported back to the captain that all the cabin crew were now feeling sick, as well as some passengers who were sitting on rows 29 and 31.
By this time it was 30 minutes into the flight and the aircraft had just passed Izki. The captain contacted the operations control at Oman Air and it was decided to return to Muscat since it was the closest airport at the time in order to provide medical attention to the affected passengers at the quickest possible time.
Additionally, for operational safety, it was necessary to replace the sick cabin crew. Finally, should an aircraft change be necessary, it would have been easier to do so at Muscat rather than at Salalah, said the airline in its statement. Consequently, the captain informed the air traffic control that they were returning to Seeb International Airport. Upon arrival, passengers and cabin crew were taken for medical examination, food and drinks samples were taken to the Ministry of Health and Oman Air Catering laboratories. The remaining food on the aircraft was offloaded.
Reporting its findings, Oman Air said: “The medical examination of passengers and cabin crew established that there was no evidence of any food poisoning. “The laboratory analysis carried by Oman Air revealed on Saturday the results of the food sample tests to be satisfactory. The Directorate-General of Health Affairs issued its report on Monday confirming that no food poisoning bacteria were found from any of the food samples.”
The statement further added: “Ground checks carried out by Oman Air’s engineers on aircraft pressurisation and air-conditioning systems did not detect any abnormality or abnormal smell. The aircraft subsequently was cleared for further flights.” Based on these findings and other data, the national carrier ruled out the possibility for the reported sickness to be from food poisoning.
Further, it downloaded the Digital Flight Data Recorder readout and sent it to the aircraft manufacturer, Boeing, for further analysis. “The safety of customers is the highest priority in Oman Air,” the airline stated. “The decision to return to Muscat was taken with this consideration. Oman Air regrets the discomfort and inconvenience experienced by their valuable customers. Oman Air also regrets the delay in publishing this report, which could not be issued prior to receiving the official clearance from the Ministry of Health.”
Link: http://www.omanobserver.com/
Here's the whole article:
Food poisoning ruled out in Oman Air flight recall incident
By A Staff Reporter
MUSCAT — Oman Air has ruled out food poisoning as the cause of a reported illness on board a scheduled Muscat-Salalah flight last week, that forced the return of the jet in mid-flight back to Seeb International Airport. In a statement issued here yesterday, the airline said laboratory analysis of food samples by both Oman Air and healthcare authorities had discounted bacterial poisoning as the likely cause. Ground checks of the aircraft, a Boeing 737-800 jet, had also failed to unearth anything untoward or abnormal.
According to Oman Air, the incident took place on its flight WY505 operating from Muscat to Salalah last Wednesday. Soon after take-off, the cabin crew reported to the cockpit crew that the cabin of the aircraft was colder than normal. The cockpit crew adjusted the temperature control to warmer temperature. Subsequently, the Senior Flight Superviser informed the Captain that two cabin crew were feeling sick. After a few minutes, the senior flight supervisor reported back to the captain that all the cabin crew were now feeling sick, as well as some passengers who were sitting on rows 29 and 31.
By this time it was 30 minutes into the flight and the aircraft had just passed Izki. The captain contacted the operations control at Oman Air and it was decided to return to Muscat since it was the closest airport at the time in order to provide medical attention to the affected passengers at the quickest possible time.
Additionally, for operational safety, it was necessary to replace the sick cabin crew. Finally, should an aircraft change be necessary, it would have been easier to do so at Muscat rather than at Salalah, said the airline in its statement. Consequently, the captain informed the air traffic control that they were returning to Seeb International Airport. Upon arrival, passengers and cabin crew were taken for medical examination, food and drinks samples were taken to the Ministry of Health and Oman Air Catering laboratories. The remaining food on the aircraft was offloaded.
Reporting its findings, Oman Air said: “The medical examination of passengers and cabin crew established that there was no evidence of any food poisoning. “The laboratory analysis carried by Oman Air revealed on Saturday the results of the food sample tests to be satisfactory. The Directorate-General of Health Affairs issued its report on Monday confirming that no food poisoning bacteria were found from any of the food samples.”
The statement further added: “Ground checks carried out by Oman Air’s engineers on aircraft pressurisation and air-conditioning systems did not detect any abnormality or abnormal smell. The aircraft subsequently was cleared for further flights.” Based on these findings and other data, the national carrier ruled out the possibility for the reported sickness to be from food poisoning.
Further, it downloaded the Digital Flight Data Recorder readout and sent it to the aircraft manufacturer, Boeing, for further analysis. “The safety of customers is the highest priority in Oman Air,” the airline stated. “The decision to return to Muscat was taken with this consideration. Oman Air regrets the discomfort and inconvenience experienced by their valuable customers. Oman Air also regrets the delay in publishing this report, which could not be issued prior to receiving the official clearance from the Ministry of Health.”
Link: http://www.omanobserver.com/