1279shp
29th Mar 2005, 06:42
It's "nose wheel" came off?! Last time I did a walk around the ATR had two!
Tuesday, 29 March 2005
Scary moments for plane passengers
Mount Cook Airlines says passengers were not in any danger, after a wheel fell off one of its planes in Christchurch.
Sixty six passengers were on the ATR 72-500 en route for Palmerston North yesterday, when its nose wheel fell off while taxiing to the runway.
Passengers report hearing a loud noise and then some saw a wheel go flying past the windows.
Lynette from Palmerston North, says the incident had an immediate impact on her and her fellow passengers, with the cabin suddenly falling silent.
She says if it had happened minutes later as they were hurtling down the runway, she is sure they would have crashed.
Mount Cook Airlines general manager, Peter O'Regan, says the accident occurred just a short distance from the terminal and none of the passengers was in any danger.
He says the wheel fell off after the axle in the nose landing gear snapped, but a second nose wheel remained attached which allowed the plane to taxi back to the terminal.
Mr O'Regan says the incident is being investigated by the airline and the Civil Aviation Authority.
Tuesday, 29 March 2005
Scary moments for plane passengers
Mount Cook Airlines says passengers were not in any danger, after a wheel fell off one of its planes in Christchurch.
Sixty six passengers were on the ATR 72-500 en route for Palmerston North yesterday, when its nose wheel fell off while taxiing to the runway.
Passengers report hearing a loud noise and then some saw a wheel go flying past the windows.
Lynette from Palmerston North, says the incident had an immediate impact on her and her fellow passengers, with the cabin suddenly falling silent.
She says if it had happened minutes later as they were hurtling down the runway, she is sure they would have crashed.
Mount Cook Airlines general manager, Peter O'Regan, says the accident occurred just a short distance from the terminal and none of the passengers was in any danger.
He says the wheel fell off after the axle in the nose landing gear snapped, but a second nose wheel remained attached which allowed the plane to taxi back to the terminal.
Mr O'Regan says the incident is being investigated by the airline and the Civil Aviation Authority.