Review Of BHD Demanded After Light Aircraft Crash In East Belfast

[mr Q]

Ex-ministers call for planes freeze after crash-land

The British government is under pressure today to limit the amount of planes flying in and out of Belfast City Airport after residents in a nearby housing estate had a narrow escape during a light aircraft crash.
By:Press Association

Two former devolved ministers Peter Robinson and Sir Reg Empey called for a freeze on the number of planes using the airport after a pilot, believed to be from the Isle of Man, was forced to crash land in playing fields close to houses in east Belfast.

Air accident investigators are trying today to establish reports that the plane burst into flames shortly before plummeting into Inverary playing fields at around 5.50pm yesterday.

The light aircraft nosedived into playing fields sandwiched between the Inverary housing estate, a railway line and the Sydneham Bypass which carries traffic into Belfast.

The pilot was treated for burns in Belfast`s Royal Victoria Hospital, where he was described as critically ill.

Noel Mulholland, who was in his back garden at the time of the crash, described how residents from the Inverary estate came to the rescue of the pilot after he kicked himself out of the burning plane.

"All we heard was a screech and a sound like metal running along followed by a large whoosh,"

"There was a huge ball of black smoke and we discovered through the flames that there was someone rolling around the ground on fire.

"We had to get him out of there and we got him up and away from the aircraft."

Mr Mulholland said children would have normally been playing in the fields at the time.

"Luckily there were no children there. We had to seal off the area to keep children away from all the explosions," he said.

"We had to wait for about six to seven minutes for the emergency services to arrive.

"In his own words, he said, `I am a lucky guy to get out of that`. He had burns and we had to keep him moving," Mr Mulholland said.

Democratic Unionist MP Mr Robinson and Ulster Unionist Assembly member Sir Reg claimed residents had also had a lucky escape.

"What this incident does highlight is concerns of people in the area about what could happen with much larger planes going in and out of the City Airport," Mr Robinson, the Regional Development Minister during devolution, said.

"Attention needs to be paid to the flight path that planes take going in and out of the airport because if this had been a larger plane, a commercial carrier, there would be utter devastation in the Inverary estate.

"There have been several bids from the airport for later flights in and out of Belfast City and more planes to be allowed into the area.

"There are planning limits on the number of passengers but there are also critical issues of safety, noise levels and the environment for the many flats and houses near the airport."

Former Stormont Economy Minister Sir Reg called for a separate government inquiry into the incident.
"The lesson out of all of this is what could have happened," he said.

"The nearest houses are about a hundred yards away from where this crash took place and there would have been kids normally playing in that park.

"I am calling for an inquiry, not just by the Civil Aviation Authority which has to take place, but by the minister (for regional development) who I would like to launch a review of safety in the City Airport area."

"One shudders to think what would have happened if an A321 airbus had come down in this area. Maybe this will be a wake-up call which I hope the authorities will heed."

[Richard Taylor]

But surely most airports around the UK,especially those older ones,have housing nearby?

If their criteria is followed,does that mean most of the other airports nearby have to be "reviewed".

How convenient would it be to shut BHD & divert everything to BFS?

My own airport has lots of housing that aircraft fly over on approach from the south,right down to Bankhead,which I would guess is only a mile from the threshold,if that.

Dundee on one of the approaches has lots of football pitches that you fly over before you land.I've seen lots of football matches being played there,you can almost kick the ball up to the planes!

And what about London City,right in the centre,in Canary Wharf.

Sounds like the pilot did a brilliant job in landing where he did.

I hope he recovers,reports said his condition was critical,last time I looked.

[WHBM]

All good wishes to the pilot involved for recovery.

Presumably every time there is a road accident on their patch as well (and Northern Ireland has an accident rate well above the UK average, in no small part due to the way the politician's extreme supporters on both sides tie up so much police time) the politicians involved here will call for the road in question to be reviewed for closure.

[luoto]

Of course flights involving politicians and their retinue would NATURALLY be acceptable and safe, unless they contained intelligence assets that they might want to lose, affecting the innocent crew in the process.

I really do think (but understand why it happens) that if VIPs had the same inconvenience as the rest of us (let Bush circle in a holding pattern for an hour or Blair sit on a train that was not specially blocked off for his PR stunts etc) things might suddenly improve beyond belief.

[Standard Noise]

These leeches (Empey, Robinson et al) have been whinging for years about the City airport. This incident, which if memory serves, is a very rare one in Belfast, has just given the leeches the chance to open their gobs and spit bile towards what is a successfully run business which manages to employ hundreds of local people.
With the closure of H&W and the instability at Shorts (Bombardier), you'd think they would be glad to have a decently sized employer bringing wealth to the area. Since the end of the troubles, these people have had nothing better to do and instead of actually doing some good, they just want to bang on about the first thing that comes to mind.

Funny though, when it comes to getting to London where they purport to earn their crust at Westminster, you don't see them rushing off up to Aldergrove to fly with Easyjet to Luton, do you?
Oh god no, they use the taxpayers' hard earned cash to fly business class with British Midland. Oh, and for those of you not in the know, BMI fly to Heathrow from, you guessed it, Belfast City!

[Jerricho]

I can think of another "City" airport in very close proximity to quite a few more buildings..........hence such a steep glide path :rolleyes:

[ALLMCC]

How convenient to blame BHD for this simply because it was the point of departure - if the a/c had gone down mid channel then presumably BHD would still have been responsible.

I wonder what would be the reaction (apart from rejoicing at BFS)if BHD announced tomorrow that they were closing. Who would be first in the queue battering down the doors at Ferrovials' HQ in Madrid demanding to know why 600 people are losing their jobs - of course, you guessed it, Messrs Empey, Robinson et al! Talk about blowing with the wind!

[MarkD]

Same thing happened at Toronto City Centre (CYTZ) when a light plane ditched in the lake - oh god the horror. Pilot, pax and puppy picked up by the boat, no fatals.

Around the same time a light plane crashed on approach near IBM's Markham campus. If it impacted the building quite a few souls could have been imperilled, not least a mate of mine. Did we hear the same cries of dread about Pearson, Buttonville and Downsview? We did not.

Jesus H. Christ guys! Hong Kong spent millions taking an airport and sticking it on an island. Any airport where the approaches are all or partly over water are going to be safer for all but the fish.

[Irish Steve]

OK, on the basis that is being proposed here, almost all the larger airfields across the world should be closed tomorrow, starting with London Heathrow!!!! A regular read of the threads here on this forum should be all the evidence that's needed, there's incidents every day somewhere or another.

There's just not a smiley to convey the disgust I feel about the insanity of the reaction from people that should know a lot better

I've been living in Ireland for close on 20 years, and this is the first incident I can recall that's happened close to Harbour.

Maybe it's time for some of the politicians to start being treated with a little less kid gloves, and made to live in the real world.

So, here's my suggestions for some reality checks.

Immediately cease all traffic clearing escorts. If they need an escort for security reasons, provide one, but it's not allowed to cheat, or jump traffic lights, or use bus lanes etc.

Immediately cease all VIP routes for politicians at airports and other areas. They're not that important.

Prohibit their drivers from using bus lanes and the like.

Check in at airports for politicians should be through exactly the same channels as the rest of the world uses. They should also be made to deal with their luggage etc.

Maybe then they'd learn to appreciate just how much contempt most of us view them with, as they'd actually have to mix with the people they supposedly represent.

The knee jerk response to what is most clearly a serious accident is totally inappropriate.

I don't recall the same politicians going into massive levels of lather about Kegworth, but that was a flight that was heading for Ireland, and it most definitely had much more serious consequences.

Equally, I don't recall the same politicians calling for the total suspension of RAF Helicopter flights after the appalling accident on the Mull of Kintyre, and that too had appalling consequences for many people.

I don't see anything like the same levels of vitriol being heaped at motorists, who are responsible for massive carnage on a daily basis. and from personal experience both sides of the border, Northern Irish driving standards when here in the south are appalling, mainly because they know that they can "get away" with most things while south of the border because it's not easy to get them into court. Things like speed limits and double white lines just don't enter into the equation for many of them, and the results are only too clear, the number of fatalities in the Meath Louth divisions, which cover the main routes from the North, are way higher than in any other area of the country.

I could go on, but i think the point is clear.

I just hope that maybe in a few weeks time, the completely inappropriate response of some of these politicians will come home to haunt them at the ballot boxes, because regrettably, that is probably a lot closer to the truth than most people will recognise, the response we've seen to a possibly tragic accident, (I've not heard a recent update on the pilot, he was listed as critical yesterday evening on the news) is mainly and offensively to me electioneering at it's most inappropriate levels.:yuk: :yuk:

[jabird]

I would like to propose that all politicians are sent on a compulsory educational trip to St Martin, Saba & St Barts. Any idiotic aviation related comment made by any candidate would result in an instant expulsion onto this trip.

Then they can come back and lecture us about all those "dangerous" and "noisy" airports in the UK with too many people living near them, or who's runways aren't long enough etc.

Now there would obviously be one big problem with the above, apart from the boredom it would inflict on the locals.

So I think we'd need a few conditions attached:

1) They must wear UK business attire at all times throughout the trip. Overcoats included.
2) No return permitted until May 6th.
3) Compulsory inflight reading would include a list of all road accident investigations in the UK for the last 10 years, details of causes of mortality from local hospitals, and a full breakdown of the relative noise emmissions of all commercial aircraft.
4) No free booze in the hotel or onboard.
5) Partipants to be locked in hotel rooms if they do not finish part (3) before landing.
5) Participants would be required to write out the line "Concorde is 100 times noiser than a Q400" 400 times.
6) Failure to comply with any of the terms of the agreement would ensure that condition (2) was honoured with a stay in Guantanamo Bay at Mr Bush's pleasure.

[mr Q]

"PRAYERS FOR AIR CRASH VICTIMTHE wife of a businessman left critically ill following a plane crash says his family are praying for him.
Property developer Mike Osborne, of Silverburn Farm, Ballasalla, was due to undergo surgery at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, as the Examiner went to press.

His wife Hazel and son Ashley are by his side. She said staff at the hospital have been fabulous and everyone is hoping and praying for her husband's recovery.

The dad-of-one suffered severe burns when the twin-engined Beech Duchess he was flying came down in a playing field moments after taking off from Belfast City Airport just before 6pm on Sunday.

He pulled himself from the burning wreckage and was taken to hospital, where he is described as 'critically ill'.

Close friend David Creane said Mr Osborne had suffered severe injuries, but felt confident he would recover.

Speaking on Monday he said: 'It looks like they intend to operate on him today, which is a very good sign.

'What happened, apparently, is a fire broke out in the aircraft and the only thing he could do while he was being burnt was land the plane. He is severely burnt.

'The good news is he is they say he is strong enough to withstand an operation today to try and alleviate his condition,' added Mr Creane, chairman of estate agent Cowley Groves.

'He is a very, very, very strong man. I have just a spent a week skiing with him in France and there is nothing this man can't do. He is one of the most energetic men I know.

'He is an exceptionally generous man, a wonderful guy and I feel a lot more comfortable that it is looking likely he will pull through.

'He is an amazing man.'

Mr Osborne runs Castletown-based Mike Osborne Properties. His firm has been behind several major development projects, including the refurbishment of the old town hall and former St Mary's Church in Castletown.

He is also known as a keen and experienced pilot.

It is understood Mr Osborne was returning to the Island after dropping a family friend off in Belfast.

An Air Accident Investigation Branch probe has been launched and three-strong team is travelling to Belfast. A spokesman refused to speculate on the cause of the crash.

The accident happened near a densely-populated area of east Belfast.

Noel Mulholland watched the accident from his home in Inverary Avenue.

'I heard a loud crack and a screech and then saw a huge black ball of smoke,' he said. 'I think the plane exploded on impact but there were further explosions after and flares going off.

'There were a lot of flames it was like an inferno and the centrepiece was yellow. I ran over and could just see the tail of the plane.

'I saw someone had kicked himself out and was rolling about on fire,' Mr Mulholland added.

'I could see he was quite badly burnt so I tried to keep him conscious and my wife phoned the emergency services.

'He told me he knew he was lucky to have got out of the plane alive.'
11 April 2005
We pray and hope for his recovery and our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this critical time.

[eastern wiseguy]

PRAYERS FOR AIR CRASH VICTIM THE wife of a businessman left critically ill following a plane crash says his family are praying for him.


This is the important part of the episode....not the pathetic nonsense you lot are involving yourselves in.The whys and wherefores of the opening up or not of the Harbour will be left to the courts and government.

Jabird ...grow up ...

Allmcc ....join Jabird

Irish Steve ...a light aircraft fell into the lough a few years ago....so this incident is not unique.

Regards

EW

[ALLMCC]

Hm.. wondered when the BFS brigade would show their hand - if you take the trouble to read the posts FULLY you would see the point everyone is trying to make is that, once again, BHD has been subjected to pathetic attempts to make it a scapegoat simply because it's an easy target. Valid points have been made about the issues our politicians love get their teeth into and the important ones they choose to ignore simply because they're too much like hard work - one can only but wonder if the accident had happened in a built up area such as Antrim or Crumlin, would there have been such an outcry or would BFS have been blamed? - I think not.

Not one of the posts on this thread has trivialised or ignored the tragic circumstances of the incident so I suggest you might like to grow up! (And please do try to use BHD's correct name!)

[eastern wiseguy]

Allmcc...all I am going to say is that when there is someone seriously ill in hospital this is neither the time nor place for your pathetic "spotteresque" point scoring diatribes.The main thing...if you read MY post is just that.The issue will be debated and solved...but not here and not by you ..nor I.

Best wishes to the guys in the Tower...not nice to be involved with that.

Regards

Bear

[ALLMCC]

Beware the force has spoken......... BE AFRAID, BE VERY AFRAID!!

Heaven forbid that anyone else should have an opinion!

[Buc Driver]

As a resident of east belfast, i have always feared an aircraft from the city crashing. I think it is now time to close the city airport.

[Richard Taylor]

:rolleyes:

I'm always fearful that a helicopter will crash onto my house on approach to ABZ.

I think its high time ABZ was closed.


:hmm:

In fact,lets ban all aviation while we're at it.

You could be as likely to be hit & killed by a bus as you are by a plane.In fact more so...perhaps its cars,buses,etc that should be banned.

If the last post was a wind-up,then I've bitten!

[ALLMCC]

Nice one, Richard - in fact, BUC DRIVER'S solution is so simplistic, don't know why nobody thought of it before!

[Buc Driver]

Sorry guys just a bit of fun:ok:

But on a serious note a man has been badly injured, its him we should be thinking of.

[mr Q]

BROTHER'S BRAVE BATTLE FOR LIFETHE Ballasalla man critically injured in a plane crash on Sunday is battling to survive, according to his brother.

Property developer Mike Osborne suffered severe burns when the Beech Duchess he was piloting crashed into playing fields just after take-off from Belfast City Airport.

Eye-witnesses have revealed how Mr Osborne, who was alone in the plane, fought to divert the aircraft away from houses and traffic.

After the crash he managed to fight his way free from the burning wreckage of the twin-engined plane and was rushed to the Royal Victoria Hospital.

Mr Osborne, of Silverburn Farm, is in a 'critical, but stable condition' in the intensive therapy unit. His wife Hazel and son Ashley are by his side.

His brother James, of Ballaugh, has just returned to the Island after spending time at the hospital.

'He is improving quite well, although he is still critical, but stable' he said. 'He is a very strong person and I think, although I cannot verbalise with him, he's trying very hard to survive.

'I really felt we were communicating with him, although he was sedated, and got a feeling he is very determined to beat this.'

Crash investigators are still trying to establish what happened.

Mr Osborne said it is not clear whether the aircraft was on fire before it hit the ground or burst into flames afterwards.

'It is all a little bit of guesswork,' he said. 'Obviously he had severe problems with his engines and his first thought would have been to find a place to put the plane down. The first thing he would have looked for is a clear piece of ground.

'We don't know if he had the fire on the way down if it started on the ground. He lost precious seconds because he couldn't get out, he had to kick a window out and that meant crucial seconds were lost.'

The first people on the scene have revealed how the injured pilot spoke to them and asked for his wife to be contacted.

Mr Osborne added: 'He was apparently very coherent and was talking all the time. That just shows his strength.'

The accident happened as the plane returned to the Island after a family friend had been dropped off in Belfast.

Witnesses have recalled the pilot's attempts to divert the plane away from homes and roads as he tried to land the stricken aircraft.

While residents said it was a miracle no children were playing in the park at the time of the crash, others said the pilot had battled to avoid hitting homes and cars.

Eye-witness Claire Geddis was in her car when the drama unfolded.

'It was actually coming down onto the by-pass, towards myself and about seven other cars,' she said.

'We would have all been dead, but he obviously shunted the plane up slightly so it went over the trees into the field.

'He took his life into his own hands rather than crash onto the road.'

Ellen Rowley, one of the first on the scene, said the badly injured pilot was in shock, but had asked for his wife to be contacted.

'He said he had tried to put the plane down before it crashed.'
14 April 2005
(IOM NEWS)

[eastern wiseguy]

Has anyone heard how the pilot is getting on? On the mend I hope!:-))

[BFS/BHD]

He's apparently on the mend.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=642690