st7860
19th Sep 2008, 05:39
Two planes damaged in contact on YVR runway (http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html?id=d609040a-8571-40cb-802f-9273c06704e6)
More than 300 passengers got close and personal when their airplanes collided at the Vancouver International Airport Thursday afternoon.
An Air Canada Airbus A340 carrying 285 passengers enroute to Hong Kong clipped the tail end of an Air Canada Jazz Dash 8 airplane as it was taxiing down the runway at about 2:30 p.m.
Air Canada spokesperson Angela Mah said both airplanes received minor damage and were being looked at by maintenance.
"We are investigating this incident. It's too early to judge any impact to the aircraft. Our maintenance teams are evaluating the aircraft now as we speak," said Mah.
Air Canada is investigating the collision.
Preliminary reports say the wing of the Airbus clipped the Jazz aircraft as it was turning down the runway.
The Jazz, which was carrying 41 people enroute to Castlegar, was on the runway waiting for clearance to take off.
Bill Yearwood, the Transportation Safety Board regional manager for British Columbia, said it wasn't the first time planes have touched on a Vancouver International Airport runway.
"It doesn't happen very often but it has happened before," said Yearwood, adding he couldn't recall the details on the past similar occurrence.
Yearwood said the TSB will be collecting information and monitoring what Air Canada decides to do to prevent future incidents.
The Castlegar passengers were redeparted Thursday afternoon. Another Air Canada Airbus was being prepared to depart with the Hong Kong-bound passengers Thursday evening.
E-mail reporter Katie Mercer at [email protected]
More than 300 passengers got close and personal when their airplanes collided at the Vancouver International Airport Thursday afternoon.
An Air Canada Airbus A340 carrying 285 passengers enroute to Hong Kong clipped the tail end of an Air Canada Jazz Dash 8 airplane as it was taxiing down the runway at about 2:30 p.m.
Air Canada spokesperson Angela Mah said both airplanes received minor damage and were being looked at by maintenance.
"We are investigating this incident. It's too early to judge any impact to the aircraft. Our maintenance teams are evaluating the aircraft now as we speak," said Mah.
Air Canada is investigating the collision.
Preliminary reports say the wing of the Airbus clipped the Jazz aircraft as it was turning down the runway.
The Jazz, which was carrying 41 people enroute to Castlegar, was on the runway waiting for clearance to take off.
Bill Yearwood, the Transportation Safety Board regional manager for British Columbia, said it wasn't the first time planes have touched on a Vancouver International Airport runway.
"It doesn't happen very often but it has happened before," said Yearwood, adding he couldn't recall the details on the past similar occurrence.
Yearwood said the TSB will be collecting information and monitoring what Air Canada decides to do to prevent future incidents.
The Castlegar passengers were redeparted Thursday afternoon. Another Air Canada Airbus was being prepared to depart with the Hong Kong-bound passengers Thursday evening.
E-mail reporter Katie Mercer at [email protected]