A318 sabotaged at DUS?

[flugholm]

The German TV station WDR reports the following:

Air-France-Airbus vor Start sabotiert? - Nachrichten - WDR.de (http://www.wdr.de/themen/kurzmeldungen/2009/06/16/magazin_air-france-airbus_sabotiert.jhtml)

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Air-France-Airbus vor Start sabotiert?
Das französische Magazin "Le Point" berichtet auf seiner Webseite von einer offensichtlichen Sabotage an einer Air- France-Maschine auf dem Düsseldorfer Flughafen. Die Anzeige des Airbus 318 habe Anfang Juni vor dem Start nach Paris den Ausfall eines Rauchmelders gemeldet. Nach der Landung stellten Mechaniker fest, dass die Kabel offenbar durchtrennt worden waren.
Air France erstattete Anzeige bei der französischen Luftfahrtpolizei. Die Ermittlungen müssten von der deutschen Polizei geführt werden, so "Le Point".
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My rough translation...:

Air France Airbus sabotaged before Take-Off?
On its web page the French magazine “Le Point” reports of an obvious sabotage to an Air France machine at Düsseldorf airport. In early June the indicators of an Airbus 318 reported the failure of a smoke detector before take-off to Paris. After the landing mechanics found that obviously wires had been cut.
Air France reported this to the French air police. Further investigations will have to be done by the German police, says “Le Point”.


Obviously a number of questions remain to be asked. Feel free to speculate (in true pprune style)! :}

[S.F.L.Y]

In a way keeping known unsafe equipments is not very different in terms of consequences. Are they gonna fill another police report?

[flugholm]

And here's the original Le Point article:

INFO LE POINT : L'autre mystère qui inquiète Air France, actualité Société : Le Point (http://www.lepoint.fr/actualites-societe/2009-06-16/info-le-point-l-autre-mystere-qui-inquiete-air-france/920/0/353065)

[deltayankee]

And here's the original Le Point article:

For those who speak French the reader comments to this article are also interesting.

[Interflug]

Ramp guys have disabled smoke detectors in the hold before to smoke a cigarette out of sight of their bosses. Newsworthy?

[Evanelpus]

Ramp guys have disabled smoke detectors in the hold before to smoke a cigarette out of sight of their bosses. Newsworthy?

Damn straight it's newsworthy. Anyone irresponsible enough to do this, especially if it's on turnround with fuel on board, needs to be hauled over the coals.

[jetopa]

I find this disturbing. Not that I mistrust anyone whom I don't know, but I am wary about others approaching my airplane, fumbling with the refuelling panel or the nose gear pins. I do not like surprises (only pleasant ones).

This sort of disrespect towards other's property and willful tampering with technical equipment can be regarded as unlawful interference and will surely be examined by the police, I hope.

[glhcarl]

Obviously a number of questions remain to be asked. Feel free to speculate (in true pprune style)!

The first question is what "smoke detector" was failed? A quick review of the A318 MMEL shows that operation is allowed with some "smoke detectors" inoperative, however, most require some action before dispatch.

The artical states that the problem was noted before take off and the suspected sabotage was found after landing. Why was the sabotage not found before takeoff? You would think there should have been a least mininal mantenance action to correct the fault, prior to dispatch per MMEL?

[ChristiaanJ]

For those who read French the reader comments to this article are also interesting.PPRuNe could have been proud of the amount of rubbish spouted over there....

That said, the issue as such is not all that funny.

CJ

[the_stranger]

@glhcarl (http://www.pprune.org/members/129122-glhcarl)

I do not know of Af has technical assistance at DUS, but if we have a techincal problem, but are to depart with that item unservicable, we just fill in the books and leave the problem to be fixed at home base.

So depending whatever the books say about flying with a smoke detector inop, it could well be that they did find it to be inop at say startup or so, but could fly home and there they found te reason for it to be inop.

[Double Zero]

It's the bit about ' cut wires ' which grabs my attention; I somehow doubt even the keenest smoker is going to do that...

[yasir8095]

Even if it was a ramp guy keen to smoke, someone desperate enough to sabotage an aircraft for a stupid cigarette has no right to be near any airplane.. This has to be taken as seriously as a terror threat.... both can bring down a plane.
just my 2p

[ArthurBorges]

It doesn't say much you folks haven't already mentioned:

-The sabotaged detector was in the baggage hold.
-Detector malfunction was detected shortly before take-off.
-The malfunction was classed at Level 2 and did not require aborting the flight.
-The mechanics at CDG were surprised to see the two bundles of wires had been cut.
-Air France reported it to the Air Transport Gendarmerie (national police under the defence ministry, like the Gendarmerie Nationale which investigates a far broader range of criminal activity).
-That police started an investigation for "vandalism" on June 9.
-The tool used was the legendary box cutter or variant thereof (see outil cutter : photo et image de outil cutter (http://www.francetop.net/images/outil+cutter_31210.htm) for a neat one that folds safely inside a trouser pocket).
-The criminal had runway access and knew about aircraft.
-The investigation was turned over to the Germans.

That's 'bout it.
-

[CargoMatatu]

Wow! It took a whole 12 posts for someone to bring up terrorist action! :ugh:

[spannerless]

It won't be the first or last time someone will tamper with things like this.

Passengers, crew and maintenance/cleaning staff have all been guilty of doing things like this in the past it's up to the on going crews to be vigilant.

I have taken people to task personally myself whilst in the cabin, petrol forecourt, doctors surgery, hospital you are never thanked obviously for you vigilance but hey all you can do is keep on trying!

(Dark Suit feeling – U can pee innit have a nice warm feeling but no one will ever notice!)
:E

[HAWK21M]

Wires cut & not frayed is a sign of sabotage.
access to that smoke detector will be to staff members.Hopefully they catch the scum responsible for this.
regds
MEL.