Emergency slide unit falls of Thomas Cook flight!

[Alderney]

Thomas Cook MT1638, B757 G-JMAB, apparently en route Gatwick-Hurghada has been circling slowly over East Sussex at around 5000 ft with its gear down for about half an hour now. I hope all is well.

Update; Seems to have got as far as overhead Liege, Belgium before returning to UK, circling for about 90 minutes and landing back at Gatwick around 1115 local.

[alastairh]

I understand a TC B757-3CQ lost an overwing emergency slide unit over the Langton Green area of Tunbridge Wells this morning, en route to Hurghada. It then returned to LGW.

The section is apparently 4m by 1m and police are looking for it.

[Charley B]

It looks like the part fell off on the way back into LGW..it didnt go anywhere near there on the way out looking at the map onFR24

[pc.]

Watched this flight on FR24 holding for ages just off Hastings, this morning.

The Argus article on TCX1638 CLICK HERE (http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/11572911.Thomas_Cook_flight_returns_to_Gatwick_after_parts_o f_the_plane_fall_to_the_ground_over_Sussex/)

What I heard on the approach conversation.

"Said he anticipated a normal landing to 126.825.then when he went onto 118.950 he told app that cabin crew had just said a piece of the aircraft had just fallen off which was poss his problem!!..it looked like a piece of the wing flaps was missing as they went down the approach.and twr confirmed that a piece was missing by the overwing exits as well??"

What may have happened was a noise or airframe vibration alerted the pilot to a problem, resulting in turning around over Belgium.
No emergency Squawk but needing to go into the Hold to burn off fuel.
Then on approach with the speed changes and flap configuration the item was disturbed and fell away.
Just a thought, anyhow I shall look out for this in an up and coming AAIB report.
Glad they landed safely and that no one on the ground was hurt, as I think we would have heard something by now.

[Alderney]

More info here.
It seems they became aware of the problem on the way out, and the problem fell off on the way back.
Mystery item seen falling over Langton Green in Tunbridge Wells identified as emergency slide from Thomas Cook flight (http://www.kentonline.co.uk/tunbridge-wells/news/mystery-item-falls-from-aircraft-26224/)

[Passenger 9]

From the Daily Mail.
A passenger jet was today forced to return to Gatwick Airport part-way through its flight to Egypt after a part plunged to the ground.
Thomas Cook Flight TCX1638 left the West Sussex airport at 9am with 237 passengers on board but had to turn back a short amount of time into its flight to Hurghada.
The emergency slide unit is believed to have fallen from the plane near the Kent and East Sussex border, but it was not until the jet was over Belgium that the fault was reported.

Well that's different.

[Harry O]

Police still looking for it using a helicopter.
Mystery item seen falling over Langton Green in Tunbridge Wells identified as emergency slide from Thomas Cook flight (http://www.kentonline.co.uk/tunbridge-wells/news/mystery-item-falls-from-aircraft-26224/)

[Lord Spandex Masher]

Anyone know which type keeps the slides on the outside?

[vs69]

A321. For a start...

[vs69]

And 319/320 offwing slides.

[DaveReidUK]

In this case, a 757-300.

[Passenger 9]

Passengers inside - Escape systems outside.
Well why not. Wouldn't want them inflating inside.
"Tommy, I told you not to pull on that lever."

[vs69]

Them too then Davereiduk! Cheers!

[Lord Spandex Masher]

So, it turns out I don't know everything. :suspect:

[Basil]

Passengers inside - Escape systems outside.
News to me and I flew them. Memory must be going :confused:

Ah, overwing - sorry, missed that bit :O

[vs69]

LSM you'll never fit in round here with that approach!

[rog747]

the 300 series has 4 o/w exits as well as door 3L/R

the o/w exits have a slide pack in each wing which inflates once the hatches are opened

this is what fell off

here you are http://daniel.safety.cards.pagesperso-orange.fr/imagescartes/condor_b757_300.jpg

[Passenger 9]

Thank you.
Located in the wing. Didn't know that.
How is it deployed from the wing - by a gas or pyrotechnic charge ?
Thanks.

[bleeke]

Can anyone explain how this can happen?

[Capt. Inop]

Do you have a link to the incident?

[dsc810]

Thomas Cook plane forced to return to Gatwick after escape slide fell off | Daily Mail Online (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2816032/Plane-forced-return-Gatwick-escape-slide-fell-off.html)

[Passenger 9]

Thomas Cook plane forced to return to Gatwick after escape slide fell off | Daily Mail Online (http://dailym.ai/1sR6gVn)

[Shytehawk]

I find it unbelievable that someone would quote a Daily Mail article in relation to an aviation event.

[DaveReidUK]

I find it unbelievable that someone would quote a Daily Mail article in relation to an aviation event.While that's a fair comment to make in general, ironically this particular article does appear to be 100% factual, with a minimum of histrionics by DM standards.

The comments accompanying the article, on the other hand, are fairly typical of the Mail's readership.

[MMCMME]

Link to article on Avherald:

Incident: Thomas Cook B753 near London on Oct 31st 2014, dropped over wing slide (http://avherald.com/h?article=47c98ac8&opt=0)

[On_The_Top_Bunk]

BBC News - Thomas Cook plane returns to Gatwick as part falls off (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-29853260)

[PositiveClimbGearUp]

I take it this hasn't been found yet? Shall we check our back gardens?

[DaveReidUK]

I take it this hasn't been found yet? Shall we check our back gardens?http://www.courier.co.uk/images/localworld/ugc-images/276434/Article/images/23958942/7687630-large.jpg

Emergency slide found in Langton Green tree after objects fall from plane | Kent and Sussex Courier (http://www.courier.co.uk/Emergency-slide-Langton-Green-tree-objects-fall/story-23958942-detail/story.html)