Fires lit on Etihad flight
this thread may not be around for long
Despite this incident making headline news around Australia (First item on Fairfax websites this morning) and in the international press the ONLY discussion going on within Pprune is here.
There was a thread on R&N but it vanished pretty quickly.
The reason for this may be found on the Middle East forum, posted by mods on 22 March 2012:
Etihad discussion prohibited
PPRuNe will no longer allow discussions regarding Etihad Airlines, its employees, executives, agents, or other representatives. Such threads will be deleted.
So now you know.
There was a thread on R&N but it vanished pretty quickly.
The reason for this may be found on the Middle East forum, posted by mods on 22 March 2012:
Etihad discussion prohibited
PPRuNe will no longer allow discussions regarding Etihad Airlines, its employees, executives, agents, or other representatives. Such threads will be deleted.
So now you know.
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L Plater said:
Per CNN:
Etihad flight diverted by reported bathroom arsonist - CNN.com
Perhaps the flight was not full and the culprit also playing musical chairs?
While the Sydney Morning Herald reports that a female passenger is a suspect, Foote said that two men "of Middle Eastern origin" seemed to be the subjects of investigation and were detained by police upon arrival in Abu Dhabi.
"One of the guys had a very nervous demeanor and intermittently changed seats throughout the flight from directly in front of me to another vacant seat with his travel companion," said Foote.
"During the first flight, when he entered the bathroom about seven staff members were congregated around the area, two of whom held fire extinguishers."
"One of the guys had a very nervous demeanor and intermittently changed seats throughout the flight from directly in front of me to another vacant seat with his travel companion," said Foote.
"During the first flight, when he entered the bathroom about seven staff members were congregated around the area, two of whom held fire extinguishers."
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From the Etihad Website
Why Etihad is the World's Leading Airline*
You’ll notice the Etihad Airways difference from the moment your journey begins. Whichever of our three guest travel classes you choose - Diamond First, Pearl Business or Coral Economy - you’ll find new levels of comfort and luxury when you travel with us.
Explore our onboard experience, our coach and limousine transfers, and our lounges in this interactive tour.
*World Travel Awards in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.
You’ll notice the Etihad Airways difference from the moment your journey begins. Whichever of our three guest travel classes you choose - Diamond First, Pearl Business or Coral Economy - you’ll find new levels of comfort and luxury when you travel with us.
Explore our onboard experience, our coach and limousine transfers, and our lounges in this interactive tour.
*World Travel Awards in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.
According to Wikipedia, Etihad comes from the Arabic word for 'Union'. More Union bashing....?
First hand interview with a passenger on ABC radio 774 this evening
Passenger states
There were FOUR fires.
Two fires before landing at Jakarta and two after.
After the fourth fire the cabin crew manned doors so no breakfast was served.
At this point pilot explained why there would be no breakfast.
A women was suspected of lighting the fourth fire as smoke seen as she exited the loo.
The fires were in different parts of the cabin.
A "fire alarm" alerted the passenger that something was amiss.
Cabin crew were described as fantastic.
They disembarked and were screened at Jakarta but it was not well co-ordinated
Several people were separated on landing in Abu Dhabi.
Some passengers were very frightened.
Cabin crew used water bottles in the fire fight.
re the number of fires, there may have been four incidences and five fires.
Another passenger reported on ABC says crew said one of the fires had potential to bring the plane down had it not been let to run another 90 seconds.
Mickjoebill
Passenger states
There were FOUR fires.
Two fires before landing at Jakarta and two after.
After the fourth fire the cabin crew manned doors so no breakfast was served.
At this point pilot explained why there would be no breakfast.
A women was suspected of lighting the fourth fire as smoke seen as she exited the loo.
The fires were in different parts of the cabin.
A "fire alarm" alerted the passenger that something was amiss.
Cabin crew were described as fantastic.
They disembarked and were screened at Jakarta but it was not well co-ordinated
Several people were separated on landing in Abu Dhabi.
Some passengers were very frightened.
Cabin crew used water bottles in the fire fight.
re the number of fires, there may have been four incidences and five fires.
Another passenger reported on ABC says crew said one of the fires had potential to bring the plane down had it not been let to run another 90 seconds.
Mickjoebill
Last edited by mickjoebill; 20th Feb 2014 at 06:13.
Thread Starter
It would be interesting to know where the aircraft was when the second bout of fires became apparent. Should they have diverted to the nearest suitable airport rather than continue to destination if AUH was not the nearest suitable? And when I say 'suitable', i do not mean the most convenient for the operator.
Why would you rub sticks together when you can happily carry a bic lighter through security in Melbourne. I'd guess that every tenth passenger has one in their pocket.
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Reports are that it was a passenger smoking, that caused the fires. I was under the impression that all toilets were fitted with smoke alarms that detected cigarette smoke? - or do the smoke alarms only activate with heavy levels of smoke?
Regardless, I would have thought that identifying and separating any passenger who was carrying cigarettes, then grilling them, would have produced the culprit. Perhaps cigarettes should be added to the non-flyable list?
Regardless, I would have thought that identifying and separating any passenger who was carrying cigarettes, then grilling them, would have produced the culprit. Perhaps cigarettes should be added to the non-flyable list?
short flights long nights
One fire from a smoker I can believe, maybe even two, but four....?? I think that's a stretch.
If they were motivated by the T word, its hard to imagine that they did not come better prepared.
Their persistence points to a nutter or an extremist.
If multiple fires lit then rule out a lone nutter…
Mickjoebill
Their persistence points to a nutter or an extremist.
If multiple fires lit then rule out a lone nutter…
Mickjoebill
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From CNN just now :
Suspects
While the Sydney Morning Herald reports that a female passenger is a suspect, Foote said that two men "of Middle Eastern origin" seemed to be the subjects of investigation and were detained by police upon arrival in Abu Dhabi.
"One of the guys had a very nervous demeanor and intermittently changed seats throughout the flight from directly in front of me to another vacant seat with his travel companion," said Foote.
"During the first flight, when he entered the bathroom about seven staff members were congregated around the area, two of whom held fire extinguishers."
Etihad flight diverted by reported bathroom arsonist - CNN.com
Suspects
While the Sydney Morning Herald reports that a female passenger is a suspect, Foote said that two men "of Middle Eastern origin" seemed to be the subjects of investigation and were detained by police upon arrival in Abu Dhabi.
"One of the guys had a very nervous demeanor and intermittently changed seats throughout the flight from directly in front of me to another vacant seat with his travel companion," said Foote.
"During the first flight, when he entered the bathroom about seven staff members were congregated around the area, two of whom held fire extinguishers."
Etihad flight diverted by reported bathroom arsonist - CNN.com
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SOPS - You've never seen a desperate heavy smoker on a long-haul flight, have you?
They'll do anything to get their fix on a regular basis.
The smokes were probably extinguished in the lavatory drawer, because the smoker thought they'd go out, without a problem, there - not realising the wax coatings burn as well as any tissue.
They'll do anything to get their fix on a regular basis.
The smokes were probably extinguished in the lavatory drawer, because the smoker thought they'd go out, without a problem, there - not realising the wax coatings burn as well as any tissue.
Saudi DC-10?
Actually, Saudia never operated DC-10's in their fleet. A few showed up later for special purposes.
The flight mentioned was a regularly scheduled Riyadh-Jeddah leg on a Tristar-200.
All 301 souls perished.
The flight mentioned was a regularly scheduled Riyadh-Jeddah leg on a Tristar-200.
All 301 souls perished.
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OneTrack
"You've never seen a desperate heavy smoker on a long-haul flight, have you?
They'll do anything to get their fix on a regular basis."
You mean a heavy smoker who hasn't done anything to help themselves
from needing a fix of actual smoking a cigarette ?
And far easier today than even 5 years ago.
"You've never seen a desperate heavy smoker on a long-haul flight, have you?
They'll do anything to get their fix on a regular basis."
You mean a heavy smoker who hasn't done anything to help themselves
from needing a fix of actual smoking a cigarette ?
And far easier today than even 5 years ago.
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There is no way that it was a clueless smoker that ignited all of these fires. Given that you are in a lavatory, there is water available -- so it is very easy to fully extinguish a cigarette. Just snub it in some water in the basin. Fully out.
Maybe a clueless smoker could have started fire #1 by tossing a lit fag into the trash bin. But after that, the smoker would have made sure to fully extinguish the cigarette, so would not have started fires 2-4.
Maybe a clueless smoker could have started fire #1 by tossing a lit fag into the trash bin. But after that, the smoker would have made sure to fully extinguish the cigarette, so would not have started fires 2-4.