Irish fans refuse to board Helios plane in Cyprus
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Irish fans refuse to board Helios plane in Cyprus
From http://www.rte.ie/news/2005/1010/cyprus.html
A group of Irish football fans in Cyprus are reported to be refusing to board an aircraft to bring them back to Dublin.
A fan in Larnaca, Mark Warnock, told RTÉ News that their flight home with Helios Airways yesterday was delayed due to a problem with the aircraft's air conditioning.
Mr Warnock said the plane eventually took off but was forced to return to Larnaca and make an emergency landing.
A Helios aircraft recently crashed near Athens - initial investigations suggested that the air conditioning was to blame.
A group of Irish football fans in Cyprus are reported to be refusing to board an aircraft to bring them back to Dublin.
A fan in Larnaca, Mark Warnock, told RTÉ News that their flight home with Helios Airways yesterday was delayed due to a problem with the aircraft's air conditioning.
Mr Warnock said the plane eventually took off but was forced to return to Larnaca and make an emergency landing.
A Helios aircraft recently crashed near Athens - initial investigations suggested that the air conditioning was to blame.
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Interview with one of the stuck passengers on the 1 o'clock news - he said that the plane was miles from the terminal when they first went to board, lots of flies about (don't know if he meant inside or outside), plane was followed down runway by four fire engines, and about 20 mins into flight they were forced to return. He mentioned that just before the 'return announcement' people had starting fainting and vomiting. They're now stuck in Cyprus and refusing to re-board. Scarey stuff, if true 
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From Reuters 1 hour ago......Aircraft now grounded......Lets see what Boeing have to say on this.
NICOSIA (Reuters) - Aviation authorities in Cyprus said on Monday they had grounded a Boeing aircraft run by budget carrier Helios Airways after the plane carrying British tourists had to turn back twice with technical problems.
The aborted flights to London and Glasgow on Friday and Sunday highlighted increased sensitivity over airline safety on the island since a Helios Boeing 737 crashed into a hillside north of Athens on Aug 14, killing all 121 people on board.
Helios said the Boeing 737-800 would not be put back in service until Boeing engineers had verified that the problem would not recur.
However, the Transport Ministry said it would carry out its own checks which would also cover practices in Helios's engineering department.
"We are grounding the aircraft in question after these recent forced landings," said Transport Minster Haris Thrassou.
NICOSIA (Reuters) - Aviation authorities in Cyprus said on Monday they had grounded a Boeing aircraft run by budget carrier Helios Airways after the plane carrying British tourists had to turn back twice with technical problems.
The aborted flights to London and Glasgow on Friday and Sunday highlighted increased sensitivity over airline safety on the island since a Helios Boeing 737 crashed into a hillside north of Athens on Aug 14, killing all 121 people on board.
Helios said the Boeing 737-800 would not be put back in service until Boeing engineers had verified that the problem would not recur.
However, the Transport Ministry said it would carry out its own checks which would also cover practices in Helios's engineering department.
"We are grounding the aircraft in question after these recent forced landings," said Transport Minster Haris Thrassou.
Get a grip boys!
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Things aren't that sensitive on the island. Well not as far as Pafos anyway.
Down there last week and after the usual slot missed because no sign of any passengers - "it's not our fault, the planes all come at the same time".
We were cleared to start number 2, but had to refuse. Cleared again. Refused again. Bloke now getting angry starts shouting up at us so we open the window and tell him he needs to close the cargo door first! So if they are getting sensitive they certainly aren't getting conscientious.
Down there last week and after the usual slot missed because no sign of any passengers - "it's not our fault, the planes all come at the same time".
We were cleared to start number 2, but had to refuse. Cleared again. Refused again. Bloke now getting angry starts shouting up at us so we open the window and tell him he needs to close the cargo door first! So if they are getting sensitive they certainly aren't getting conscientious.
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Turkey's no different. Open cargo door is no impediment for flight, or so the ground staff seem to think. Today.
And as for Greek and Turkish ATC. Every communication is delivered in a tone and noise level which would suggest an emergency.
Always a pleasure to visit these parts of the world. Beautiful places, friendly people, but aviation-wise, a truly mixed bag of talents. (PC)
And as for Greek and Turkish ATC. Every communication is delivered in a tone and noise level which would suggest an emergency.
Always a pleasure to visit these parts of the world. Beautiful places, friendly people, but aviation-wise, a truly mixed bag of talents. (PC)
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I have pasted the article below from today's Cyprus Mail on both this thread, as well as on the Cypriot crash thread. There seem to be conflicting reports between passengers on the plane and the Helios management team with regard to the passengers physical discomforts. Would like to know which scenario is true.
From the Cyprus Mail:
Commenting yesterday Communications and Works Minister, Haris Thrasou, said: “We are especially concerned with the latest incidents of forced landings related to Helios, especially bearing in mind the small number of aircraft the company has.”
Speaking after an extraordinary meeting with the Civil Aviation Department, Thrasou said a decision had been taken to ground the plane.
He said Civil Aviation engineers had worked with their Boeing counterparts and that not only ground checks but also an in-flight inspection were carried out.
“Also stricter checks will be carried out on Helios engineering department to make sure all the requirements are being met,” said Thrasou.
He said the government was currently waiting from the vice president of the European Commission to submit specific criteria as agreed at recent meetings of transport ministers in Luxembourg in relation to an airline black list.
“This will be a single list for all EU countries and will be drawn up with transparency, with objective criteria and without discrimination,” he said.
“From the moment a company does not meet the criteria it goes on the black list.”
Thrasou said Helios had given the government explanations relating to the two latest incidents and that the Greek team investigating the Helios crash in Greece on August 14, in which 121 people died, would be investigating them.
“The Greek team is investigating the cause of the incidents and Civil Aviation is investigating the procedures followed,” he said.
Helios said yesterday the aircraft in question had been thoroughly checked after Friday’s incident, involving 139 passengers, and that it had made two flights to the UK on Saturday without any problem.
Friday’s problem was a possible malfunction in one of the plane’s air systems, the company said. “Cabin pressure was normal. No emergency was declared and no priority clearance was needed,” a statement said.
During Sunday’s incident instruments again indicated a malfunction in one of the air systems. “Despite some claims in the media the aeroplane’s cabin air and temperature system operated perfectly normally throughout,” Helios said. “A different but related problem was identified and the parts replaced.”
After yesterday’s test flight, the Boeing took off for Dublin, and another plane was being chartered to carry out Sunday’s Glasgow flight, the airline said.
“Safety remains our first priority. Our company always operated and will continue to operate within the safety regulations as set out by the European Aviation Safety Agency and in Cyprus under the Civil Aviation,” Helios said.
It said the Department had recently audited its operational departments with positive results. The audit included flight checks, which were performed by specialists from the UK civil aviation authority. The company fully satisfied the flight safety regulations of the DCA, it said.
“While these incidents are extremely unfortunate and we apologise sincerely to our customers for the disruption of their travel plan, at no time in either event was there any risk to them or our crews. The captain’s decision to return to Larnaca was entirely a precautionary measure and took into account not only the safety of our customers but also our ability to manage the situation with the minimum of disruption.”
After the August 14 crash of the Helios Boeing 737-300, the airline sent its two remaining 737-800s to Sweden for complete checks. Both aircraft were given the all clear by Boeing.
Reports from Larnaca airport yesterday said at least one Irish family of four refused to travel home with Helios and booked with another airline. A Helios spokesman said however that he has not heard of any cancellations as a result of Sunday’s incident.
Socialist EDEK yesterday called for the grounding of the entire Helios fleet given the accident in August and subsequent incidents. However President Tassos Papadopoulos said such a move was a legal minefield.
Opposition DISY called for an independent investigation into the August crash, saying that the two recent incidents made it even more imperative.
“These show the existence of a broader problem which calls into question the system of controls on air safety of Cypriot aircraft,” the party said. “We have to look at the infrastructure, safety systems of Helios itself and also at civil aviation checks. Delays in conducting these checks carries the risk of tampering with the evidence.”
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Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2005
From the Cyprus Mail:
Commenting yesterday Communications and Works Minister, Haris Thrasou, said: “We are especially concerned with the latest incidents of forced landings related to Helios, especially bearing in mind the small number of aircraft the company has.”
Speaking after an extraordinary meeting with the Civil Aviation Department, Thrasou said a decision had been taken to ground the plane.
He said Civil Aviation engineers had worked with their Boeing counterparts and that not only ground checks but also an in-flight inspection were carried out.
“Also stricter checks will be carried out on Helios engineering department to make sure all the requirements are being met,” said Thrasou.
He said the government was currently waiting from the vice president of the European Commission to submit specific criteria as agreed at recent meetings of transport ministers in Luxembourg in relation to an airline black list.
“This will be a single list for all EU countries and will be drawn up with transparency, with objective criteria and without discrimination,” he said.
“From the moment a company does not meet the criteria it goes on the black list.”
Thrasou said Helios had given the government explanations relating to the two latest incidents and that the Greek team investigating the Helios crash in Greece on August 14, in which 121 people died, would be investigating them.
“The Greek team is investigating the cause of the incidents and Civil Aviation is investigating the procedures followed,” he said.
Helios said yesterday the aircraft in question had been thoroughly checked after Friday’s incident, involving 139 passengers, and that it had made two flights to the UK on Saturday without any problem.
Friday’s problem was a possible malfunction in one of the plane’s air systems, the company said. “Cabin pressure was normal. No emergency was declared and no priority clearance was needed,” a statement said.
During Sunday’s incident instruments again indicated a malfunction in one of the air systems. “Despite some claims in the media the aeroplane’s cabin air and temperature system operated perfectly normally throughout,” Helios said. “A different but related problem was identified and the parts replaced.”
After yesterday’s test flight, the Boeing took off for Dublin, and another plane was being chartered to carry out Sunday’s Glasgow flight, the airline said.
“Safety remains our first priority. Our company always operated and will continue to operate within the safety regulations as set out by the European Aviation Safety Agency and in Cyprus under the Civil Aviation,” Helios said.
It said the Department had recently audited its operational departments with positive results. The audit included flight checks, which were performed by specialists from the UK civil aviation authority. The company fully satisfied the flight safety regulations of the DCA, it said.
“While these incidents are extremely unfortunate and we apologise sincerely to our customers for the disruption of their travel plan, at no time in either event was there any risk to them or our crews. The captain’s decision to return to Larnaca was entirely a precautionary measure and took into account not only the safety of our customers but also our ability to manage the situation with the minimum of disruption.”
After the August 14 crash of the Helios Boeing 737-300, the airline sent its two remaining 737-800s to Sweden for complete checks. Both aircraft were given the all clear by Boeing.
Reports from Larnaca airport yesterday said at least one Irish family of four refused to travel home with Helios and booked with another airline. A Helios spokesman said however that he has not heard of any cancellations as a result of Sunday’s incident.
Socialist EDEK yesterday called for the grounding of the entire Helios fleet given the accident in August and subsequent incidents. However President Tassos Papadopoulos said such a move was a legal minefield.
Opposition DISY called for an independent investigation into the August crash, saying that the two recent incidents made it even more imperative.
“These show the existence of a broader problem which calls into question the system of controls on air safety of Cypriot aircraft,” the party said. “We have to look at the infrastructure, safety systems of Helios itself and also at civil aviation checks. Delays in conducting these checks carries the risk of tampering with the evidence.”
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Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2005
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If the report linked below is correct, the majority of these passengers are still in Cyprus. Looks like they're going to be left to make their own way back, if they don't accept this flight.
http://home.eircom.net/content/irela...view=Eircomnet
http://home.eircom.net/content/irela...view=Eircomnet
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It was a simple bleed trip off. The flight could have continued but they elected to return. No emergency or vomiting or fainting or fire trucks involved. Strange that the media fail to mention that one Cyprus Airways and two Eurocypria aircraft are AOG in different parts of Europe at the same time. Please try and not take anything seriously that eminates from the Cypriot media or for that matter the Irish football fans. On the inbound flight several of the fans thought it was funny to say they had a bomb in their carry on luggage. They were bollocked by the Garda and the flight got airborne for Larnaca several hours late.
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slipperysid
sadly if the Guards (or more likely Airport Peelers since it's DUB?) had hauled them in front of a judge they would have gotten no more than a slapped wrist so why should they bother?
sadly if the Guards (or more likely Airport Peelers since it's DUB?) had hauled them in front of a judge they would have gotten no more than a slapped wrist so why should they bother?
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I would hate to work for any airline in the UK/Europe, simply because of the idiotic football fans and their childish behaviour. I've seen it on that "Airline" show over here in Australia and just wouldn't be able to stand it. I admire anyone who wants a F/A job where they have to deal with that!
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OZ, I especially liked those that tried trhe excuse when pis$ed "But the airport sold me beer, it's their fault". Right. 
So if this thing is a Boeing problem, how come we're not hearing about it happening to other airlines then?
So if this thing is a Boeing problem, how come we're not hearing about it happening to other airlines then?
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To be quite honest, I saw a Helios plane at the gate in DUB last week and I shuddered. Nothing on this God's green earth would persuade me on to a Helios plane at this moment in time, and this is coming from someone who normally has no issue flying!
