KLM evacuation at MAN
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: The Burrow, N53:48:02 W1:48:57, The Tin Tent - EGBS, EGBO
Posts: 2,297
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
KLM evacuation at MAN
BBC Radio 4 news 0800 approx: KLM aircraft enroute from Manchester to Amsterdam evacuated because of smoke in aircraft. A couple of passengers have minor injuries from using slides. No further info. Hope everyone IS OK.
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Manchester
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Seems an electrical fault caused smoke in one of the toilets.
Aircraft evacuated on a taxiway at MAN, 5 pax suffered minor
injuries going down the slides just after 0515 Z.
Good job done by crew and ground crew by all accounts.
Aircraft evacuated on a taxiway at MAN, 5 pax suffered minor
injuries going down the slides just after 0515 Z.
Good job done by crew and ground crew by all accounts.
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: EDI, LHR, NQY
Posts: 402
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Running on the Press Association wires...
1 AIR Smoke 08:55
PASSENGERS EVACUATED AS SMOKE IS DETECTED ON JET
By Caroline Gammell, PA News
All 89 passengers and five crew were evacuated from a passenger jet today when smoke was detected on board as the flight taxied on an airport runway.
KLM flight UK 2020 from Manchester to Amsterdam was taxiing on the runway at Manchester Airport when the smoke was discovered at 6.20am.
Five people suffered minor injuries during the evacuation, ordered by the captain after smoke was spotted in a toilet at the rear of the Fokker 100 aircraft.
A KLM spokeswoman said: “The captain took the precautionary decision to evacuate the aircraft immediately.
“The captain operated the emergency chutes and all the passengers and crew evacuated to safety using those chutes.
“Emergency services, including the fire service and paramedics, were on the scene throughout.”
The plane – which has a passenger capacity of 100 – was currently being inspected by KLM engineers and a full investigation had been launched.
The incident was not being treated as suspicious and it was thought the smoke might have been caused by an electrical fault.
All the passengers – one was a child less than two years old – were taken to the departures terminal and given refreshments, the spokeswoman said.
“All those with minor injuries, such as a cut to the leg, were treated at the scene by paramedics and as far as we know none was taken to hospital,” the spokeswoman said.
“We are re-ticketing all the passengers and have booked them on to alternative flights. All those who have missed connecting flights will be given new tickets.”
The aircraft has been taken out of service.
(mfl)
2 AIR Smoke 11:16
(reopens)
Manchester Airport was the scene of a major air disaster on August 22, 1985, when 55 people died as a holiday jet taxiing on the runway caught fire.
The British Airtours charter flight 328M, heading for Kerkira on the Greek island of Corfu, was cleared for take-off at 6.08am.
As its speed increased, a failure in the Boeing 737’s left engine caused a fire.
The pilot and co-pilot managed to abort take-off but evacuation was hindered by a right hand door malfunction.
Of the 137 people on board, two members of crew and 53 passengers died, largely through smoke inhalation.
(end)
And the Manchester Evening News story...
TERRIFIED passengers evacuated their jet at Manchester Airport today after smoke was noticed coming from the toilets.
Some 89 passengers slid down emergency chutes and jumped from the wings of the KLM Fokker 100 plane as it was preparing for take off for Amsterdam at 6.10am.
About five passengers were injured during the full scale emergency and were treated by airport paramedics at the scene. None was thought to be seriously hurt.
Managers at KLM, the national carrier of the Netherlands, were this morning desperately trying to find alternative flights for their customers many of whom missed connections in Amsterdam.
Martin Hughes, 46, his wife Frances, 52, and their 11-year-old son, Philip, who missed their connection for a two-week holiday in Orlando, told of their ordeal after they had evacuated.
Mr Hughes, from Northumberland said: “If it had happened when we were halfway down the runway it might have been very different. As it is we have got a nice tale to tell.
“We were just about at the end of the taxiway and about to turn onto the runway when it happened.
“We were in Row 4 about a third of the way down the plane from the cockpit and there was this funny smell we noticed the air hostesses were running from the back to the front and looking a bit agitated and then the lights went out.
“Then we heard the captain saying `this is the captain, evacuate’. From the point when we had the smell to the captain’s announcement must have been two minutes. They pushed the doors open. People were moving very slowly although there was no panic. One woman we saw hurt herself as she went down the chute it was not serious.
“There were people whose exit over the wing had to jump off the wing. It was a drop of about seven foot. Another lady was hurt jumping off that.
“When they got everyone off they shepherded everyone away from the airplane and directed us to the perimeter.
“Then the first fire engine turned up and there must have been about eight appliances there. But there was no smoke. We couldn’t see any signs of fire.’’
Martin added: “The captain and the crew did the right thing. If there is any danger it’s the best thing to do.’’
A spokeswoman for KLM said: “It was on the taxiway when smoke was seen coming from the toilet so the captain took the decision to evacuate the aircraft as a precaution.
“The emergency services were on hand immediately. There was no need for the firemen to board the aircraft. They were just on stand-by.
“There were five minor injuries. One had a slight cut to the leg. I believe the injuries happened when they were going down the chutes. Paramedics were there to see to them all. We don’t know yet what caused the smoke seen coming out of the toilet.’’
She added: “Our passengers’ safety is obviously paramount hence the captain took the decision to evacuate the aircraft. Our concern is for the passengers’ safety at all times.’’
1 AIR Smoke 08:55
PASSENGERS EVACUATED AS SMOKE IS DETECTED ON JET
By Caroline Gammell, PA News
All 89 passengers and five crew were evacuated from a passenger jet today when smoke was detected on board as the flight taxied on an airport runway.
KLM flight UK 2020 from Manchester to Amsterdam was taxiing on the runway at Manchester Airport when the smoke was discovered at 6.20am.
Five people suffered minor injuries during the evacuation, ordered by the captain after smoke was spotted in a toilet at the rear of the Fokker 100 aircraft.
A KLM spokeswoman said: “The captain took the precautionary decision to evacuate the aircraft immediately.
“The captain operated the emergency chutes and all the passengers and crew evacuated to safety using those chutes.
“Emergency services, including the fire service and paramedics, were on the scene throughout.”
The plane – which has a passenger capacity of 100 – was currently being inspected by KLM engineers and a full investigation had been launched.
The incident was not being treated as suspicious and it was thought the smoke might have been caused by an electrical fault.
All the passengers – one was a child less than two years old – were taken to the departures terminal and given refreshments, the spokeswoman said.
“All those with minor injuries, such as a cut to the leg, were treated at the scene by paramedics and as far as we know none was taken to hospital,” the spokeswoman said.
“We are re-ticketing all the passengers and have booked them on to alternative flights. All those who have missed connecting flights will be given new tickets.”
The aircraft has been taken out of service.
(mfl)
2 AIR Smoke 11:16
(reopens)
Manchester Airport was the scene of a major air disaster on August 22, 1985, when 55 people died as a holiday jet taxiing on the runway caught fire.
The British Airtours charter flight 328M, heading for Kerkira on the Greek island of Corfu, was cleared for take-off at 6.08am.
As its speed increased, a failure in the Boeing 737’s left engine caused a fire.
The pilot and co-pilot managed to abort take-off but evacuation was hindered by a right hand door malfunction.
Of the 137 people on board, two members of crew and 53 passengers died, largely through smoke inhalation.
(end)
And the Manchester Evening News story...
TERRIFIED passengers evacuated their jet at Manchester Airport today after smoke was noticed coming from the toilets.
Some 89 passengers slid down emergency chutes and jumped from the wings of the KLM Fokker 100 plane as it was preparing for take off for Amsterdam at 6.10am.
About five passengers were injured during the full scale emergency and were treated by airport paramedics at the scene. None was thought to be seriously hurt.
Managers at KLM, the national carrier of the Netherlands, were this morning desperately trying to find alternative flights for their customers many of whom missed connections in Amsterdam.
Martin Hughes, 46, his wife Frances, 52, and their 11-year-old son, Philip, who missed their connection for a two-week holiday in Orlando, told of their ordeal after they had evacuated.
Mr Hughes, from Northumberland said: “If it had happened when we were halfway down the runway it might have been very different. As it is we have got a nice tale to tell.
“We were just about at the end of the taxiway and about to turn onto the runway when it happened.
“We were in Row 4 about a third of the way down the plane from the cockpit and there was this funny smell we noticed the air hostesses were running from the back to the front and looking a bit agitated and then the lights went out.
“Then we heard the captain saying `this is the captain, evacuate’. From the point when we had the smell to the captain’s announcement must have been two minutes. They pushed the doors open. People were moving very slowly although there was no panic. One woman we saw hurt herself as she went down the chute it was not serious.
“There were people whose exit over the wing had to jump off the wing. It was a drop of about seven foot. Another lady was hurt jumping off that.
“When they got everyone off they shepherded everyone away from the airplane and directed us to the perimeter.
“Then the first fire engine turned up and there must have been about eight appliances there. But there was no smoke. We couldn’t see any signs of fire.’’
Martin added: “The captain and the crew did the right thing. If there is any danger it’s the best thing to do.’’
A spokeswoman for KLM said: “It was on the taxiway when smoke was seen coming from the toilet so the captain took the decision to evacuate the aircraft as a precaution.
“The emergency services were on hand immediately. There was no need for the firemen to board the aircraft. They were just on stand-by.
“There were five minor injuries. One had a slight cut to the leg. I believe the injuries happened when they were going down the chutes. Paramedics were there to see to them all. We don’t know yet what caused the smoke seen coming out of the toilet.’’
She added: “Our passengers’ safety is obviously paramount hence the captain took the decision to evacuate the aircraft. Our concern is for the passengers’ safety at all times.’’
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: near EGCC/EGCD, England
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ITV Teletext in the northwest say it was UK2020 MAN-AMS FK100, smoke was seen in the toilets just before the aircraft lined up, and it was evacuated, with 2 people recieving minor injuries incurred during the evacuation on the slides. The aircraft has apparently been "taken out of service"
Everything is now running as normal at Manchester.
G-BPEC
Everything is now running as normal at Manchester.
G-BPEC
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Too Far North
Posts: 1,105
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Given all the Journo' bashing that normally (rightly IMHO) goes on here, can I just congratulate the anonymous MEN reporter who seems to have come up with a balanced and not over sensationalised report.
TA
TA
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: EDI, LHR, NQY
Posts: 402
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Flap40 thank you very much for giving a professional colleague credit where it is due. It is appreciated. 
KLMuk press office did well this morning, too. Prompt response with accurate information, even at 7am on a bank holiday. If only all airlines were this smart.
Alastair
PS, the reason I didn't post a byline on the MEN copy is because it was sent out on the wires by MEN with no name on. The MEN website version is similarly anonymous (but for an email address). Given the speed with which it appeared in print this morning, I would imagine it's a bit of a group effort.
KLMuk press office did well this morning, too. Prompt response with accurate information, even at 7am on a bank holiday. If only all airlines were this smart.
Alastair
PS, the reason I didn't post a byline on the MEN copy is because it was sent out on the wires by MEN with no name on. The MEN website version is similarly anonymous (but for an email address). Given the speed with which it appeared in print this morning, I would imagine it's a bit of a group effort.
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: western europe
Posts: 1,367
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Accurate reporting ......
ajamieson ....... you are so right ..... if all the airlines/airport operators responded like the KLM press office I'm sure media reports would improve dramatically in accuracy ....... my guess is that most Journo's get told to "Get Lost" and so they just make up 3/4 of the story
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The MEN used to have a reporter based at MAN (and maybe still do) and there is at least one press agency operating there. This offers the hope that the personnel concerned actually get to understand how the industry works and begin to write less 'shock horror' and a bit more fact - even if they do dress it up from time to time.
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: EDI, LHR, NQY
Posts: 402
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
hobie you are absolutely 100% spot on; the shorter the information, the greater the speculation. Worst of all is when the tip-off comes in from punters rather than aviation workers; stories tend to be embellished in the telling.
Woodman the MEN do not have a reporter at MAN, but you're right to say there are a few local press agencies with good understanding of the issues - which means better reporting. As a news editor, a lot of the copy I receive about aviation matters is scandalously bad. I hit 'delete'.
Alastair
Woodman the MEN do not have a reporter at MAN, but you're right to say there are a few local press agencies with good understanding of the issues - which means better reporting. As a news editor, a lot of the copy I receive about aviation matters is scandalously bad. I hit 'delete'.
Alastair
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Manchester
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Makes a change for the M.E.N. to get something correct. Their reporting of the 30 'stranded' schoolchildren last weekend was nothing less than B*ll*cks. I bet they get a letter from KLM uk's legal department about that one.
In typical 'poor souls' fashion, they only took the school teachers side, who blamed everything on KLM uk, when in actual fact it appeared to be a tour operator balls up. (allegedly !).
An investigation was to be held to discover who's fault it really was.....
(For those not familiar with this one......30 school kids going MAN-AMS-BOS could'nt get on MAN-AMS sector as no reservations and all flights full for two days, even though they had tickets issued by the tour operator, they turned up at the end of check in when the flight was full....)
In typical 'poor souls' fashion, they only took the school teachers side, who blamed everything on KLM uk, when in actual fact it appeared to be a tour operator balls up. (allegedly !).
An investigation was to be held to discover who's fault it really was.....
(For those not familiar with this one......30 school kids going MAN-AMS-BOS could'nt get on MAN-AMS sector as no reservations and all flights full for two days, even though they had tickets issued by the tour operator, they turned up at the end of check in when the flight was full....)
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Dunmow, Essex
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thought I would just say a well done to the crew involved.
This is an event we all dread and when it happens to people you know, and have worked and nightstoped with, it brings home the importance of staying on top of the job, procedures and checklists all the time.
This is an event we all dread and when it happens to people you know, and have worked and nightstoped with, it brings home the importance of staying on top of the job, procedures and checklists all the time.
