Loader jumps off cargo hold of a SpiceJet plane about to takeoff at Goa
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Loader jumps off cargo hold of a SpiceJet plane about to takeoff at Goa
via The Times of India
Addendum.
Note: The thread heading says "Loader" because Zee News reports a slightly different version:
Man jumps off cargo hold of plane about to take off
Saurabh Sinha, TNN | Aug 17, 2013, 06.31 AM IST
NEW DELHI: In a glaring security lapse, a man hid inside the cargo hold of a passenger aircraft at Goa airport — a sensitive defence airfield — and jumped off shortly before the plane was to take off. Alert Indian Air Force air traffic controllers saw the man jump off and asked the pilot to abort take-off, averting a potential disaster of the aircraft flying with an open cargo hold door.
The bizarre incident happened as a SpiceJet aircraft was getting ready to take off for Bangalore. "When the aircraft — a Boeing 737 — reached the active runway to take off, ATC officials saw someone jump from the cargo hold. They immediately alerted the security forces who apprehended the man and are now interrogating him," said a senior official of the directorate general of civil aviation ( DGCA) which is now probing the incident.
The ATC recalled the aircraft to the terminal. "If a plane takes off with an open cargo hold door, the consequences can be serious. If the front door is open, it will fly off and damage the wing and engine. If it is the rear door, it will hit the fuselage. The structural integrity of the aircraft will be impacted either way. Also the rear cargo section is pressurised for carrying livestock like pets and an open door can lead to pressurisation failure," said a senior pilot.
This lapse happened despite the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security alerting all airports and airlines on August 2 to maintain extra vigil as "intelligence inputs indicated a heightened threat perception to the civil aviation sector". It had asked agencies to enforce strict ladder point checks and have more surveillance around terminals and operational areas around the Independence Day. BCAS has specifically sought "enhanced security at cargo terminal" and frisking of catering items loaded on aircraft.
Despite being a defence airfield, Goa airport has been a security nightmare for agencies due to movement of scores of people in the technical area. In fact like a railway crossing, barriers are lowered to prevent defence vehicles from crossing the airstrip when an aircraft is landing or taking off.
"There have been instances in past when people hid in the aircraft wheel cavity but this is possibly the first time when someone hid inside the cargo hold. It needs to be probed whether the person was authorised to be at there or was an intruder. Either way it reveals a serious security lapse," sources said.
"What is worrying is that someone could manage to hide inside an aircraft and go unnoticed. There have been intrusions on the runway, both human and by animals, and at terminal buildings. But an intruder inside a moving aircraft is a cause for concern," sources said.
Saurabh Sinha, TNN | Aug 17, 2013, 06.31 AM IST
NEW DELHI: In a glaring security lapse, a man hid inside the cargo hold of a passenger aircraft at Goa airport — a sensitive defence airfield — and jumped off shortly before the plane was to take off. Alert Indian Air Force air traffic controllers saw the man jump off and asked the pilot to abort take-off, averting a potential disaster of the aircraft flying with an open cargo hold door.
The bizarre incident happened as a SpiceJet aircraft was getting ready to take off for Bangalore. "When the aircraft — a Boeing 737 — reached the active runway to take off, ATC officials saw someone jump from the cargo hold. They immediately alerted the security forces who apprehended the man and are now interrogating him," said a senior official of the directorate general of civil aviation ( DGCA) which is now probing the incident.
The ATC recalled the aircraft to the terminal. "If a plane takes off with an open cargo hold door, the consequences can be serious. If the front door is open, it will fly off and damage the wing and engine. If it is the rear door, it will hit the fuselage. The structural integrity of the aircraft will be impacted either way. Also the rear cargo section is pressurised for carrying livestock like pets and an open door can lead to pressurisation failure," said a senior pilot.
This lapse happened despite the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security alerting all airports and airlines on August 2 to maintain extra vigil as "intelligence inputs indicated a heightened threat perception to the civil aviation sector". It had asked agencies to enforce strict ladder point checks and have more surveillance around terminals and operational areas around the Independence Day. BCAS has specifically sought "enhanced security at cargo terminal" and frisking of catering items loaded on aircraft.
Despite being a defence airfield, Goa airport has been a security nightmare for agencies due to movement of scores of people in the technical area. In fact like a railway crossing, barriers are lowered to prevent defence vehicles from crossing the airstrip when an aircraft is landing or taking off.
"There have been instances in past when people hid in the aircraft wheel cavity but this is possibly the first time when someone hid inside the cargo hold. It needs to be probed whether the person was authorised to be at there or was an intruder. Either way it reveals a serious security lapse," sources said.
"What is worrying is that someone could manage to hide inside an aircraft and go unnoticed. There have been intrusions on the runway, both human and by animals, and at terminal buildings. But an intruder inside a moving aircraft is a cause for concern," sources said.
Note: The thread heading says "Loader" because Zee News reports a slightly different version:
Panaji: An Ahmedabad-bound SpiceJet flight aborted take-off at the last moment after a loader jumped off from the luggage section of the plane while it was taxiing on the runway at Dabolim airport here, police said.
Police officials said the incident happened at 4.45 pm.
"When the flight was on the runway, a loader was seen jumping from the baggage section of the plane. The pilot was immediately alerted about aborting the take-off," police officials said quoting eye-witness.
Airport authorities were yet to file a complaint against the loader who was not yet identified.
"The flight was allowed to take off after a thorough security check as the behaviour of the loader was found to be suspicious," police said.
PTI
Police officials said the incident happened at 4.45 pm.
"When the flight was on the runway, a loader was seen jumping from the baggage section of the plane. The pilot was immediately alerted about aborting the take-off," police officials said quoting eye-witness.
Airport authorities were yet to file a complaint against the loader who was not yet identified.
"The flight was allowed to take off after a thorough security check as the behaviour of the loader was found to be suspicious," police said.
PTI
Last edited by India Charlie; 17th Aug 2013 at 10:14.
Hmm
I seem to recall several cargo doors opening up on takeoff and not doing any damage to the aircraft.
Of course at altitude with the hold pressurized, what is ejected out is a concern.
I seem to recall several cargo doors opening up on takeoff and not doing any damage to the aircraft.
Of course at altitude with the hold pressurized, what is ejected out is a concern.
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1. Did the guy jump off from an already open hold?
2. Did he open the hold hatch and jump out?
If 2. happened the pilots would have got an amber warning on the MCP which they would have if 1. had happened as well, but then they wouldn't have fired up the motors.
As would be natural, the controller conveyed to the crew that a man was seen jumping out, but the crew would have known about the open hatch and would have returned to the gate (SOP).
This raises other questions:
3. Did the crew get a open cargo hatch warning in the cockpit?
4. If they did, were they contemplating investigating the matter and returning to the gate? Although by then ATC had already broken the enigma.
As is the case in most aviation related reporting in India, the news reports are severely deficient in useful details
2. Did he open the hold hatch and jump out?
If 2. happened the pilots would have got an amber warning on the MCP which they would have if 1. had happened as well, but then they wouldn't have fired up the motors.
As would be natural, the controller conveyed to the crew that a man was seen jumping out, but the crew would have known about the open hatch and would have returned to the gate (SOP).
This raises other questions:
3. Did the crew get a open cargo hatch warning in the cockpit?
4. If they did, were they contemplating investigating the matter and returning to the gate? Although by then ATC had already broken the enigma.
As is the case in most aviation related reporting in India, the news reports are severely deficient in useful details
Last edited by India Charlie; 17th Aug 2013 at 20:36.
short flights long nights
I don't think you can open a 737 cargo door from the inside, and last time I checked, the cargo doors on a 737 open inwards..i.e. they are plug type doors, and once te aircraft is pressurised, they probably won't open anyway.
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Poor bloke was probably a loader who was having a kip, awaiting last bags and his mates forgot him as there were no last bags. Someone should have checked the door and reported to the captain "All doors and hatches closed" as part of a normal pre start procedure. As others have already said, there should have been a door warning light. Things here just don't add up.
What a load of bollocks.
1/ can't open the door from the inside
2/ cockpit crew would see a door open amber light right in front of their eyes.
3/ ATC don't direct the Aircraft to return in regards to operational matters onboard, only the Captain decides what he wants to do.
Another quality media report.......
1/ can't open the door from the inside
2/ cockpit crew would see a door open amber light right in front of their eyes.
3/ ATC don't direct the Aircraft to return in regards to operational matters onboard, only the Captain decides what he wants to do.
Another quality media report.......
Last edited by nitpicker330; 18th Aug 2013 at 00:22.
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I'd be surprised if the cargo doors on B737 can't be opened from inside .. they certainly do on B707 and B747. If not, how do engineers inspect for door operation from inside the hold??!!??
As suggested, the possibility of a 'loader siesta' shouldn't be discounted. I recall, as an apprentice engineer with a certain international airline, having a siesta inside the wing of a B707 during block maintenance. When my leading hand asked a fellow apprentice where i was at lunchtime, my mate(!) then went back into the hangar and papered over the access panel on the underside of the wing: when i was awakened by the horn signalling the end of lunch break, i was terrified at the prospect that I'd been permanently 'paneled up' inside the wing and was about to be drowned in fuel!
Message: don't sleep on the job .. especially in the aircraft industry!!
As suggested, the possibility of a 'loader siesta' shouldn't be discounted. I recall, as an apprentice engineer with a certain international airline, having a siesta inside the wing of a B707 during block maintenance. When my leading hand asked a fellow apprentice where i was at lunchtime, my mate(!) then went back into the hangar and papered over the access panel on the underside of the wing: when i was awakened by the horn signalling the end of lunch break, i was terrified at the prospect that I'd been permanently 'paneled up' inside the wing and was about to be drowned in fuel!
Message: don't sleep on the job .. especially in the aircraft industry!!
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3/ ATC don't direct the Aircraft to return in regards to operational matters onboard, only the Captain decides what he wants to do.
So,
"If a plane takes off with an open cargo hold door, the consequences can be serious. If the front door is open, it will fly off and damage the wing and engine. If it is the rear door, it will hit the fuselage. The structural integrity of the aircraft will be impacted either way. Also the rear cargo section is pressurised for carrying livestock like pets and an open door can lead to pressurisation failure," said a senior pilot.
Then if the a/c was pressurised, how did the guy manage to open the door? Does this mean the a/c was not pressurised while it was taxiing out?
As suggested, the possibility of a 'loader siesta' shouldn't be discounted.
Where are the desiboyz? I'd like to hear their take on this.
Last edited by India Charlie; 18th Aug 2013 at 06:51.
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1/ can't open the door from the inside
What a load of bollocks.
Actually, on a 737, you can open the cargo
Door from inside.
Door from inside.
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What? When a turn around is in full swing? Unless he had passed out after smoking grass.
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parabellum, I disagree with you.
As far as I know, Goa generally has quick turn arounds. Loaders can find several alternative places to relax than cargo holds of planes which are about to depart. Your statement about low paid labourers not doing more than they have to is an unfair generalisation. Labourers in South Asia, particularly, are extremely hard working and sometimes do more than their fair share of work.
As far as I know, Goa generally has quick turn arounds. Loaders can find several alternative places to relax than cargo holds of planes which are about to depart. Your statement about low paid labourers not doing more than they have to is an unfair generalisation. Labourers in South Asia, particularly, are extremely hard working and sometimes do more than their fair share of work.
Last edited by India Charlie; 19th Aug 2013 at 07:12.
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If they had commenced the take-off roll, they would not have been able to pressurize the cabin with a cargo door open. It's just too big of a hole in the pressure vessel.
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My 737 NG manual says the doors can be opened manually from inside and outside.
So, bets on the hard working chappie who'd taken a nap in the cool cargo hold as loaders do from Luton to Lusaka was forgotten, woke up and legged it in the nick of time.
No reason to see why this isn't perfectly reasonable as reported.
So, bets on the hard working chappie who'd taken a nap in the cool cargo hold as loaders do from Luton to Lusaka was forgotten, woke up and legged it in the nick of time.
No reason to see why this isn't perfectly reasonable as reported.
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You can disagree all you like India Charlie, I operated in and out of India for over twenty five years and am happy with what I experienced there on both pax and freighters.
Now there is a generalisation, big time!
Labourers in South Asia, particularly, are extremely hard working and sometimes do more than their fair share of work.