Tag Archives: virgin-atlantic

Thumbnail

Panik auf der Landebahn – Airbus muss in London notlanden

Schrecken fr die mehr als 300 Passagiere an Bord einer Maschine der Fluglinie Virgin Atlantic: Der Airbus musste in London notlanden. Kurzzeitig soll Panik ausgebrochen sein. Jetzt kmmern sich spezielle Teams um die geschockten Fluggste.

Nach einem Feuer an Bord musste ein Airbus A330 der britischen Fluggesellschaft Virgin Atlantic auf dem Flughafen London-Gatwick notlanden. An Bord waren 299 Passagiere und 13 Besatzungsmitglieder. Vier Passagiere erlitten am Montag leichte Verletzungen, sagte eine Flughafensprecherin. Vermutlich war ein Brand an Bord ausgebrochen. „Die Crew rief nur noch: Raus, Raus!“, sagte Tom Aldridge, der als Passagier in dem Flugzeug war, dem Sender BBC. Kurzzeitig seien einige Reisende in Panik ausgebrochen.

Vorbergehende Einstellung des Flugverkehrs in London-Gatwick

Der Flugverkehr auf dem zweitgrten britischen Flughafen wurde vorbergehend eingestellt, da das Flugzeug die Start- und Landebahn blockierte. Einige ankommende Flge konnten umgeleitet werden, etwa zum Flughafen Stansted im Norden Londons. Am frhen Nachmittag konnte der Flughafenbetrieb in Gatwick wieder weitergehen. Es kam aber zu erheblichen Versptungen.

Evakuierung als Vorsichtsmanahme

Das Flugzeug habe nach dem Start um 10.48 Uhr Ortszeit mit Ziel Orlando in Florida wegen eines technischen Problems umkehren mssen, hie es vom Flughafen. Der Airbus sei sicher gelandet. Die Passagiere konnten das Flugzeug noch auf der Landebahn verlassen. Nach Angaben der Feuerwehr, die den Notruf etwa eineinhalb Stunden nach dem Start der Maschine erhalten hatte, soll es ein Feuer an Bord gegeben haben.

„Wegen eines technischen Problems an Bord hat der Kapitn entschieden, das Flugzeug evakuieren zu lassen“, teilte die Fluggesellschaft Virgin Atlantic mit. Es habe sich um eine Vorsichtsmanahme gehandelt. Spezielle Teams kmmerten sich um die Passagiere.

Originally from:

Panik auf der Landebahn – Airbus muss in London notlanden

Thumbnail

Gatwick halts flights after emergency


Plane’s emergency prompts Gatwick to suspend flights

By Nick Thompson, CNN

April 16, 2012 — Updated 1731 GMT (0131 HKT)

A Virgin Atlantic aircraft stands on the tarmac with emergency service vehicles in support after making an emergency landing at Gatwick Airport, London.

A Virgin Atlantic aircraft stands on the tarmac with emergency service vehicles in support after making an emergency landing at Gatwick Airport, London.

London (CNN) — All flights into and out of London’s Gatwick Airport were temporarily suspended Monday after a plane was forced to make an emergency landing amid reports of smoke in the cabin.

A Virgin Atlantic flight bound for Orlando, Florida, left Gatwick Airport at 10:48 a.m. BST but returned to make an emergency landing due to a technical problem at 12:30 p.m. Emergency services were on the scene, and all passengers were evacuated from the plane, according to an airport statement.

Virgin would not confirm or deny media reports that the cause for the landing was smoke in the airplane’s cabin, but a spokeswoman for the West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said it sent six pieces of fire equipment to deal with an incident at the airport.

The plane’s emergency chutes were deployed to allow passengers to escape the aircraft, and four passengers sustained minor injuries, according to the airline.

“Due to a technical problem on board the aircraft, the captain decided as a precautionary measure to immediately evacuate the aircraft,” Virgin said in a statement.

“Our teams at Gatwick are now looking after our passengers and assisting with their immediate requirements. Virgin Atlantic is working closely with the authorities to establish the cause of this incident.”

Gatwick Airport’s standby runway has been open since 2 p.m. BST to allow some flights to depart and arrive, but normal service has yet to resume, according to a spokeswoman.

CNN’s Richard Quest said the evacuation of passengers after an emergency landing is an unusual procedure suggesting that the incident was of a serious nature.

“The pilot must have feared there was a fire onboard or a potential of flames in order to order a full evacuation,” he said. “Otherwise you would just taxi in.”

Virgin Atlantic said the Airbus A330-300 aircraft had 304 passengers, including three infants, and 10 crew members.

Gatwick Airport is the UK’s second largest airport and the busiest single-runway airport in the world. It serves more than 200 destinations in 90 countries for about 34 million passengers a year.

ADVERTISEMENT


Part of complete coverage on

Christiane Amanpour returns this week to CNN — find out about her first shows, connect on social media and explore the archive.

April 16, 2012 — Updated 1613 GMT (0013 HKT)

As French voters prepare to elect a new president, Jim Bittermann explains what the main themes of the election are — and who is likely to win.

April 16, 2012 — Updated 1435 GMT (2235 HKT)

How speculation fills the void of official information about the death of a UK businessman in China.

China’s move to double the trading band of the yuan against the U.S. dollar is lauded as a step toward an internationally traded currency.

April 16, 2012 — Updated 0715 GMT (1515 HKT)

For a moment we can hardly believe what is happening. Kim Jong Un addresses the public — something his father only did once.

Leading women entrepreneurs

Explore our Leading Women interactive to find the countries with most female entrpreneurs. Clue: They’re not in a G20 nation.

April 13, 2012 — Updated 1433 GMT (2233 HKT)

For centuries, Timbuktu has existed in the Western imagination as a byword for the most exotic, far-flung place conceivable.

April 12, 2012 — Updated 1452 GMT (2252 HKT)

Inside the reclusive country, CNN’s Stan Grant asks just how long can the Kim dynasty hold onto power.

April 13, 2012 — Updated 0012 GMT (0812 HKT)

Based on profits, Sony Corp. is an outstanding company — in life insurance sales and hit movies. But there’s one weak point.

April 12, 2012 — Updated 0052 GMT (0852 HKT)

Egypt has suspended the assembly tasked with drafting a constitution. But what does that mean for reforms?

April 10, 2012 — Updated 1539 GMT (2339 HKT)

Andrew Keen explains how the notion of surveillance states has moved from totalitarian regimes to western democracies.

April 12, 2012 — Updated 2351 GMT (0751 HKT)

Child actors lay bare the issues they say must be tackled by the country’s leaders.

April 12, 2012 — Updated 1120 GMT (1920 HKT)

Some athletes will go to any lengths to get their hands on an Olympic gold medal — but they will find it harder than ever at London 2012.

ADVERTISEMENT

See the original post: 

Gatwick halts flights after emergency