Plane hits dog in Bangalore airport

[Guest guest]

*http://www.hindu.com/2008/03/28/stories/2008032857360100.htm*

*Kingfisher flight skids on runway *

 

**

Staff Reporter

 

*Plane hits dog; miraculous escape for 25 passengers, four crew members *

 

— photo: Bhagya Prakash K

 

*flight aborted: The Hyderabad-bound Kingfisher aircraft stuck on the runway

at the Bangalore airport on Thursday night. *

 

BANGALORE: Passengers and crew members on board the Hyderabad-bound

Kingfisher Airlines aircraft had a miraculous escape on Thursday night when

the ATR 72-500 skidded on the runway at the HAL airport here.

 

While the pilot said the aircraft hit a dog on the runway, airport sources

said the aircraft was yet to gain velocity for take-off when the nose wheel

broke and it skidded. At least four passengers were injured .

 

The runway was closed for over three hours, causing flight delays and

diversions. The incident occurred between 9.37 and 9.45 p.m. when the

aircraft with 25 passengers and four crew members aboard was preparing to

take off. Captain Mmopi was the main pilot.

 

According to the commander, a black dog crossed the runway while the

aircraft was on its take-off roll and because the runway was dimly lit, the

crew did not notice the animal till it was too late to take evasive action.

 

A Kingfisher release said: " The aircraft, having never left the ground, came

to a halt on the runway and the crew performed an emergency evacuation of

the passengers. Two guests stumbled and sustained sprain while all the

others are safe. The injured were treated at a nearby hospital and

discharged. "

 

The aircraft has been disabled and will have to be jacked up and towed off

the runway.

 

The Kingfisher team was on the spot and is expected to conduct a full

investigation in conjunction with the DGCA and airport authorities.

 

Top officials rushed to the spot to conduct a full investigation of the

incident.

 

Vijay Mallya, Chairman and CEO of Kingfisher Airlines, said: " I am happy

that all guests on board our flight are safe. It is most unfortunate that

the dog menace at airports in India still persists and that an incident

occurred today in Bangalore. At Kingfisher Airlines, safety is paramount and

I am glad that our crew handled this emergency successfully. "

Flights delayed

 

Several flights scheduled to land in Bangalore after 9.45 p.m. were

diverted to nearby cities, including Chennai and Hyderabad.