13/02/2009

Cause Of Emergency Shannon Landing Revealed

Accident investigators today say they have discovered the cause of the emergency landing by a passenger plane in Shannon.

A preliminary report into the serious incident on board a Virgin Atlantic Airbus A340, in which 143 passengers and 13 crew managed to escape without injury, says a modification in the bar area of first class was the cause.

The aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing at Shannon airport after the crew reported a small fire in the bottom of a waste bin storage compartment of the bar unit.

Virgin Atlantic at the time had denied there was a fire on board.

Investigators however found a cable loom in the bottom of the waste bin compartment had been "completely severed" and bore "strong evidence of burning/arcing".

According to today's report, the wiring loom in question consisted of 10 wires in a protective sheath and was used to provide power and dimming circuits for "mood" lighting in the bar unit counter top.

It appeared the lower edge of the metal waste bin made contact with the wiring loom.

Investigators said there was "no evidence" of a protective metal cover and rails that should have been present to keep the bin above the wiring loom.

"Initial inspection indicated the possibility that they were never fitted," the report said.

The plane had been en route from Heathrow to Chicago last month when the full-scale emergency was declared. All the passengers were unhurt in the incident.

(DW/BMcC)

Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

17 May 2016
SF Table Motion To Stop Green Waste Bin Charges
Sinn Féin has tabled a motion in the Dáil aimed at stopping the imposition of green bin waste charges.
03 May 2011
Taoiseach Responds To Death Of Osama Bin Laden
The Taoiseach, Mr Enda Kenny TD, has issued a statement following the death of Osama Bin Laden. He said: “Most people in Ireland remember the terrible scenes in New York City, in Pennsylvania and in Washington on September 11th 2001.
20 June 2016
Fine Gael Calls For Max KG Waste Collection Charge
Maximum per kg rates for household waste collection should be introduced, Fine Gael TD for Louth, Peter Fitzpatrick, has said. "I have been contacted by many constituents who are very concerned that some waste companies are imposing huge rises in bin charges," Deputy Fitzpatrick.
13 October 2015
People Urged To Use Brown Bins To Reduce Waste Bill
Minister for the Environment, Alan Kelly, has urged people to "use the brown bin to cut waste bill". Speaking at the launched of the website brownbin.ie, the Minister said that "Brownbin.ie provides a valuable platform for householders to understand the importance of recycling food waste using their brown bin.
09 July 2012
ILCU Reports Finds 47% Struggling To Pay Bills
According to a new report by the Irish League of Credit Unions, over 1.8 million people are left with €100 or less to live on a month after essential bills are paid. The new report has been generated using the unions “What's Left'' tracker, which records household expenditure and how much disposable income Irish people have.