East Belfast News: Emergency at Belfast City Airport

A full scale emergency was declared at Belfast City Airport today, despite the FlyBe Flight not even having managed to get air bound.

The FlyBe aircraft, reported the emergency following smoke being detected in the cockpit, as it was taxiing in preparation for take off.

Wednesday's flight which was about to take off at 10am, returned to the terminal where all passengers disembarked safely, later boarding other Belfast flight to their destinations.

The emergency has sparked an investigation to determine the cause.

Editorial

This is yet another emergency at Belfast City Airport and although it took place while the aircraft was on the tarmac, it can not be underplayed. Given that this is a City Airport, and that the flight path is over heavy residential areas, this emergency once again brings to the forefront of your mind, the potential for a catastrophic accident over Belfast.

Following the last emergency, Simply Belfast attempted to gain access to what emergency provisions are in place for an accident in a residential area of the City. Whilst users, can see the airport's mock up of an accident or emergency at the airport, we wanted to know the provisions in place, should the emergency / accident take place outside the airport in a built up area. To date, we have been unsuccessful in obtaining this information, with one organisation invoking exemptions under the Freedom of Information Act.

We will continue in our endeavours to obtain this information and will bring it to you, when we are successful. Until then, if you live under the flight path, isn't it time you sought your own answers?

Last Updated: 24th November 2010