Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
FLAMING MIRACLE
Irish jet emergency landing after birdstrike engine fire
A QUICK-THINKING Aer Lingus pilot made a dramatic emergency landing yesterday after a birdstrike set an engine on fire.
The plane had just departed Dublin Airport for Philadelphia carrying 176 passengers shortly after 1.10pm when it was forced to return.
The hero pilot immediately issued a radio distress call to air traffic controllers, who confirmed seeing a flame-out in the right engine.
The pilot reported: “Pan-Pan, the Shamrock One One Juliet (EI-11J), birdstrike on the runway.”
Aer Lingus was forced to cancel the flight as well as the return journey from the US city.
It’s understood that at least one bird was ingested by the engine resulting in the flameout and subsequent failure.
On the ground, plane spotters reported hearing a “loud bang” and seeing “flames coming from the right engine”. The 21-year-old Boeing 757-200 jet, operated by ASL Airlines Ireland on behalf of Aer Lingus, continued with its climb-out as the crew requested clearance to enter a holding pattern for a time.
An immediate inspection of the runway was ordered and carried out by ground crews to check for any debris that might affect a departing or arriving aircraft. In the meantime, the aircraft levelled off at 3,000ft north of the airport while the crew went through their checklists before returning to Dublin to land again.
Ahead of their approach, the pilot asked controllers to request fire crews to inspect the aircraft’s brakes after landing to ensure they hadn’t overheated. Eye witnesses reported seeing at least four fire vehicles waiting for the stricken plane.
A spokesman said: “Aer Lingus flight EI115 was required to turn back when the aircraft experienced a birdstrike shortly after take-off this afternoon. “The aircraft landed safely at Dublin Airport and all guests and crew safely disembarked. As a result flight EI115 and return flight EI114 [Philadelphia to Dublin] are cancelled today. “We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused to our guests.”
It is understood there have been 188 high-risk bird strikes reported at Dublin Airport.
A flock of geese caused the Miracle On The Hudson crash landing in New York in 2009. Captain Chesley Sullenberger landed the aircraft in the middle of the Hudson River after the plane lost both engines.
All passengers survived.