UAE: PASSENGERS REFUSE TO FLY ON PHUKET AIRLINER AFTER SEEING FUEL LEAKING FROM PLANE.

Record ID: 646746

  • Title: UAE: PASSENGERS REFUSE TO FLY ON PHUKET AIRLINER AFTER SEEING FUEL LEAKING FROM PLANE.
  • Date: 4th April 2005
  • Summary: (W3) SHARJAH, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (APRIL 4, 2005) (REUTERS) 1. GV/GV/TILT/CU: GOOD SHOTS EXTERIOR SHARJAH AIRPORT (3 SHOTS) 0.20 2. GV/MV: DEPARTURE LOUNGE (3 SHOTS) 0.32 3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ALEX WESTGARTH, BRITISH PASSENGER, SAYING: "The third time, the only reason we didn't take off with gallons of fuel leaking was because a passenger noticed the leak. The passenger did inform the cabin crew, who assured us it was okay. I was actually sitting towards the front of the plane. It was only the hostess running upstairs and informing the pilot of this leak that made him aware. But apparently according to the captain, or the man we had spoken to on the plane at the time, he said that the warning system had failed. So essentially they've promised us that the plane is safe to fly and on three occasions that promise hasn't been fulfilled. This is a plane that is extremely old. When I checked in in Bangkok, the front of the plane looked like it had flown through a flock of birds okay, it's tattered. The doorway next to me where I was staying was cold, really cold draught (coming) out of the doorway. There's gaffer tape, white gaffer tape on the doorway and it's not very assuring." 1.47 4. GV/MV/GV: INTERIOR OF AIRPORT, SECURITY (3 SHOTS) 2.05 5. GV: CARGO AEROPLANE PARKED AT THE AIRPORT 2.11 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 19th April 2005 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: SHARJAHI, UAE
  • Country: United Arab Emirates
  • Reuters ID: LVA2LDRT133KMHMEIMP9BXHM1R4A
  • Story Text: A Phuket Air plane bound for the UK is halted in UAE
    after fuel is seen leaking by passengers.



    A Phuket Airlines flight to London from Bangkok was
    grounded early on Monday (April 4, 2005) at the United Arab
    Emirates' Sharjah International Airport, after a fuel leak
    was discovered on the side of the plane by a passenger.

    All 358 passengers disembarked and checked into two
    hotels in Sharjah. 211 of them resumed their flights back
    to the United Kingdom on Monday afternoon, boarding the
    same aircraft that was grounded shortly after it was
    repaired, other passengers refused to re-board the plane.

    One boarding passenger was uneasy with the idea of
    taking the same aeroplane again as he recalled the
    discovery of the leaking fuel.

    "So essentially they've promised us that the plane is
    safe to fly and on three occasions that promise hasn't been
    fulfilled. This is a plane that is extremely old. When I
    checked in in Bangkok, the front of the plane looked like
    it had flown through a flock of birds ok, it's tattered.

    The doorway next to me where I was staying was cold, really
    cold draft (coming) out of the doorway. There's gaffer
    tape, white gaffer tape on the doorway and it's not very
    assuring." British passenger Alex Westgarth told Reuters.

    The remaining 147 passengers have refused to take the
    flight for safety reasons and have stayed in their hotels
    in Sharjah. An airport official said that another Phuket
    flight to London will be available on Tuesday morning
    (April 5) although he couldn't verify whether the
    passengers left in Sharjah would all be able to get home
    then.


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