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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Manchester air disaster: Calls for apology over 1985 blaze deaths | Manchester air disaster: Calls for apology over 1985 blaze deaths |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Survivors of the Manchester air disaster have called for an apology ahead of the 30th anniversary. | Survivors of the Manchester air disaster have called for an apology ahead of the 30th anniversary. |
| Fifty-three passengers and two crew members were killed when a blaze broke out in the engine of a British Airtours jet bound for Corfu, on 22 August 1985. | Fifty-three passengers and two crew members were killed when a blaze broke out in the engine of a British Airtours jet bound for Corfu, on 22 August 1985. |
| The pilot abandoned take-off, but passengers were left trapped as flames engulfed the rear of the plane. | The pilot abandoned take-off, but passengers were left trapped as flames engulfed the rear of the plane. |
| Neither the airport nor the airline has apologised, but both expressed their sympathies. | Neither the airport nor the airline has apologised, but both expressed their sympathies. |
| John Beardmore from Congleton, Cheshire, survived the fire, along with his wife and two sons. | John Beardmore from Congleton, Cheshire, survived the fire, along with his wife and two sons. |
| 'A shambles' | 'A shambles' |
| He said: "That plane wasn't fit for purpose. The engine had a history of problems. [The airline] shouldn't have crammed so many people into their [Boeing] 737 charter jets. | |
| "Manchester Airport should've organised themselves so much better. | "Manchester Airport should've organised themselves so much better. |
| "We just had to sit in a coach on the runway for half an hour, while they were looking for other survivors. On the day it was a shambles. | "We just had to sit in a coach on the runway for half an hour, while they were looking for other survivors. On the day it was a shambles. |
| "Neither company has ever apologised to us in that time. We think the time is right, where they could say sorry to us." | "Neither company has ever apologised to us in that time. We think the time is right, where they could say sorry to us." |
| How did the 1985 Manchester air disaster change travel by plane? | How did the 1985 Manchester air disaster change travel by plane? |
| June Somekh, from Gatley in Stockport, lost her sister Vera, her brother-in-law Raymond and her niece Susan. | June Somekh, from Gatley in Stockport, lost her sister Vera, her brother-in-law Raymond and her niece Susan. |
| She said: "There were so many things that went wrong. I know that an apology isn't going to bring anyone back - but it will at least recognise that there was some wrongdoing. | She said: "There were so many things that went wrong. I know that an apology isn't going to bring anyone back - but it will at least recognise that there was some wrongdoing. |
| "There was a lot of carelessness. It's bad and I still feel angry." | "There was a lot of carelessness. It's bad and I still feel angry." |
| An investigation found the disaster was caused by a series of failures. | An investigation found the disaster was caused by a series of failures. |
| 'Heroism and stoicism' | 'Heroism and stoicism' |
| Most of the victims died from the effects of smoke inhalation, as the desperate passengers tried to escape the aircraft. | Most of the victims died from the effects of smoke inhalation, as the desperate passengers tried to escape the aircraft. |
| Many were impeded by the layout of the seats, and the narrow width of the exits. | Many were impeded by the layout of the seats, and the narrow width of the exits. |
| Survivors and the relatives of those who died eventually successfully sued US aircraft engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney. | Survivors and the relatives of those who died eventually successfully sued US aircraft engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney. |
| The disaster led to a host of changes in air safety procedures. | The disaster led to a host of changes in air safety procedures. |
| Ken O'Toole, managing director at Manchester Airport, said: "Our thoughts, sympathy and sorrow are still very much with those who lost their lives, were injured, their relatives, and the many brave individuals involved in the rescue operation. | Ken O'Toole, managing director at Manchester Airport, said: "Our thoughts, sympathy and sorrow are still very much with those who lost their lives, were injured, their relatives, and the many brave individuals involved in the rescue operation. |
| "The stories of heroism and stoicism that have emerged from the horror of that day humble us all, and are never far from the airport's thoughts." | "The stories of heroism and stoicism that have emerged from the horror of that day humble us all, and are never far from the airport's thoughts." |
| British Airtours was the charter division of British Airways at the time of the disaster. | British Airtours was the charter division of British Airways at the time of the disaster. |
| A spokesman for BA said: "At the time of the accident the aircraft held a valid certificate of airworthiness and had been maintained in accordance with both regulatory and manufacturer requirements. | |
| "The seating configuration met all of the certification requirements at the time." | |
| He added the company's thoughts were with the families and friends of those who died. | |
| He said: "We understand their continuing sense of loss, and also the difficulties faced by those who survived the incident and have had to live with the memories." |