This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-45654501
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Bees in South African plane's engine delay flights | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A swarm of bees flew into the engine of a Mango Airlines plane, forcing a delay in flights at the main airport in South Africa's coastal city of Durban. | A swarm of bees flew into the engine of a Mango Airlines plane, forcing a delay in flights at the main airport in South Africa's coastal city of Durban. |
| Bee experts were called in and they safely removed the estimated 20,000 bees from the engine, the low-budget airline said. | Bee experts were called in and they safely removed the estimated 20,000 bees from the engine, the low-budget airline said. |
| The incident was extremely unusual, and the bees were probably resting before planning to fly on, one expert said. | The incident was extremely unusual, and the bees were probably resting before planning to fly on, one expert said. |
| It was unlikely they intended to make a "smelly" engine their home, he added. | It was unlikely they intended to make a "smelly" engine their home, he added. |
| The bees populated the engine in less than 25 minutes, and delayed three passenger flights at King Shaka International Airport. Mango Airlines spokesman Sergio dos Santos said. | The bees populated the engine in less than 25 minutes, and delayed three passenger flights at King Shaka International Airport. Mango Airlines spokesman Sergio dos Santos said. |
| "I have certainly never seen anything like this in my eight years in the aviation industry", he told South Africa's News24 website. | "I have certainly never seen anything like this in my eight years in the aviation industry", he told South Africa's News24 website. |
| The airline has tweeted a photo about the incident: | The airline has tweeted a photo about the incident: |
| It took a while for the removal team, from the privately owned A Bee C company, to get approval from the airport authorities to get on to the runaway. | It took a while for the removal team, from the privately owned A Bee C company, to get approval from the airport authorities to get on to the runaway. |
| It was a "quick job" to remove the swarm once permission was granted, A Bee C's Melvyn Dawson said. | It was a "quick job" to remove the swarm once permission was granted, A Bee C's Melvyn Dawson said. |
| "We have encountered some unusual bee removals, but this was a first for me," he told News24. | "We have encountered some unusual bee removals, but this was a first for me," he told News24. |
| The bees were now at the home of his brother, a beekeeper, and would be taken to farms, Mr Dawson said. | The bees were now at the home of his brother, a beekeeper, and would be taken to farms, Mr Dawson said. |
| Mike Miles, the chairman of the South African Bee Industry Association, said the bees were probably taking a break in the engine. | Mike Miles, the chairman of the South African Bee Industry Association, said the bees were probably taking a break in the engine. |
| "Normally those places are greasy, smelly and hot and not at all ideal as a permanent home for bees. Bees prefer secluded wood cavities. This is very unusual," he was quoted as saying. | "Normally those places are greasy, smelly and hot and not at all ideal as a permanent home for bees. Bees prefer secluded wood cavities. This is very unusual," he was quoted as saying. |