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Airline probe into sinking plane Airline probe into sinking plane
(about 1 hour later)
Airline officials are seeking an explanation as to how a plane sank into tarmac at City of Derry airport.Airline officials are seeking an explanation as to how a plane sank into tarmac at City of Derry airport.
The inbound flight from Salou, carrying 180 passengers, had been instructed to wait on a remote runway after landing.The inbound flight from Salou, carrying 180 passengers, had been instructed to wait on a remote runway after landing.
However, after waiting for 30 minutes, the plane sank. It was eventually able to power itself out of the ground.However, after waiting for 30 minutes, the plane sank. It was eventually able to power itself out of the ground.
The airport said it was an exceptional occurrence. Chairman of Derry City Council's Airport Committee Colm Eastwood said he was embarrassed.The airport said it was an exceptional occurrence. Chairman of Derry City Council's Airport Committee Colm Eastwood said he was embarrassed.
He said the Civil Aviation Authority had been informed of the incident and an investigation would be carried out.
The latest incident, coming months after the airport was closed by the Civil Aviation Authority amid safety fears, was doing nothing for its reputation, he said.The latest incident, coming months after the airport was closed by the Civil Aviation Authority amid safety fears, was doing nothing for its reputation, he said.
The Civil Aviation Authority has been informed of the incident and said it was awaiting the full safety report from the airport.
First Choice, which chartered the flight, said they wanted to find out exactly what happened.First Choice, which chartered the flight, said they wanted to find out exactly what happened.
Rachel Wood from First Choice said: "It can happen in hot countries. At the moment we are trying to talk to the airport to understand a little bit more about how this happened.Rachel Wood from First Choice said: "It can happen in hot countries. At the moment we are trying to talk to the airport to understand a little bit more about how this happened.
"We do understand that it was warm and the aircraft was waiting there for quite a long time in the same place on the taxiway.""We do understand that it was warm and the aircraft was waiting there for quite a long time in the same place on the taxiway."
The incident involved a First Choice planeThe incident involved a First Choice plane
Ms Wood said the pilot got the passengers to disembark, which lightened the load on the aircraft.Ms Wood said the pilot got the passengers to disembark, which lightened the load on the aircraft.
"It has never happened to us before at Derry, we do fly in there regularly." she said."It has never happened to us before at Derry, we do fly in there regularly." she said.
Passengers on an outbound flight to Salou were delayed for a short period as a result.Passengers on an outbound flight to Salou were delayed for a short period as a result.
In a statement, the airport said the flight had been diverted to the remote taxiway to facilitate two other aircraft that landed on Wednesday afternoon.In a statement, the airport said the flight had been diverted to the remote taxiway to facilitate two other aircraft that landed on Wednesday afternoon.
"While the aircraft was stationary it settled into the tarmac for a time and was subsequently manoeuvred to the main area of the airport to allow passengers to board the outbound flight to Salou/Reus, which departed at 1736 hours," said a spokesperson."While the aircraft was stationary it settled into the tarmac for a time and was subsequently manoeuvred to the main area of the airport to allow passengers to board the outbound flight to Salou/Reus, which departed at 1736 hours," said a spokesperson.
East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell said on Thursday he wanted the day-to-day management of the airport to be taken over by the private sector.
"There have been a sequence of events which haven't done the airport any favours," he told the BBC.
"A regional airport.. can only be managed, run, progressed and built up in the private sector."