This article is from the source 'guardian' 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 http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/27/inquiry-into-air-france-plane-which-narrowly-missed-african-mountain
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Inquiry into how Air France plane narrowly missed African volcano | Inquiry into how Air France plane narrowly missed African volcano |
(about 7 hours later) | |
French accident investigators have opened an inquiry into a near accident involving an Air France Boeing 777 which narrowly missed one of Africa’s highest volcanoes with 37 people on board. | French accident investigators have opened an inquiry into a near accident involving an Air France Boeing 777 which narrowly missed one of Africa’s highest volcanoes with 37 people on board. |
An automatic “pull up” alarm went off when the plane, travelling from Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea, to Douala, Cameroon’s largest city on 2 May, diverted from its normal route “to avoid storms”, the BEA accident investigators said. | An automatic “pull up” alarm went off when the plane, travelling from Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea, to Douala, Cameroon’s largest city on 2 May, diverted from its normal route “to avoid storms”, the BEA accident investigators said. |
Related: Singapore Airlines jet plunges 4,000m after losing power in both engines | |
That manoeuvre had put it on course to hit the 4,040m (13,255ft) Mount Cameroon, before the alarm prompted the pilots to swiftly gain altitude and miss the mountain. | That manoeuvre had put it on course to hit the 4,040m (13,255ft) Mount Cameroon, before the alarm prompted the pilots to swiftly gain altitude and miss the mountain. |
No one was injured and the plane continued its flight without further incident. | No one was injured and the plane continued its flight without further incident. |
Air France confirmed the incident, saying that it would be carrying out its own internal inquiry. | Air France confirmed the incident, saying that it would be carrying out its own internal inquiry. |
“A route to avoid a storm brought the plane toward the side of Mount Cameroon,” it said in a statement. | “A route to avoid a storm brought the plane toward the side of Mount Cameroon,” it said in a statement. |
The enhanced ground proximity warning system went off in the plane’s cockpit and “the pilots to respond immediately by executing the appropriate manoeuvre,” Air France added. | The enhanced ground proximity warning system went off in the plane’s cockpit and “the pilots to respond immediately by executing the appropriate manoeuvre,” Air France added. |
Previous version
1
Next version