18/09/2003

Stranded Concorde cleared to leave Cardiff Airport

Following emergency repair work, a British Airways Concorde jet that was forced to land at Cardiff International Airport yesterday has been cleared for flight today.

Engine problems, which developed after the supersonic jet left New York’s JFK airport yesterday afternoon, saw the aircraft diverted to Cardiff as a “precaution”.

One of the aircraft’s four engines developed a technical fault and as much of the flight was completed at subsonic speed the aircraft was left with insufficient fuel reserves to make Heathrow.

Passengers described hearing a loud bang after which the plane decelerated and lost altitude.

The passengers disembarked at Cardiff were taken to Heathrow by coach, but some missed their connections.

A spokesperson for British Airways said that there was no danger to passengers and apologised for any inconvenience caused by the “engine surge”.

Although the aircraft was inspected yesterday at Cardiff, only specially trained engineers are permitted to work on the aircraft.

The Concorde was expected to be able to continue on its journey to Heathrow later today when repairs are complete.

British Airways have announced in October that Concorde would visit Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Manchester as part of a farewell tour before the plane’s final decommissioning after 30 years of passenger flights.

Passengers, who will be competition winners, will be offered a supersonic trip around the Bay of Biscay.

(SP)

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