- A Flybe jet’s engine ‘blew up’ when a bird flew into it at 10.20am on Saturday
- Plane was just moments from take-off when it ‘slammed on’ the brakes at Cardiff
- Over 80 passengers were evacuated from the plane as the fire brigade attended
- Passenger said there was panic but the pilot said it was just a freak occurrence
A plane’s engine ‘blew up’ this morning when a bird was sucked into its turbine forcing the brakes to slam on just moments from take off at Cardiff Airport.
More than 80 passengers were sent into a panic when emergency services surrounded Flybe’s 10.20am to Paris.
Passenger Jonny Alcock told Wales Online: ‘We got on the plane to go to Paris and everything was normal. As it went to take off the brakes were slammed on and we just stopped.
The fire brigade attended the Flybe jet which initially caused panic among the passengers at Cardiff Airport at around 10.20am on Saturday
Firemen surround the jet this morning after a bird is said to have been sucked into one of the turbines
‘Everyone was a bit shocked why we had stopped on the middle of the runway and then a fire engine pulled up. An announcement came on saying “nobody panic we will get it sorted” and the pilot said “we will be getting everyone off the plane soon”.
‘A bird had got in the engine.’
After the evacuation, the holidaymakers were forced to wait until 2pm to catch another plane to the French capital.
One of the fire engines parked up on the runway this morning after the jet was forced to slam the brakes on
Mr Alcock said people on the jet were panicked by the presence of the fire brigade, but they were assured by the cabin crew it was just a freak occurrence.
Cardiff Airport confirmed that Flybe flight BE4565 to Paris Charles de Gaulle had a ‘bird strike’ as it prepared to depart.
The runway was closed for a short period as the passengers were taken from the plane and it opened shortly thereafter.
source:dailymail