An Air Terminal Services vehicle ran into and damaged the side of an Air Pacific Boeing 747 yesterday morning, forcing the airline to offload more than 200 Sydney-bound passengers.
The travellers were later transferred to a smaller B767 which left three hours after the scheduled 9am flight but without 23 passengers. A statement from the airline in the afternoon said the jumbo, which was in the hangar, was repaired and was awaiting inspection.
The accident happened while the B747 was being loaded for the Sydney flight.
“The damage caused was relatively minor but required repairs before the aircraft could be released for further flight operations,” the company statement said in rely to queries sent to chief executive John Campbell.
“As a consequence, an Air Pacific B767 aircraft which had been scheduled for routine maintenance was towed from the Air Pacific hangar to the international terminal and baggage, cargo and catering were swapped from the B747 to the 767.
“No one was injured in the accident and an investigation is being done. The cost of repairs, disruption cost and provision of meals and refreshment for customers are being assembled and will be discussed between Air Pacific and ATS.”
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May 14, 2009 at 12:16 am