Posted on 05/26/2005 6:06:14 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
May 26, 2005 15:59 IST
China today launched a high-level probe into the death of a boy who fell from the landing gear of a passenger plane during take off yesterday at the Dunhuang Airport in northwest China.
A joint group of officials dispatched by the Northwest China Bureau of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) arrived in Dunhuang Airport and started an investigation on the circumstances leading to the accident.
Business at the airport of Dunhuang, a well-known tourist resort known for its Buddhist grottoes, remained unaffected by the incident, said the airport authority.
The boy, about 10 years old, fell from the undercarriage of a China Eastern Airlines A320 plane when it was taking off about 7.50 am Wednesday, and died at the scene.
The plane continued its flight after the accident and landed safely at the destination of Lanzhou, capital of Gansu, one hour and 25 minutes later. The identity of the boy is still unknown.
The Gansu branch of the airlines said the landing gear is usually retracted about 15 meters above the ground and the boy might have fallen out of the plane from that height.
Officials with CAAC last night blamed the incident on lax safety measures at the airport and ordered a thorough investigation of the tragedy.
Ping!
Imagine what a terrorist could have done.
This just up...FAA mandates seatbelts in wheel wells.
Very unfortunate incident, and I'll be willing to bet that somewhere, someone is blaming Airbus. *rolls eyes*
ping.
Next time I fly China Eastern Airlines, remind me to ask for an upgrade to Business Class.
It blows when the deceleration curve is linear.
... but no peanuts! Someone may be allergic.
Creme of sum yun guy
The FAA has grounded all Airbuses until it completes a thorough investigation of wheel-well passenger safety accomodations.
If'n he'd Dunhuang'd on a little better....
I should have read yours before posting #13.
No tickee - No ridee
What the media doesn't say is the other sixty passeners packed in the wheel wells made it without any probem. They always report the bad news and none of the good.
High up, and as light as I can be.
I must be a sight lovely to see.
I'm flying.
Nothing will stop me now:
Higher still look at how
I can zoom around,
'Way up off the ground
I'm flying.
I fly and I'm all over the place
You try and you fall flat on your face.
----------------splat-----
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