Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2008 10:33 amOne hundred and sixty six passengers were evacuated via escape chutes this morning from a Ryanair plane which made an emergency landing at Rome's Ciampino airport after it was apparently struck by birds during its approach.
Guglielmo Albertini, an Italian who was on board, said there was "panic" among passengers although no serious injuries were reported.
"Several women were screaming and one was taken ill with fright" he said. Mr Albertini struck his head but was not seriously injured. He praised the crew and airport staff for organising the evacuation.
Ciampino, which is used by low cost carriers to Rome but is also a military and VIP airport, was closed after the Boeing 737-800, which had flown from Frankfurt Hahn, came to rest at end of the runway with the left hand engine resting on the tarmac. Firefighters covered the plane and surrounding area in fire retardant foam.
The Italian air safety agency ANSV said the aircraft had overshot the runway, "exiting beyond the threshold" during the landing. Ryanair said the plane suffered "multiple bird strikes to both engines" during its approach to the airport.
It said the aircraft was brought to an emergency stop on the runway and all passengers exited safely. "The aircraft and its engines are currently being inspected by Ryanair engineers to assess any damage as a result of this incident," the company said in a statement. ENAC, the Italian civil aviation administration, has also sent a team of investigators to the airport.
Marco Ghimenti of the Ciampino fire brigade said the plane had reported an engine problem as it descended, and that the landing gear "appeared to give way" when it landed.
ENAC later said Ciampino would reopen at 1700 Rome time.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/worl...icle5123600.ece
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQKqaaK4nnU
Guglielmo Albertini, an Italian who was on board, said there was "panic" among passengers although no serious injuries were reported.
"Several women were screaming and one was taken ill with fright" he said. Mr Albertini struck his head but was not seriously injured. He praised the crew and airport staff for organising the evacuation.
Ciampino, which is used by low cost carriers to Rome but is also a military and VIP airport, was closed after the Boeing 737-800, which had flown from Frankfurt Hahn, came to rest at end of the runway with the left hand engine resting on the tarmac. Firefighters covered the plane and surrounding area in fire retardant foam.
The Italian air safety agency ANSV said the aircraft had overshot the runway, "exiting beyond the threshold" during the landing. Ryanair said the plane suffered "multiple bird strikes to both engines" during its approach to the airport.
It said the aircraft was brought to an emergency stop on the runway and all passengers exited safely. "The aircraft and its engines are currently being inspected by Ryanair engineers to assess any damage as a result of this incident," the company said in a statement. ENAC, the Italian civil aviation administration, has also sent a team of investigators to the airport.
Marco Ghimenti of the Ciampino fire brigade said the plane had reported an engine problem as it descended, and that the landing gear "appeared to give way" when it landed.
ENAC later said Ciampino would reopen at 1700 Rome time.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/worl...icle5123600.ece
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQKqaaK4nnU
