BA 747 grounded in Kazakhstan

[rich747]

"British Airways flight BA010, operating Sydney-Bangkok-London Heathrow arriving on 15th April 2006, has diverted into Uralsk, Kazakhstan, following a technical problem."


Apparently, a group of bees in the cargo hold set off the fire alarm!

http://www.airliners.net/discussions/general_aviation/read.main/2721253/

And BA's official line
http://www.britishairways.com/travel/flightops/public/en_gb


Interesting

[beaky]

There was a bad movie once about a swarm of killer bees that got loose on an airliner... I'd say it was a case of life imitating art, but that movie was not art...

[Ivan]

Because of the available equipment, they had to unload the 300 passengers by letting them stand on the roof of a service truck. Largest plane that goes there is 757 size (Air Astana), so the stairs arent high enough


Runway is narrow and not too well cleaned (see pprune threads linked in airliners.net topic)

[rich747]

This must have been the worst possible place for an emergency light to come on, there is actually nowhere to land. This obvious due to the remoteness of the place it actually ended up. Nearest airport I can think of that hosts fully loaded 747's would be one of the Pakistani ones or Dubai.

Of course another alternative would be Tehran but just how likely is that at the current time!

[Ivan]

This must have been the worst possible place for an emergency light to come on, there is actually nowhere to land. This obvious due to the remoteness of the place it actually ended up. Nearest airport I can think of that hosts fully loaded 747's would be one of the Pakistani ones or Dubai.

Remember that DAFIF lists about 10% of the airports in the whole CIS area. Uralsk was probably the closest one that had enough runway strength and the best chance for pax handling.

Of course another alternative would be Tehran but just how likely is that at the current time!

its an emergency landing. even elal gets landing permission at theran if the situation demands it

[born_2_fly]

This must have been the worst possible place for an emergency light to come on, there is actually nowhere to land. This obvious due to the remoteness of the place it actually ended up. Nearest airport I can think of that hosts fully loaded 747's would be one of the Pakistani ones or Dubai.

Ha! Funny you should say that. On Thursday I was on MH004 KUL-LHR and we got diverted to Karachi, Pakistan due to a medical! I didnt mind! We parked next to a PIA 777-200LR and some of the traffic there was interesting (Tu-154, 747 Classics, Fokker 50's, A310's)  ;D

Born_2_fly

P.S. We were on 9M-MPB (Hibiscus)!  ;D

[rich747]

That sounds awesome born_2_fly, the only current 777-200 in operation and your diversion took you right next to it, sweet!