Ryanair bird strike crash highlights unsuitability of Lydd airport expansion: Matthews
November 11, 2008 3:26 PM
The recent emergency landing of a Ryanair 737 in Rome, which slid to a stop with its port engine touching the ground, has highlighted why Lydd Airport's plans to take similar jets are totally unsuitable according to Neil Matthews, the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman for Folkestone & Hythe.
The Ryanair jet carrying 166 passengers made an emergency landing at Rome's Ciampino airport on Monday after a "huge number" of birds were sucked into its engines. Two cabin crew and eight passengers were taken to hospital.
Neil Matthews said:
"This is the same class of jet aircraft (737) that was tested at Lydd airport for the runway extension planning application. Lydd is extremely close to the RSPB's bird reserve and there is very real risk from bird strike, especially from the large flocks of migratory birds that visit there.
"Canada geese were responsible for bringing down US airforce plane in Alaska in 1995 with the loss of 24 lives and be wouldn't want a similar disaster here. Of course there is always the ever present hazard of the nearby nuclear reactor and the risk of a bird strike troubled 737 trying to land near it.
"We should face up to it - Lydd airport is no place for 737s. The airport should not be expanded to take these planes."
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