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Monday, 14 September 2009

Airport rebuffs low-flying jet claims

Low-flying aircraft reports investigated

Officials at George Best City Airport have responded to east Belfast residents who claimed that damage was caused to their homes by a low-flying aircraft.

An investigation is underway after east Belfast residents claimed a low-flying jet smashed roof tiles off a house.

But airport officials have insisted that all the planes landing on Sunday were flying at a height and angle which met strict regulations.

Around 30 roof tiles were dislodged from the home of Katrin Irvine at Parkgate Crescent on Sunday afternoon.

"It was scary. There were loads of children, they were just across the road and they were very lucky," she said.

David Wilton, who was sunbathing in his garden, believes he also had a lucky escape.

"I was sitting out on my reclining chair and then my mobile phone rang so I went in to answer it. Next thing I heard a big banging noise", he said.

"I ran out and all the slates were lying on the recliner. I'm lucky to be here today - I could have been cut to pieces."

'No issues'

City Airport officials said radars show four aircrafts landed between 1pm and 1.30pm on Sunday, when the roof was damaged.

Airport operations manager, Mark Beattie said they show that all four planes were flying in accordance with strict aviation regulations.

He said: "We have the ability to uniquely identify aircraft and record their flight paths, their altitudes, air speeds and so on. Our conclusion on this basis in respect of the aircraft arriving at the airfield and approaching over the city was that they were all routinely approaching with no issues."

But SDLP south Belfast MP Dr Alasdair McDonnell has said that the incident reinforces the need for a public enquiry to be carried out into the expansion of the runway at the airport.

Echoing the concern of a number of east Belfast residents, Mr McDonnell said: "The damage caused by this low-flying plane could have had potentially fatal consequences, particularly on a sunny Sunday afternoon as many residents, including young children, were outside enjoying the good weather.

"Aviation traffic has caused serious disruption for people living in South and East Belfast for some time and this incident further emphasises the need for a public enquiry to be carried out into the expansion of the runway at Belfast City Airport."

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3 Comments

At 22:51 on 14 September 2009, Matthew Riddel wrote:

I was sitting in the crèche of me church in the ormeau road area at around 11:30-11:45am ish and I heard a low flying air craft. You could feel the ground shaking under our feet. I have never heard anything like this whilst at church before, coinsidence??

At 18:43 on 14 September 2009, David wrote:

Predictable response from Airport Official! When will DOE and our politicans look at the arrangements for flights at London City Airport and compare them with Belfast. I am sure they will find that Belfast residents are much worse off than those who live in the vicinity of London City with regard to large aircraft and noise

At 15:52 on 14 September 2009, east belfast residence wrote:

I live along the flight path, my tiles are safe as houses, should the tiles not have been nailed in at least 2 places to make them secure, funniest thing is that street isn`t even on the flight path. sounds like dodgy tiles with another member of the so called airport watch who have about 12 members. when they knocked my door & i backed the airport they made of in less than a minute but spent 26 mins trying to tell my mother how terrible this is for the neighbourhood. Maybe if my windows crack i`ll jump on the bandwagon & blame it on, good old george best