R2OK!

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

A British Airways plane carrying 343 passengers and crew including Tony Blair and his family has overrun the main runway at Miami Airport.

No-one on board the Boeing 747-400 plane was injured after the incident.

BA said the pilot could not see the lights leading to the taxiway - causing him to hit more lights - and the plane had to be realigned.

Mr Blair was on his way to stay with Bee Gees star Robin Gibb at his house in Miami Beach.

The prime minister was seated in first class on flight 209 from London, which landed at 1815 local time (2315 GMT) on Tuesday, the US Secret Service said.

"The captain believed the lighting on the taxiway was not sufficient to guide him and an airport vehicle was requested to realign the plane," a spokeswoman said.

'Landed safely'

The plane, which was not damaged, then taxied to the terminal under its own power and passengers disembarked normally, she added

The prime minister and his family are staying with Robin Gibb, the former Bee Gees star, who has a $10m [£5.1m] house here in Miami Beach
Evan Benn, Miami Herald

According to Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Laura Brown the plane stopped just past the end of the runway.

"It landed safely on the runway. It slowed down. It was going at taxiway speed and they just missed a turn," she said.

Airport spokesman Marc Henderson said the jet had hit several airfield lights after landing but had not left the concrete surface.

Evan Benn, a reporter for the Miami Herald newspaper, told BBC News Mr Blair was holidaying in Florida.

"The prime minister and his family are staying with Robin Gibb, the former Bee Gees star, who has a $10m [£5.1m] house here in Miami Beach," he said.

Downing Street confirmed Mr Blair was on his winter holidays but said it never commented on specific arrangements.

Cherskiy · Posted: Wed Dec 27, 2006 4:26 pm Post subject:

Large aircraft regularly crunch airfield lighting, it's just that Tony was onboard making it a major news story, and any reports of the Megatop 'falling' off the runway are 'plane' wrong....

The NTSB (the American version of the UK's AAIB) has put out the following press release today:

"The National Transportation Safety Board is
investigating an incident that occurred last night at Miami
International Airport involving a British Airways Boeing
747. There were no injuries to the 343 persons aboard,
including British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his family.

At approximately 6:15 p.m. EST, December 26, British
Airways flight 209 from London landed on runway 30 at Miami
International Airport. The aircraft was a Boeing 747-400,
registration G-BNLM. After slowing to taxi speed, the
aircraft taxied beyond the end of the runway and went into
the paved runway overrun area. In so doing, it knocked down
two approximately 12-inch-high approach lights for runway 12
(the same runway in the opposite direction).

The aircraft was towed onto a taxiway, at which time
it proceeded under its own power to the gate. An inspection
revealed no damage to the aircraft or its tires and it
subsequently departed on its scheduled return flight to
London.

Jeff Kennedy from the NTSB's Southeast Regional Office
in Miami is the Investigator-in-Charge of this incident.
Damage to the runway lights has been documented and the
Safety Board will collect statements from the flight crew."

According to pilots who regularly use MIA, this part of the runway is badly lit - the usual pattern is that on the last 2000' of runway, the runway edge lights change to an amber/yellow color, the last 3000' of centerline lights start to alternate red and white whilst the last 1000' of centerline lights are all red.

At MIA there appears to be some kind of problem with the lighting system - this is the third aircraft to do just this in the last few weeks. The airport authorities know about the problem and have maintenance scheduled to fix the problem. However, despite what the news reports say, 'Lima Mike never came off the paved surface, it just ran onto what they call the 'stopway' or 'overrun' area (we'd call it the 'run-up area'). And the reason why it was towed from its resting position was that Boeing 747-436s (and most airliners in general) don't have a reverse gear....

Typical sensationalist reporting from the media.

Cherskiy
_________________
Author: “To the Ends of the Earth: A Snapshot of Aviation in North-Eastern Siberia, Summer 1992”
(Free to read via Kindle Unlimited)

Natasha · Little Miss Lovely Smile Joined: 09 Dec 2006 Posts: 790

* The prime minister and his family are staying with Robin Gibb, the former Bee Gees star *

So what's the plan? Secret talks? Tone takes over where Maurice left off, when he throws his hat out of the ring?
_________________
Eternal nothingness is fine if you happen to be dressed for it.

Cherskiy · Posted: Wed Dec 27, 2006 5:00 pm Post subject:

Not sure, but you can be sure Tone was humming 'Staying Alive' after the pilot confirmed everything was alright.... Smile

Cherskiy
_________________
Author: “To the Ends of the Earth: A Snapshot of Aviation in North-Eastern Siberia, Summer 1992”
(Free to read via Kindle Unlimited)

Natasha · Little Miss Lovely Smile Joined: 09 Dec 2006 Posts: 790

Could have been 'For Whom The Bell Tolls', Chers - then again..... Very Happy

_________________
Eternal nothingness is fine if you happen to be dressed for it.

Cherskiy · Posted: Wed Dec 27, 2006 5:16 pm Post subject:

First, he started to hum "I Close My Eyes", followed by "You'll Never See My Face Again" and "I Lay Down and Die", thought about singing "Bury Me Down By The River". Finally, he sang "Alive!".... Laughing

What the pilot should have sang to the MIA authorities was "Don't Turn Out the Lights".... Smile

Cherskiy (who's not a Bee Gees fan really, but the track names sprang to mind....)
_________________
Author: “To the Ends of the Earth: A Snapshot of Aviation in North-Eastern Siberia, Summer 1992”
(Free to read via Kindle Unlimited)

SantaFefan · Posted: Wed Dec 27, 2006 5:16 pm Post subject:

""....Typical sensationalist reporting from the media.""

Just Jive Talking, no Tragedy. Cool

Natasha · Little Miss Lovely Smile Joined: 09 Dec 2006 Posts: 790

He took a final glance at Cherry, winked and said, 'Fanny (Be Tender With My Love)
_________________
Eternal nothingness is fine if you happen to be dressed for it.

Cherskiy · Posted: Wed Dec 27, 2006 5:25 pm Post subject:

That's a new keyboard you owe me, Natasha.... Shocked

Cherskiy
_________________
Author: “To the Ends of the Earth: A Snapshot of Aviation in North-Eastern Siberia, Summer 1992”
(Free to read via Kindle Unlimited)

SantaFefan · Posted: Wed Dec 27, 2006 5:32 pm Post subject:

""He took a final glance at Cherry, winked and said, ""

I'll bet that Blunkett is playing with his Joystick again...

admin · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 487

I always knew Natasha was a minx! Careful or you'll be on the naughty step! Wink

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

Tony Blair is paying to use the Florida home of the Bee Gees singer Robin Gibb, Downing Street has said.

The Prime Minister and members of his family are based at the $10m (£5.1m) Miami Beach mansion while on holiday.

He has faced criticism for staying for free at the holiday homes of friends in the past but a spokesman said there was a "private commercial arrangement".

The Blairs made donations to charity in lieu of payment for holidaying at the Barbados home of singer Cliff Richard.

But his spokesman could not say whether a charitable donation was being made on this occasion.

He also did not specify how much money is being paid or to whom.

Downing Street does not normally comment on specific arrangements of the Prime Minister's holidays.

The holiday began in a blaze of publicity when the British Airways flight carrying Mr Blair overran the main runway shortly after landing at Miami International Airport.

Mr Gibb was seen in public with Mr Blair at a Labour rally in May 2005, ahead of the general election.

The singer launched that Huddersfield event and Mr Blair described him as one of his heroes.

Confused

Yeah! do you believe that?

Clive55 · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1336

I had to laugh readin the Daily Express today.
They, like the rest of the media are trying to make a big thin about Tony Blair staying at Mr Gibbs' luxurious pad! What's the problem?
Tony & Cherie go on holiday! Big deal!
It's as much of a non-story as the so called Honors for Loans nonsense the polkice are wasting their time on
Honors for loans is as old as paliamentary democracy
I would rather have that than a military dictatorship, thank you!#
If rich guys want to donate to the party of their choice, or have PMs as guests in their mansions, good luck to them! Very Happy

Staying Aliiivveeeee
I always wondered how the Bee Gees got their voices so high, tho Very Happy