AAIU report into G-VELD

The Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) of the Department of Transport has published a preliminary incident report into the diversion of flight VIR 039 to Shannon on January 11. The flight, operated by A340-600 G-VELD was 140 miles west of Galway when the crew noted a small fire in the bottom of the waste bin storage compartment of the bar unit in the First class section. The crew noted that a damaged electrical cable appeared to be arcing in the hole.

The crew turned off the commercial and galley power circuits but the arcing and flames persisted. The Captain declared an emergency and the aircraft diverted to Shannon landing just before 1 pm. During the diversion the crew used five 1kg BCF fire extinguishers which subdued the flames but the arcing continued. After each application the fire restarted after approximately five minutes. After the aircraft landed the Shannon Airport Fire Service discharged a 5kg BCF fire extinguisher into the fire but the glow at the bottom of the hole persisted. Following consultation between the Fire Crew Watch Leader and the crew the aircraft was depowered at which stage no further arcing was observed. 

Subsequent investigation found that the wiring loom which carries power to 'mood lighting' around the bar counter top had been severed. The bar unit installation was specific to Virgin Atlantic and had been fitted three years ago. Installation drawings showed that two rails should been fitted to prevent the bottom of the bin touching the wiring loom which should also have had a protective cover fitted. No evidence was found which would support the theory that the rails and cover had ever been fitted. A fleet inspection of Virgin's A340-300 and A340-600 aircraft found that a number of aircraft had issues relating to the rails and loom cover and in one instance damage to the loom was discovered.

While the cause of the incident has been determined significant other issues relating to crew checklists, the difficulty in isolating the damaged circuit and the design and standard of the modification continue to be investigated. The final report will be issued in due course.

One aspect of the incident after the aircraft arrived at Shannon on January 11 were numerous conflicting reports in the media as to whether there had in fact been a fire on board the aircraft. 

Virgin 39 diverts to Shannon

Today's Virgin Atlantic flight VIR 039 from London Heathrow to Chicago O'Hare diverted to Shannon as a precaution after smoke was noted in one of the galleys. The flight, operated by A340-313X G-VELD landed at 12.48. The airport fire service and two units from Ennis Fire Station were in attendance when the aircraft with it's compliment of 156 passengers touched down safely on a blustery and rainy R24. 

Virgin 33 postscript

More details of Saturday's Virgin 33 diversion to Shannon have come to light. Sir Richard Branson's daughter Holly, 26 and a qualified doctor was at the centre of the emergency, administering assistance to the passenger who had suffered a heart attack during the flight. The passenger, Paul Norbury, 47 fell ill shortly after the aircraft took off. The decision was made to divert to Shannon due to his worsening situation. Holly was travelling to Antigua to spend Christmas on Necker, the Branson family private island. Also on board the flight was Formula 1 boss, Eddie Jordan.

VIR 33 diverts to Shannon

Today's VIR 33 routing EGKK-TAPA, Gatwick to St John's V.C. Bird in Antigua diverted into Shannon on a medical emergency. The aircraft landed at 11:34 on R24 and departed again at 13:47. Pictured above G-VROY lands on 24 as waiting emergency vehicles wait to give chase, no doubt due to the overweight landing.

VIR 021 - Postscript

Yesterday's Virgin Atlantic flight 21 had declared an emergency due to an unusually high temperature reading in the wheeel well. Following it's landing in Dublin the problem was traced to a faulty temperature sensor which was replaced by engineers. The aircraft departed Dublin and arrived in Washington 6 hours behind schedule.

Virgin Atlantic diversion

Today's Virgin Atlantic flight VIR21 from Heathrow to Washington operated by Airbus A340-311 G-VSEA, msn 3 diverted to Dublin with a technical problem. Initially, the aircraft diverted to Shannon where the airport fire service had been called out. The flight was on finals when the decision was made to return to Heathrow at FL150. Whilst in the climb the crew contacted their ops base in the UK who instructed the flight to divert to Dublin since there was engineering support available there. The aircraft then headed up the east coast at FL100 to the TULSO hold for R28 to enable fuel dumping.