Flight International
May 5 2006
Pictures: Probe begins into Sabena Technics hangar fire
By Kerry Ezard in London
Sabena Technics believes the fire that burned down one of its
maintenance hangars at Brussels airport, destroying four aircraft,
will have only a minor effect on its operations as investigations
begin into the cause of the blaze.
The hangar was completely destroyed in the fire, which buckled the
roof and structure (pictured below).
© Kenny Vinckbooms
The company says the it is “rescheduling its maintenance tasks to
ensure continuity” and is relocating heavy maintenance activities to
its other hangars.
The spokeswoman confirms that the fire, which broke out at 00:00 last
night, destroyed three Airbus A320s. One A320 was operated by Armenian
carrier Armavia, another by compatriots Armenian International Airways
and a third by Greek charter operator Hellas Jet. A Belgian armed
forces Lockheed Martin C-130H Hercules was also lost.
The company is not disclosing the registration numbers of the aircraft
involved, but a spokesman for Hellas Jet confirms that one of its
A320s, a three-year old jet registered SX-BVB and leased from CIT
Group, is among the aircraft destroyed in the blaze.
Armenian International Airways has a single A320, a 13-year old
example registered EK-32001, which has recently been operated on
behalf of Tunisian carrier Tuninter and Air Arabia.
The Armavia A320 involved is reported to be a ten-year old model,
bearing registration EK-32010. The fire comes just days after the
carrier lost an A320 in the Black Sea, killing 113 on board, as the
jet attempted to land at Sochi Airport in Russia.
Belgian armed forces air command operates eleven Hercules,
registrations running sequencially from CH-10 to CH-12. It is not
yet known which C-130 was destroyed.
Sabena Technics says there is no indication as to what caused the
fire, adding that an investigation is continuing and that a clearer
picture should emerge “in a matter of days”.
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