Aero-News Network, FL
May 7 2006
Fire At Sabena Technics Hangar Claims Four Planes, Including Second
Armavia A320
Sat, 06 May ’06
Second A/C Loss For Carrier In Three Days
A fire that swept through one of aircraft maintenance company Sabena
Technic’s hangars at Brussels National Airport Thursday night
destroyed four aircraft, including a second Airbus A320 belonging to
Armenia carrier Armavia. That carrier is still reeling from the loss
earlier this week of another A320, that went down in the Black Sea
Tuesday night with 113 onboard.
“This was a reserve airliner. We hope this accident will not wreck
our overall flight schedule, and we will try and make up for the
losses,” said Armavia press secretary Zhasmin Vilyan in response to
the loss of the second aircraft (file photo of type, below.)
A worker at the hangar was seriously burned in the fire, but is
expected to recover. Three firefighters received minor injuries and
were treated at the scene, according to local media reports.
Sabena Technics handles maintenance for a variety of carriers
throughout Europe. In addition to the Armavia plane, another A320
belonging to International Armenia Airlines was also reportedly
destroyed in the fire, as was a C-130 transport belonging to the
Belgian Air Force.
The fourth aircraft is reported to be an A320 belonging to Cypriot
charter carrier Hellas Jet.
Before this week’s accidents, Armavia counted five A320s in its
fleet, as well as two Yak-42 trijets. All of its aircraft are leased
from other companies.
On Friday, hundreds of mourners gathered on the shores of the Black
Sea near the resort town of Sochi, and laid wreaths of blue, white,
and red flowers to commemorate the 113 victims of this week’s
accident. On Wednesday, the Russian and Armenian governments
designated Friday as a national day of mourning for those lost in the
mishap, which officials have stated was caused by poor weather
conditions. Search crews also said Friday it was unlikely that the
bodies of more than half the victims would ever be recovered.