Airlines

Airbus Beluga to Deliver Spare Parts for Stranded British Airways A350

An Airbus BelugaXL is set to assist in the repair of a British Airways Airbus A350-1000 that has been stranded at London-Heathrow Airport (LHR) since April 2024. The BelugaXL, recognized for its unique whale-like design, will transport crucial components needed to restore the damaged aircraft to operational status.

The British Airways A350, registered as G-XWBC, suffered damage to its right-hand horizontal stabilizer following a collision with a Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The incident occurred on April 6, 2024, when the Virgin Atlantic Dreamliner, during a pushback maneuver, inadvertently struck airbus beluga xl vs antonov 225 the parked british airways A350. The collision occurred while the A350 was preparing for its scheduled flight to Accra Kotoka International Airport (ACC) in Ghana.

Airbus’ Beluga fleet, known for its extensive cargo capacity and specialized design, is typically employed for transporting large aircraft components between the company’s manufacturing sites across Europe. The latest model, the BelugaXL, based on the Airbus A330, can carry up to 51 tonnes of cargo in its spacious belly hold, making it ideal for missions such as this.

According to reports by Aviation Data Analyst M Zulqarnain B british airways news and initially reported by Paddle Your Own Kanoo, the Airbus BelugaXL is scheduled to arrive at Heathrow Airport on September 9, 2024, carrying the necessary spare parts to facilitate the repair of the British Airways A350.

This operation underscores the versatility of the BelugaXL fleet in supporting Airbus aircraft worldwide, ensuring that even in challenging situations, repair and maintenance needs can be efficiently met.

Airlines

DGCA Grounds IndiGo Pilots After Tailstrike on Delhi-Bengaluru Flight

On September 9, 2024, an IndiGo flight bound for Bengaluru experienced a significant tailstrike incident at Delhi airport.

The flight, designated as 6E 6054 and operating an Airbus A321neo (VT-IBI), encountered a serious issue during takeoff, resulting in the aircraft being grounded for the past eight days.

The incident occurred when the rear part of the aircraft made contact with the runway, causing the plane to momentarily float in the air before settling back onto the runway. Following the tailstrike, airport authorities instructed the flight to stop.

The aircraft has been out of service since the event, and IndiGo has confirmed that it is currently undergoing maintenance. The airline stated, “The aircraft is currently under maintenance and will be back in operation post necessary repairs.”

In response to the incident, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the civil aviation regulator, has suspended the pilots involved. A senior official from the DGCA noted that the flight crew has been off rostered and that a thorough indigo seat map investigation into the incident is ongoing.

indigo has acknowledged the incident and assured the public that the aircraft will return to service only after all required repairs are completed. The airline added, “The incident is under investigation.”