Bird blamed for plane crash
2008-12-22 22:43
Brussels - A kestrel falcon was blamed on Monday for the crash in May of a US-owned Boeing 747 cargo plane as it took off from Brussels airport, breaking apart but causing no injuries.
The bird was sucked into one of the four engines on the massive Kalitta Air jet, stopping it from taking off, said senior transport official Etienne Schouppe, citing an accident report.
The plane broke into three pieces not far from houses in the northeast Brussels suburb of Zavantem.
The five-member crew of the plane, which had been bound for the Gulf state of Bahrain, survived unhurt and no one on the ground was injured in the incident.
Local residents have long campaigned for the runway to be shut down.
- AFP