Birds in MK Plane’s Engine Causing Major Delays

On Monday, July 29, 2024, Cape Town International Airport (CPT) was thrown into chaos due to a significant power outage that severely disrupted airport operations. This incident notably impacted various flights, including those operated by Air Mauritius (MK).

Flight MK843, which had departed from Mauritius on Sunday, 28 July, was scheduled to land in Cape Town at 9:15 PM.

However, due to the power failure, the flight was redirected to Johannesburg, resulting in considerable inconvenience for passengers.

Air Mauritius operates two flights weekly to Cape Town, and the unexpected stop in Johannesburg meant an adjustment in travel plans for many.

Once essential electrical circuits were restored, the aircraft continued its journey to Cape Town, arriving at 4:32 PM instead of the anticipated 6:20 AM.

The power outage had severe implications for essential services at Cape Town Airport, including runway lights, emergency services, and air navigation support.

According to a statement from Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), the lack of electrical power hampered the landing and takeoff of aircraft.

Technical teams were quickly mobilized to diagnose and address the issue, but officials could not initially confirm when normal operations would be fully restored.

Additionally, the same aircraft that had arrived late was slated to operate flight MK288 to Madagascar on Monday at 2:20 PM. Due to the delays, the departure was postponed to 6:17 PM.

Shortly after takeoff, the plane had to return to SSR Airport at 7:04 PM due to an unspecified technical problem. A later flight to Antananarivo was eventually dispatched that evening.

Passengers reported waiting for over eight hours without receiving adequate compensation for their extended delays.

One traveler expressed frustration on Facebook, stating, “We were offered fried rice and burgers, but the compensation ought to be more.”

Another flight scheduled for Cape Town on Monday, 29 July, was also postponed until Tuesday morning, 30 July, with no explanation given for the delay.

The disruptions did not end there; a flight operated by MK to Paris on Monday morning also faced delays of more than an hour.

Technicians discovered birds lodged in the engine of the Airbus A350, necessitating extra time to ensure the aircraft was safe for flight.

Damage caused by birds can be significant, underscoring the need for thorough inspections before departure.

Adding to the difficulties faced by Air Mauritius, a ramp supervisor, who also served as the president of the union, was suspended from his duties on Monday, July 29.

This suspension coincided with a planned meeting with management to discuss working conditions.

According to an official statement from Air Mauritius, the decision to suspend the supervisor was related to a baggage handling error: luggage destined for Réunion was mistakenly loaded onto a flight to Rodrigues, and vice versa.

This mix-up reportedly resulted in a 99 kg overload on the aircraft heading to Rodrigues.

Given that Rodrigues Airport is classified as Category C, such inaccuracies in handling landing and takeoff can have serious implications for safety.

Source: l’Express