Plane crash report ‘by early March’

THE investigation team tasked with establishing what caused the crash of the Manx2 passenger plane at Cork Airport two weeks ago say they are confident they will be able to complete a preliminary report into the accident by the second week in March.

Jurgen Whyte, chief inspector of air accidents with the Air Accident Investigation Unit, said his team had been working for two weeks “day and night” on the wreckage of the Fairchild Metroliner which crashed in thick fog during its third landing attempt on February 10.

Initial investigations by AAIU gave them the impression that the aircraft was operating normally until it hit the ground. The aircraft wing tip hit the runway, tossing it onto its roof before it slid along the runway for 190 metres before coming to rest on the grass alongside the airport’s main runway. The aircraft’s fuel tank on its right engine ruptured, spilling fuel onto the hot engine causing a fire.