Airport in spotlight after roof tiles dislodged

Up to 20 roof tiles were dislodged by a low-flying aircraft near George Best Belfast City Airport, a resident said today.

MS sufferer Jean Wright, 55, was in the house yesterday afternoon when she heard the crash at her house at Oval Court, east Belfast.

However, an airport spokeswoman said it was too early to be conclusive about the cause of the damage.

Ms Wright's daughter-in-law, Karen Sanders, said local people were alarmed by the danger to their homes. She said the roof had been shaken.

"It has been sucked out by the force of the aeroplane," she said.

She said another neighbour nearby was left cowering with fear.

"She was under the blankets terrified about what the aeroplane could do," she added.

Residents have been involved in a vociferous campaign aimed at limiting certain flights at the airport.

It is thought yesterday afternoon's plane was landing, although the matter is being investigated by the airport authorities.

A spokeswoman for the airport said: "Belfast City Airport are currently undertaking an investigation with their Air Traffic Control department and will be taking the necessary steps to measure the plots of the aircraft at the time of the incident.

"We can therefore not be conclusive to the cause of the damage until we receive the outcome of this investigation.

"Regardless, Belfast City Airport take incidents such as these extremely seriously and are happy to continue to engage with both households with regards to further support and repairs of the roof damage as a measure of good will."

Liz Fawcett, chairwoman of Belfast City Airport Watch residents' group, said it was fortunate nobody was seriously injured.

"This is the second such incident in just nine months in east Belfast. It raises serious questions about the safety of the current flight trajectories of aircraft flying into and out of the City Airport, and the current scale of operations at the airport," she said.

"It certainly underlines the fact that there should be no further expansion of City Airport's activities."

Environment Minister Edwin Poots has announced he was minded to allow further expansion of the airport by lifting the limit on passenger numbers.

Ms Fawcett added: "We call on the minister to reject the airport's request for the removal of this crucial limit - and to start putting the needs of ordinary residents in east Belfast and other affected areas first."