Ethiopian Airlines in minor accident in Blantyre

Passengers of Ethiopian Airline Boeing 737 500 flight 877 on Wednesday got stranded at Chileka International Airport in Blantyre after it was hit by a stray baggage trawler.

Ethiopian officials were reluctant to speak about the incident but sources at Chileka who were at the scene disclosed that the stationary plane was hit by runaway trawlers.

It was around 2.30 PM when loading and offloading of bags from the plane, which was heading to Addis Ababa, had completed when a trawler hit the sides of one of the engine.

“The towing tug, which had four trawlers attached, was heading to be parked. But three of them disengaged, and hit the plane’s engine. This time most of the passengers were already on board,” said the source.

Immediately after the incident, an engineer from the airline, who was in the plane, came off and started checking the engine. He took photographs of the plane and sent them to Addis Ababa.

The Nation

saw the pilot and engineer who were in the plane communicating with officials in Ethiopia using a phone belonging to one of airport officials.

Passengers then disembarked from the aircraft and when airport officials were asked if ET was to take off, the official said that would depend upon the decision from Ethiopia since pictures of the damaged aircraft had been sent.

“If they are satisfied that the plane can fly, then passengers will not be delayed but if not then another plane will be arranged,” he said.