'Fatigue failure' to blame for Blue Islands accident last year

ACCIDENT investigators have described the ordeal suffered by Guernsey passengers when the landing gear of a Blue Islands' aircraft collapsed in June of last year.

In a report released today the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau set out how the main left landing gear of the ATR 42, which had just landed in Jersey from Guernsey, collapsed.

This was due to 'fatigue failure' where a crack in a part in the left main landing gear caused the collapse of the landing gear during the taxi process.

The report said how some passengers left their seats before the plane came to a halt because they were concerned about the aircraft rolling to the left. After the engines had stopped, a stewardess decided to initiate the evacuation. Four passengers were hurt in the process.

Blue Islands managing director, Rob Veron, said that it was reassuring to both the airline's staff and passengers that its reports of the incident had been confirmed by the AAIB report, established with supporting data from the flight data recorder, adding: 'The team involved both on the aircraft and behind the scenes did themselves and our business very proud that day and continue to do so.'