Monday, June 11, 2012

Explosion and Fire at LIAT Hangar




(ANTIGUA OBSERVER) St. John’s Antigua- Plumes of smoke filled the skies Sunday night as one of LIATs two hangars went up in flames, carrying with it one of its aircraft; the motor pool; operations office, and several other offices. 

 Firemen fought with heavy winds from about 9:40 pm to put out the flames but two hours later the blaze was still raging.

Reports reaching OBSERVER Media indicate no one was injured and neither was anyone in the hangar at the time of the first explosion.

A source said the hangar is not used on the weekend and the aircraft registration LGH was in the centre for a routine C check or engine check.

CARIBARENA reported that fuel tanks exploded and a fire raged. Latest eyewitness reports are that the LIAT hangar has been completely destroyed. Employees of LIAT have confirmed that one Dash-8 aircraft, apparently under repair, was in the hangar and has been destroyed.

The first of several explosions occurred at approximately 10.00 pm. Since then there have been several further blasts, as fuel tanks in the area succumb to the heat and blaze.

A LIAT source advises that fuel and oil would have been stored in the hangar, and would have contributed to the rapid spread of the fire.

Several fire engines five at last count are attending the conflagration, dousing the flames with water.

The LIAT hangar is located near the Northern extremity of the airport complex, near to the Cargo/Customs building and Runway 10, from which FBO 2000 operates.

According to eye witness the entire LIAT hangar is completely destroyed, everything in it including Dash-8 aircraft lost, it is reported that an underground fuel line that passes under hangar ruptured and every time.

http://www.demerarawaves.com

Antigua St John's - Fuel tanks have exploded and a fire is raging at the LIAT hangar at VC Bird International airport.

Latest eyewitness reports are that the LIAT hangar has been completely destroyed. Employees of LIAT have confirmed that one Dash-8 aircraft, apparently under repair, was in the hangar and has been lost.
The first of several explosions occurred at approximately 10.00 pm. Since then there have been several further blasts, as fuel tanks in the area succumb to the heat and blaze.

A LIAT source advises that fuel and oil would have been stored in the hangar, and would have contributed to the rapid spread of the fire.

Several fire engines five at last count  are attending the conflagration, dousing the flames.

Fire Department and Police personnel are keeping the large crowd of several hundred onlookers that has assembled some distance from the blaze, making it difficult to generate clear images of the disaster.

The LIAT hangar is located near the Northern extremity of the airport complex, near to the Cargo/Customs building and Runway 10, from which FBO 2000 operates.

Caribarena will provide further details as they become available.

According to eye witness the entire LIAT hangar is completely destroyed, everything in it including Dash-8 aircraft lost, it is reported that an underground fule line that passes under hangar ruptured and every time Fire crew pours water on it it erupts with flames again, all efforts now concentrated on controlling that ruptured fuel line.

Meanwhile LIAT Has said that the Company is working with the investigative authorities of Antigua and Barbuda as well as the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (ECCAA) to ascertain the cause of the fire.

It is expected at this time that all flights will operate normally today, Monday June 11.
 

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