Emirates investigates problem with seal on Airbus A380
Emirates Airline has refuted claims that an emergency exit blew open mid-air on an Airbus A380 flight between Bangkok and Hong Kong.
A passenger reportedly said that an aircraft door came ajar at 27,000ft on flight EK384 on Monday, February 11.
Brit tourist David Reid told the UK’s Daily Mail on Friday that freezing air blasted into the jumbo jet and the cabin pressure plunged after the exit in business class opened nearly 4cm.
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Emirates says the problem on an Airbus A380 like this one never threatened passenger safety.
However, an Emirates spokesperson told 7DAYS: “At no time during the flight did one of the upper deck doors open.
“There was also no loss in cabin pressurisation at any time during the flight.”
The Dubai carrier confirmed that there was a “whistling noise emanating from one of the doors on the A380 upper deck” but said the sound from the door was caused by “a small dimensional difference between the inflated door seal and the door lower frame striker plate when the door is in the closed position.”
The spokesperson added: “This is currently under investigation in conjunction with Airbus. Emirates have now fixed the problem.”
Reid claimed cabin crew started grabbing blankets and pillows, which they stuck together with duct tape to fill the gap, and said a green light indicated the door was open.
In response, the airline said: “The blankets were placed around the door to abate the whistling sound emanating from the door, not to prevent the door from opening.
“There was no point during the incident where the safety of the flight was in jeopardy. In addition, the green light next to the door does not represent that the door is open. It is an attendant indication panel and is used for communication information for the cabin crew.
“The safety of our passengers and crew remains our number one priority and we work very closely with the manufacturer to ensure this.”
megha@7days.ae
4 Comments
by Chocs01
Sunday, February 17 2013, 12:10PM
“Jamal, this wasn't an emergency! This is nothing more than a leaky seal, the door was NOT ajar! So many inaccuracies an incorrect information in this story it's unbelievable! If you want to know the real situation, I suggest going to look at some of the pilot forums, where they are all discussing it.”
by realnorthern
Sunday, February 17 2013, 11:54AM
“I am confused here......why has there only been 1 complaint about this and not the remaining several hundred passengers???
after all this person did claim that the temp dropped dramatically to below freezing!! if that was the case, wouldn't hundreds more know this?????
unless my Maths are wrong......and I will confirm they are not....unless a door is blown off its hinges, it can't open at that altitude due to the lack of oxygen in the atmosphere as it creates its own suction vacuum to prevent this due to pressure.....
therefore I must conclude, a simple case of fear whilst flying, a bit of noise from this and the need to have started their official 15 minutes of fame!!!!”
by Jamal
Sunday, February 17 2013, 10:49AM
“to Chocs01: In the case of an emergency doors blow open outside not inside and that's fact. However, would agree with the oxygen masks. Also, if the door was ajar at that altitude it would be a disaster.”
by Chocs01
Sunday, February 17 2013, 9:34AM
“Please don't believe anything the DM prints! This whole thing is a load of rubbish! Green = the door is LOCKED, NOT unlocked. If there was a loss of cabin pressure, then the oxygen masks would have deployed - they didn't. The aircraft doors open inwards, and cabin pressure is higher than that of the outside pressure so its impossible for them to blow outwards. Nothing to see here, move along now.”