Electra Bogged At Whenuapai

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30858, 17 September 1965, Page 1

Electra Bogged At Whenuapai

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, September 16. An Air New Zealand Electra became bogged when its right landing wheel went off the concrete taxiway at Whenuapai this morning.

The plane was to take off for Sydney at 9 a.m., with 62 passengers. After returning from the runway for a test of a suspected mechanical fault, the plane was taxi-ing back to the runway when it turned a corner too sharply and its righthand landing wheel sank into soft earth beside the concrete.

The passengers were trans ferred to an Electra which had just arrived from Nandi. It took off two hours late. Its Sydney-Wellington service will be an hour and a half I late, and the return Welling-ton-Sydney flight one hour ;late. ! The bogged aircraft weighed 111,8071 b with its fuel, luggage and passengers. The bogged Electra will be out of service until it has I been thoroughly examined for any structural damage. , Because the jacking point on the wing was over the soft earth the aircraft could not be lifted out. The aircraft was later hauled on to the concrete. The aircraft was commanded by Captain J. F. Harrison.

Restaurant Plans Plans for a licensed restaurant at Mangere Airport took a step forward yesterday when the Auckland Regional Authority airport committee agreed that a restaurant in the interim terminal building was feasible.—(P.A.)

The Department of Civil Aviation will inquire into the incident.