Sixteen air passengers were taken to hospital last night with ear problems after a Ryanair flight from Bristol to Barcelona was forced to make an emergency landing in France.
Passengers “feared for their lives”, according to arctic explorer Pen Hadow who was on the flight with his family, as the plane lost altitude rapidly and oxygen masks were deployed.
Mr Hadow claimed that as oxygen masks dropped, it was clear there were some that were not inflating but chief executive Micheal O’Leary refuted this claim on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme this morning.
Hadow told The Telegraph: “I would say some people thought we were going to die - that is how frightening it was.” Having heard a “loud and unnerving sound” as cabin pressure dropped, he added: “ I knew it wasn't an engine problem. There was a sudden drop in temperature and a rush of cold air. You think to yourself: God, is there a hole in the aircraft? It actually felt like someone had opened a door at the back of the aircraft. It was incredibly cold.”
He added: “The next thing the oxygen masks were dropping. My highest priority was to get a mask onto my son who was sitting next to me in a bemused and frightened state. Mine wasn't filling up with oxygen and neither was my son's. He was hyperventilating. I looked at the lady on my left and hers hadn't filled up either. From where I was sitting I could see about 20 masks and only a few of them were inflating. It was extremely variable as to who got oxygen in their masks."
But O’Leary said: "The oxygen masks were working and the correct safety procedures were followed."
A Ryanair spokesman said: "Ryanair confirms that the FR9336 from Bristol airport to Barcelona Girona airport on the evening of August 25 experienced an inflight depressurisation incident which caused the oxygen masks on board to deploy. As a safety precaution the captain descended and diverted the aircraft to Limoges Airport at approximately 23.30 local French time.
"All 168 passengers disembarked safely upon landing. A total of 16 passengers together with five accompanying family members have transferred, at their request, to a local hospital complaining of ear ache.”
Mike Tawil Aviation & Special Projects Mgr, Voyana 28 August 2008, 12:53:19 GMT For once... ...it seems we are at one with FR.
I can see the germ of an idea, though - a credit card swipe when the masks drop???
Dan Greaves 27 August 2008, 15:42:04 GMT self-publicist I agree with Julian Bray (MCIPR, NUJ, MMC, KEYNOTE SPEAKER, MENTOR, EVENTANDROADSHOWPLANNERS.COM), that man Hadow is an appalling self-publicist.
JULIAN BRAY MCIPR, NUJ, MMC Keynote Speaker and Moderator, www.EVENTANDROADSHOWPLANNERS.COM 27 August 2008, 08:54:21 GMT More about the person than the oxygen mask You have to hand it to the explorer and others of his ilk. He managed to generate substantial personal publicity on BBC,ITV and Sky Television for his exploration exploits as well as having a pop at Ryanair.. Of course we should all read the safety card and we should all watch the demonstration by the flight attendants but in reality we don't. There is a case for running the in-flight demos at the gate holding area lounge (lots of time at LHR Terminal Five!!!). Perhaps physically trying on the life jackets or vests, just as they do for the mandatory lifeboat drill on board cruise liners. Knowing the people behind Ryanair, the aircraft relentlessly operate at maximum capacity (weep BA weep) are fully serviced and checked. It would not be in Ryanair's commecial interest to have aircraft 'go technical' for any reason. As for the oxygen supply, people do panic and many do not pull on the mask tube as instructed to release the flow, the flight deck crew in addition to dropping to 8,000 ft are also wearing the masks so donning the mantle of "Captain Speaking" is not an option and stating the blindingly obviously (ie horizon at right angles and a feeling as you plunge downwards you are still at 30,000 feet...) during this process would not be appropriate. I would like to think the flight crew are all (ie 100 per cent of them) working calmly and professionally to correct the problem. Finally, consider the oxygen masks issued in hospital are nothing more than a tube you place under your nose looping the tube around your ears, perhaps this would be a better and more familiar piece of kit for aircraft but then what do I know?
Timothy O'Neil-Dunne Principal Consultant, T2 Impact Ltd 26 August 2008, 17:08:13 GMT Oxygen masks I fly usually every week. I have watched countless safety demonstrations. There is a common agreed standard. "THE OXYGEN WILL BE FLOWING EVEN THOUGH THE BAG MAY NOT INFLATE" While a rare occurance it is not a unique or unknown event for this to occur. It seems that the crew acted according to the book. On Ryanair you can be sure that you cannot miss the instructions - they are staring at you in the face with the "safety card" actually now stuck to the back of the seat in front of you.
Tim Kenworthy 26 August 2008, 16:49:06 GMT Oxygen masks The drop down masks are not meant to "inflate" as most people think,they work differently from the type used in hospitals etc.As long as the mask is pulled down and releases the pin to start the chemical O2 generator,there should be oxygen.His son was probally hyperventilating with panic ,this is too much oxygen ,not lack of it !!(Which is hypoxia )Mr Hadow should have know better as an Arctic explorer !!
Juan Tecles 26 August 2008, 16:07:21 GMT and this man is supposed to be well travelled!! Anyone who listens to the safety demonstrations of any airline should know that in the event of a failure of cabin pressure "masks will drop down" once you pull a mask "oxigen will start to flow" and "THE BAG MAY NOT INFLATE"!! which means: don't panic, the oxygen will flow anyway. Please Mr Hadow, next time you fly DO listen to the safety demo. If you had done so you would have made a fool of yourself, courtesy of the media coverage...
Kristin Hunnibell Kennedy Managing Director, Perfect Journeys Travel 26 August 2008, 13:35:04 GMT Do the bags actually inflate anyway? I have quoted here a copy of the safety instruction script for a major airline regarding oxygen masks -
"In the event of a change of cabin pressure, panels above your head will open revealing oxygen masks. Remain seated with your seatbelts fastened. Pull a mask down towards you to active the flow of oxygen. OXYGEN WILL BE FLOWING TO THE MASK EVEN THOUGH THE BAG MAY NOT INFLATE. Cover your nose and mouth with the mask, place the elastic band around your head and continue to breathe normally. Remember to secure your own mask before assisting other."
Is it possible that the hyperventilation experienced by any passengers was due to the rush of adrenalin from the fear that something was happening? I would be willing to bet that my breathing pattern would certainly NOT have been normal had such an event happened to me!
Robin Woods 26 August 2008, 12:45:21 GMT non event Never flown with Ryanair but during the British Airways safety briefing I know they always say "please note the mask does not inflate". If this is not mentioned during the Ryanair safety brief then that is an issue they can address.
Claire Osborne 26 August 2008, 11:52:30 GMT Who knows best? Was Mr O'Leary actually on the flight to be so confident that Mr Hadow is wrong? I hope the investigators of the incident aren't so quick to dismiss the comments!!
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