Vic: Up to two Ansett 767s may be in air by end of weekend

AAP General News (Australia)
04-14-2001
Vic: Up to two Ansett 767s may be in air by end of weekend

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority says Ansett Australia may have up to two of its
grounded aircraft back in operation by the end of the weekend.

The grounding of Ansett's 10 767s led to chaotic scenes at airports yesterday as Easter
travel plans were hastily rearranged.

Also yesterday the air safety watchdog began checking the rest of the airline's fleet
for defects.

CASA spokesman PETER GIBSON says the 767 inspections will take about two days.

He says Ansett may have one or two planes back in operation by the end of the weekend.

Ansett says 10,000 passengers were affected by the grounding, but it's unable to say
how many flights had been cancelled or delayed.

CASA ordered the 10 Boeing 767s out of service from 10pm (AEST) on Thursday after it
was told that one had made eight flights last Sunday with a defective passenger safety
slide.

The problem is the latest in a series of safety issues that have plagued Ansett for months.

Problems include the discovery earlier this week of cracks in the pylons connecting
engines to the wings of four 767s.

AAP RTV st/bp/alt/

KEYWORD: ANSETT (MELBOURNE)

2001 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.