FLIGHTS have been restricted to taking off and landing on the western end of Jersey’s runway after a fire exclusion zone was put in place as a result of last night’s blaze.
The 200-metre exclusion zone on the eastern runway 27 was set up because acetylene cylinders were involved in the fire that gutted a lodging house, staff accommodation and workshops off Mont Fallu above St Peter’s Valley.
Virtually all flights were delayed this morning, although the aircraft carrying the newspapers and mail did get in from Bournemouth on time at 5.30 am. However, thousands of people have had their journeys disrupted. About 400 passengers could not fly last night as a result of flights being cancelled.
Airport operations director Sandy Sawyer said that there was some restricted flying today on the western 09 runway and the authorities were remaining hopeful that flights could land and take off. But screens were showing ‘delayed’ for many flights to and from a variety of destinations.
• Picture: Air traffic controller Shaun Dorgan waits for instructions on incoming flights. The eastern side of the runway was blocked by smoke
Article posted on 15th July, 2008 - 1.59pm
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