{"id":61835,"date":"2024-04-16T13:13:43","date_gmt":"2024-04-16T07:43:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/?p=61835"},"modified":"2024-04-16T13:13:48","modified_gmt":"2024-04-16T07:43:48","slug":"virgin-atlantic-a350-hit-by-vehicle-at-new-york","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/2024\/04\/16\/virgin-atlantic-a350-hit-by-vehicle-at-new-york\/","title":{"rendered":"Virgin Atlantic A350 Hit by Vehicle at New York JFK"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

NEW YORK-<\/strong> On Monday (April 15, 2024), a Virgin Atlantic (VS)<\/a> flight from New York (JFK) <\/a>to London (LHR) <\/a>was canceled due to an incident involving a ground service vehicle at the gate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although an Airbus A350-1000<\/a> was designated for the flight, it remains grounded while crews conduct inspections to assess potential damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"On
Photo: Eurospot<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Virgin Atlantic A350 Hit by Vehicle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The large aircraft was stationary when the vehicle was thought to have “rolled into” its left engine cowling. However, some witnesses have suggested that the engine “descended onto the car gradually” after additional weight was applied to the aircraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to information shared on Reddit<\/em>, the aircraft is registered as G-VDOT. A photo depicting the aftermath reveals the front of a Gate Gourmet vehicle lodged beneath the large engine of the A350 while ground personnel appear to be evaluating the situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FlightAware data indicates that the aircraft was parked at gate A4 at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) upon arrival from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) as VS25 on Sunday night at approximately 22:30. It was scheduled to depart for LHR on Monday as VS26 with a planned departure time of 08:20.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The image suggests no evident damage to either the A350 or the vehicle. Although the airline affirmed that there were no passengers on board and the vehicle did make contact with the aircraft, the precise timing of the incident remains unclear. One Reddit user proposed the possibility that the engine might have collided with the vehicle instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Could it be that they parked the car there, and then the aircraft was fueled and loaded with cargo\/passengers? It’s just another possibility,” the user remarked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“I am almost certain that is exactly what happened. Engine cowls are astonishingly flimsy. Considering how far the front of the car is pushed down, the vehicle must be moving at a significant speed to become so deeply wedged under the engine… Everything visible here suggests the engine descended onto the car gradually.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\"Virgin
Photo: Eurospot<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Official Remarks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A spokesperson from Virgin Atlantic confirmed the incident in a statement provided to Simple Flying<\/em> on Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Today’s VS26 <\/strong>from New York JFK to London Heathrow has been canceled due to an incident at the gate at JFK involving the engine cowling of a stationary Virgin Atlantic aircraft and a catering service provider’s car that rolled into it. We can confirm that no customers were on board the aircraft during this time.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The safety of our customers and crew is always our top priority. We have initiated a comprehensive investigation into this incident, and our engineering teams are conducting maintenance checks on the engine cowling,” the spokesperson elaborated. “We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and are working diligently to ensure all customers complete their journey promptly.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"On
Photo: Virgin Atlantic <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Aircraft Grounded<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

According to planespotters.net, the aircraft is seven years old and made its first flight in 2017. It was delivered new to Virgin in September 2020. When ground incidents affect flights, airlines typically strive to secure a replacement aircraft swiftly, depending on the location and impact on operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The flight was likely canceled due to the unavailability of an immediate replacement aircraft, considering Virgin’s base is across the pond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The extent of the damage is still uncertain, but the aircraft will probably be taken out of service for several days. Some Reddit users also speculated that the engine may require complete replacement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Join us on Telegram Group <\/a>for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Virgin Atlantic 787 and British A350 Collided at London Heathrow<\/a><\/blockquote>