Boeing 747 Loses Engine Parts After Take-Off From Maastricht, Diverts To Liege – Two People Injured

Boeing 747 loses parts after take-off from Maastricht, diverts to Liege – Two people injured 

A Boeing 747-400BCF freighter registered VQ-BWT (MSN 24975) flying for Bermuda-based Longtail Aviation took off from runway 21 at Maastricht Aachen Airport this Saturday afternoon at 16:11 (UTC+1). The aeroplane operating flight LGT5504 to New York JFK experienced heavy damage on an engine shortly after take-off.  Engine parts (turbine blades) fell in the nearby village of Meerssen resulting in 2 people slightly injured and damage to cars. 

According to a spokesman for the South Limburg Safety Region, an explosion has probably occurred in engine number one of the aircraft. Metal parts such as turbine blades have come down around the Limburg town of Meerssen. Debris hit an elderly woman, who was slightly injured as a result. A child also burned his fingers on a piece of metal. In Meerssen several houses and cars got damaged by falling debris. The thirty-year-old plane immediately diverted on three engines to Liège airport, where it landed safely after making a number of laps over the Ardennes to burn fuel and lose weight. According to aviation expert Joris Melkert, it is a special incident: “I cannot remember a recent case in the Netherlands where parts of an engine fell down.” Source

Longtail Aviation #6T5504 Maastricht to New York JFK (Boeing 747-400F VQ-BWT) is squawking 7700 General Emergency

Landing @ Liege Airport (ICAO: EBLG/IATA: LGG) pic.twitter.com/Xrbfbj3qXW

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