Engineers 'averted air disaster'

Two electrical engineers at Norwich Airport have been praised for averting a potential tragedy when they alerted a taxiing pilot to a safety breach.

Ian Dent and Andrew Bromley were checking runway lights on 5 January when they spotted a warning flag flapping on the light aircraft.

They contacted the control tower and the pilot was told. He removed the flag and the equipment it was an alert for.

The airport said it was "delighted by the actions of our staff".

Airspeed indication

The flag was an alert for the pitot head cover, which should have been removed before flight, enabling the pitot head to measure the speed of the aircraft.

Ian Dent said: "I spotted the flag was flapping and realised it should not be there. We called the tower and they informed the pilot.

"It's rare for things like this to happen but we are always very safe all the time."

Airport managing director Elliott Summers said: "By flying the aircraft with the cover still attached, the pilot would not receive accurate - or potentially any - airspeed indication.

"In cases where the pilot may be flying in cloud and therefore also has no visual reference, the lack of airspeed indication has resulted in the crashing of an aircraft and subsequent fatalities.

"The quick actions of the alert staff at the airport may have prevented such an event."