Black box key to jet aerobridge crash

A United Airways plane clipped an aerobridge while parking at Melbourne Airport, leaving its wing with significant damage. Picture: Michael Asten Source: Herald Sun

THE black box on a United Airlines jumbo jet could hold the key as to how it crashed into an aerobridge at Melbourne Airport.

The investigation into the bingle that saw the plane grounded after suffering extensive damage is expect to last until July.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau will also interview ground staff at Tullamarine in the probe.

Communications between pilots and ground staff are expected to form a key part of the investigation after the plane carrying 135 passengers overshot the jetway on April 22.

An ATSB spokesman said several activities from the day would be looked at and the flight data recorder would form part of the investigation.

He said flight crew would be quizzed and the airport's security camera footage would also be viewed in a bid to piece the causes of the crash together.

United Airlines is conducting its own probe into flight 839, but said yesterday it had no comment to make while the investigation was continuing.

Witnesses described hearing a "loud, distinctive crash" when the plane's wing was clipped.

The wing was left with a 40cm hole and the aerobridge was also inoperable following the mid-morning bingle.

Passengers were trapped on the plane for about 50 minutes while the jet was pulled back, and travellers were forced to disembark via stairs on to the Tullamarine tarmac.

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Black box key to jet aerobridge crash

A United Airways plane clipped an aerobridge while parking at Melbourne Airport, leaving its wing with significant damage. Picture: Michael Asten Source: Herald Sun

THE black box on a United Airlines jumbo jet could hold the key as to how it crashed into an aerobridge at Melbourne Airport.

The investigation into the bingle that saw the plane grounded after suffering extensive damage is expect to last until July.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau will also interview ground staff at Tullamarine in the probe.

Communications between pilots and ground staff are expected to form a key part of the investigation after the plane carrying 135 passengers overshot the jetway on April 22.

An ATSB spokesman said several activities from the day would be looked at and the flight data recorder would form part of the investigation.

He said flight crew would be quizzed and the airport's security camera footage would also be viewed in a bid to piece the causes of the crash together.

United Airlines is conducting its own probe into flight 839, but said yesterday it had no comment to make while the investigation was continuing.

Witnesses described hearing a "loud, distinctive crash" when the plane's wing was clipped.

The wing was left with a 40cm hole and the aerobridge was also inoperable following the mid-morning bingle.

Passengers were trapped on the plane for about 50 minutes while the jet was pulled back, and travellers were forced to disembark via stairs on to the Tullamarine tarmac.

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Another blow to Black Saturday school

The oversize chess set.

A PRIMARY school destroyed by the Black Saturday bushfires has been targeted by heartless thieves.

Embattled Strathewen Primary School, which was rebuilt after being destroyed in the 2009 disaster, has been subjected to a cruel attack after thieves swiped items of its giant chess board donated to the school by a French village.

It is believed the burglars broke into the school between Thursday, March 14 and Monday, March 18 and knocked off the king pieces belonging to the over-sized board game.

The chess board, which has become a trademark in the school’s outdoor courtyard, was donated by the French village of Villers-Bretonneux as part of the reconstruction effort after its town raised $20,000 to create a French-themed courtyard.

The structure also commemorated the village’s rescue by Allied forces in World War I.

Hurstbridge Police Sgt David Jamieson said the school community was “devastated” by the theft, with the well-used chess board a central focus during lunchtime breaks.

“These children have been through a great deal in the past few years and these chess pieces have come to symbolise the rebuilding of their school,” Sgt Jamieson said.

“It’s incredibly disappointing that someone would target a school that has already gone through so much.”

Several power tools were also taken from a shed on the premises during the burglary.

Victoria Police spokeswoman Belle Nolan said investigators described the fibre glass king structures as “hard to miss” - with each stand around 65cm in height – and were appealing for public assistance to help locate them.

Investigators have released an image of the chess set. Anyone with any information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppers.com.au
 

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Black Caviar jockey visits sick kids

Black Caviar jockey Luke Nolan meets the kids at the Royal Children's Hospital. Luke with Kaide Berry, 1. Picture: Alex Coppel Source: Herald Sun

HIS rides aboard super mare Black Caviar have brought joy to thousands around the world but jockey Luke Nolen spread smiles for a different reason to a special crowd today.

The Black Caviar jockey took time out to meet and greet kids at the Royal Children’s Hospital ahead of tomorrow’s Good Friday appeal.

Nolen handed out Black Caviar plush toys, signed caps and posed for photos in a surprise appearance at the hospital late this morning.

With two children of his own, Nolen paid tribute to the world staff at the hospital to around the clock and hailed the importance of the annual fundraiser.

"They do a fantastic job the Royal Children's and the Good Friday appeal itself," he said.

"There are wonderful staff in these types of hospitals, it requires a gentle person and very giving people and they do it day in day out to comfort kids as best they can and get them all better most of the time."

Among those Nolen met was Donald youngster Glenn, 6, in hospital for about a week with an infected leg.

Glenn’s mum Carly said Nolen’s visit had brought a smile to her son’s face.

"He loves it. He loves all the attention," she said.

Nolen encouraged Victorians to dig deep to aid a worthy cause in tomorrow’s appeal. 

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Father breaks down in Black Saturday case

A FORMER soldier broke down this morning while recalling the harrowing moment he lost his partner and three young children today to the devastating Black Saturday fires four years ago.

Darrin Gibson told the Supreme Court he cowered in a dam of his Kinglake West property with his severely injured one-year-old daughter Ava while his partner, Lesley Leahy, daughter Kiona, 4, and son Jye, 3 died while sheltering behind a tree less than 20 metres away.

Mr Gibson is one of 10,000 people suing electricity providers over the fires.

Mr Gibson walked to a neighbours property with his feet melting while cradling Ava in his arms.

He gave his daughter to his neighbour's wife while she was still alive before collapsing with exhaustion "I just wanted her to be held by a woman," Mr Gibson said.

Ava died in hospital from her injuries two days later.

The family were forced to flee their home after it caught fire during the fires on February 7, 2009.

"The top of the house started to collapse. Said "get to the dam". I looked at Lesley and she was sitting on the ground. She said she couldn't move," Mr Gibson said 

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