Several Passengers Reportedly Demanded To Be Let Off The Plane Before Departure

A Russian Boeing 737 flying for a private airline reportedly made a trip from Moscow to Siberia with an open engine access panel on one of the wings, and there are conflicting reports about an aborted takeoff on the flight.

The French news service AFP relays a report which appeared on the  Komsomolskaya Pravda tabloid website in which a passenger is shown on an amateur video complaining to a crew member about a "hole in the wing." The tabloid said that the pilot had already abandoned one takeoff attempt because of a cockpit warning indicator. A second takeoff was reportedly aborted when passengers charged the exits of the plane.

A spokesman for Transaero Airline admitted that about a third of approximately 70 passengers were left off the flight, but he would not confirm any aborted takeoffs. The spokesman, Konstantin Tyurkin, told AFP that the "hole in the wing" was a missing access panel maintenance crews removed to inspect the engine hanging under the left wing. Tyurkin said the panel is not necessary for flight, and operating with it missing did not affect safety.

Tyurkin said that the warning the pilot recieved was due to an air conditioner problem. The missing panel was noticed by a passenger while mechanics worked on the AC.

The flight eventually arrived in Siberia about three hours late. Russian transportation officials have reportedly opened an investigation of the incident.

FMI: http://government.ru/eng/power/68/