An SA Express flight from Cape Town to East London, carrying a number of sports officials and other passengers connected to the Cricket World Cup, had to turn back after take-off on Wednesday when air started leaking through the front door.
The 50-seater plane, which was full, had been in the air for a couple of minutes when passengers realised that it was turning back to Cape Town International Airport.
As the plane descended the pilot, Captain Des Welle-Blaber, announced that a rubber seal on the door had been torn. Two fire engines and an emergency vehicle escorted the plane as it landed and taxied back to the tarmac.
After consulting with technicians Welle-Blaber told passengers that a replacement plane would be used to resume the flight. The trip to East London was delayed for more than an hour. Passengers waited on the aircraft while the replacement plane took in fuel and the luggage was transferred.
Among the passengers was former South African cricketer Vince van der Bijl who was on his way to East London to attend a Wednesday night benefit dinner for former Border Bears captain Pieter Strydom.
SABC radio cricket commentator Andy Capostagne, who is scheduled to commentate on the World Cup group B match between South Africa and Canada in East London on Thursday, was also on the plane. Interviewed shortly after landing in East London by a Daily Dispatch newspaper reporter who was also on the plane, Welle-Blaber said that an air hostess, who sat next to the front entrance door,
heard a noise of wind soon after take off.
”We also heard some noise on the flight deck and decided to turn back. It was not a crisis and the noise had more irritation value than anything else,” Welle-Blaber said. – Sapa