Mishap in Athens airport: Planes parked on taxiway "B" were moved and pushed due to strong winds

Last updated: 3/10/2009 19:45

A mishap occurred earlier today in Athens airport taxiway "B", where the Olympic Airlines fleet is parked. Due to the strong winds blowing in the area, two of the planes that were parked on taxiway "B" where blown away from their positions. The planes affected were Boeing 737 registered SX-BKF and ATR 72 registered SX-BIF. The Boeing was turned at least 45 degrees counterclockwise and moved into the grass. The ATR was turned almost 180 degrees counterclockwise but only the front landing gear was moved into the grass. It is very lucky that the planes didn't collide with any others next to them, since they are parked very close to each other. Currently there are 26 planes parked on the south part of taxiway "B". The position of the two planes can be seen on the last picture of this post.
The METARs of the time show winds up to 24 knots:
METAR LGAV 030950Z 20024KT 9999 SCT017 SCT080 BKN170 25/18 Q1010 NOSIG=
METAR LGAV 030920Z 20023KT 9999 FEW017 BKN025 BKN160 25/19 Q1010 NOSIG=
METAR LGAV 030850Z 20021KT 9999 FEW018 SCT030 BKN160 25/18 Q1010=
METAR LGAV 030820Z 18019KT 9999 SCT018 SCT030 BKN080 25/18 Q1010 NOSIG=
METAR LGAV 030750Z 18017KT 9999 SCT018TCU SCT030 BKN080 24/18 Q1010 NOSIG=
METAR LGAV 030650Z 22010G22KT 190V260 8000 -TSRA FEW017CB BKN025 BKN080 22/18 Q1011 RETSRA TEMPO TSRA=

Update 3/10/2009
Also the Boeing 747SRF of Elite Airlines registered SX-DCB was turned a little and had to be towed back to its normal position on "B".

Thanks to Panagiotis for the following photos.

Boeing 737 / SX-BKF / turned and moved into the grass next to taxiway "B" (photo 3/10/2009)


ATR 72 / SX-BIF / turned into the grass next to taxiway "B" (photo 3/10/2009)


Taxiway "B" of Athens with 26 planes parked on it. SX-BKF is the first plane of the picture and SX-BIF is the second ATR on the picture (6th plane from the start).