Blue Dart aircraft "mowed" runway edge lights on takeoff

Mumbai: A Blue Dart Aviation Boeing 757-200, freight flight DZ-201 from Mumbai to Bangalore (India), obviously did not line up on the center line of the departure runway 27 in Mumbai and took 15 runway edge lights out of the left hand side of the runway before the crew corrected but now took 4 more edge lights out of the right hand side. The takeoff and flight was continued, the crew did not notify air traffic control about the mishap. The airplane arrived in Bangalore with a flat tyre as well as metal and glass pieces, that the aircraft manufacturer hadn't designed to be in the landing gear, but managed a safe landing about 90 minutes after departure from Mumbai.
After the discovery of the foreign objects in the landing gear Mumbai officials were informed 3 hours after departure and Mumbai's runway 27 was inspected only now revealing the edge lights had been taken out. The runway was closed for about 50 minutes as result.
Aviation sources in Mumbai say, the first officer was a trainee under supervision and may have been "tested" by the captain. The takeoff looked like a "drunken horse" departing.
09/06/10 Simon Hradecky/Aviation Herald

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

Categories: Airports Jun 2010, Cargo Jun 2010, Safety Jun 2010