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Water salute damages Iberia Airbus A350, suspends flight from Guayaquil

From Cooperativa · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • An Airbus A350 operated by Iberia was damaged during a water salute ceremony at Guayaquil's airport.
  • A fire truck's telescopic hose struck the aircraft's left winglet as it was being dispatched for the traditional send-off.
  • The incident caused passengers to be disembarked, and the flight to Madrid was suspended for repairs.

A traditional water salute ceremony for Iberia's inaugural Airbus A350 flight from Guayaquil, Ecuador, ended in an unexpected incident, causing damage to the aircraft and suspending the flight. The Airbus A350-941, making its first journey to Madrid from the José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport, was being honored with water cannons by fire trucks.

However, the ceremony took a turn when one of the fire trucks failed to maintain the correct distance. Its telescopic hose collided with the winglet on the aircraft's left wing. The impact necessitated the immediate disembarkation of all passengers who were booked on the flight to Madrid.

The airline is now arranging alternative transportation for the affected travelers while the Airbus, registered as EC-NXD, undergoes necessary repairs. The incident highlights potential issues with the execution of such ceremonial procedures at airports, emphasizing the need for precise coordination and adherence to safety protocols, even during celebratory events.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Cooperativa in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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