By: NATASHA SMITH
A FLIGHT from Faro to the UK was forced to return to the tarmac on Tuesday after one of the engines failed, according to the Algarve Civil Protection (PCA) agency.
The BMIBaby flight, with 140 passengers on board, took off for Birmingham but was forced to land at 9.10pm.
According to a PCA spokesperson, the Boeing 737-400 plane landed without incident and the mechanical problem was resolved and a spokesperson for ANA, which controls the national airports, said that this occurrence is relatively common when there are passenger safety issues, even when it is not necessary.
Safety
The plane took off later the same evening without incident, according to a BMI spokesperson. “Millions of euros have been spent on revolutionising the security checks in Faro airport and with the new systems in place, it is faster to process passengers”, said an ANA spokesperson, adding that it is more common for flights to return to the tarmac if there is a potential safety issue or if passengers could potentially be at risk.
Ever since the September 11 terror attacks, greater security and safety measures have been implemented around the world.
There is greater vigilance when baggage is put through the x-ray machine and there are more bag checks. There is even a machine to check shoes after a man was arrested for concealing a weapon in his shoes and socks in the UK, in 2002.
Delays became commonplace as security was tightened and airports clamped down on fraud by using the latest technology to ensure passengers were using their own passports.
Throughout Portugal, airports have implemented a new system, which not only reduces queues at passport control but makes it more difficult for people to use false passports. A camera takes a picture of each passenger and this image is sent to a computer, where it is compared with the image on the passport. If the image matches, the passenger is allowed through. The system, which was tested during the summer, has been “very effective”, according to an ANA spokesperson.
Each passenger is now processed in less than two minutes at passport control and it is said to be an accurate system against fraud. The system is also in place in most airports across Europe.
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