By Andrew Bushe
DUBLIN — Three investigation teams are probing the last weekend’s incident at Shannon Airport when a transAtlantic jet landing after a flight from New York overshot the runway.
The American World Airways McDonnell-Douglas 11 aircraft, operating for Aer Lingus, went off the end of the runway after landing in atrocious weather at 6:22 a.m. Saturday.
None of the 317 passengers and crew were injured, but several were treated for shock and one American said the plane had bucked "like a wild bronco" when it touched down.
After the incident, Shannon was closed for most of the day as the undercarriage of the aircraft was examined for damage and the plane was then towed to the terminal. Incoming flights were diverted to Dublin.
An Aer Lingus spokesman said the plane had made "a normal landing" but then rolled off the end of the runway by about 40 feet.
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"The conditions were difficult with heavy rain and wind, but they were will within the safety parameters," he said.
"The passengers were taken off the plane using steps and then by bus to the terminal. There was no panic, as it was only at the last moment anyone realized anything was wrong. The aircraft partially rolled off the end of the runway onto gravel after it had virtually come to a stop."
Air accident investigators from the Department of Transport and staff from the Irish Aviation Authority and Aer Lingus are investigating the reasons for the incident.