BA From United States of America, joined May 2000, 11135 posts, RR: 61 Posted (6 years 10 months 1 week 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 16870 times:
MEA has evacuated its five stranded aircraft in Beirut airport to Larnaca, Cyprus.
This operation was undertaken by taking off from one of Beirut airport's long taxiways. No passengers were onboard any of the aircraft.
The aircraft are 4 A321s and 1 A330.
Pictures at Larnaca's airport:
In response to the evacuation, Israel has bombed the fuel tanks in Beirut's airport to ensure that such an evacuation doesn't happen again. Looks like they didn't think MEA would use a taxiway to evacuate its fleet.
Does anyone know the status of MEA's 2 A321s and 2 A330s that were NOT at the airport at the time Israel bombed it?
"Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need." - Khalil Gibran
Raffik From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2006, 1640 posts, RR: 4 Reply 3, posted (6 years 10 months 1 week 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 16836 times:
Congratulations to MEA for getting its' fleet out of BEY safely- I guess they have experience from the times that Israel has kept BEY closed in the past.
I believe the A330 may have been operating to West Africa.
BA From United States of America, joined May 2000, 11135 posts, RR: 61 Reply 4, posted (6 years 10 months 1 week 3 days 16 hours ago) and read 16702 times:
Thanks for the information FlySSC.
Quoting Raffik (Reply 3): Congratulations to MEA for getting its' fleet out of BEY safely- I guess they have experience from the times that Israel has kept BEY closed in the past.
Yes, MEA has had to evacuate its fleet to Cyprus a number of times in the 80's.
Quoting Raffik (Reply 3): Are there any foreign aircraft in BEY?
I don't think so.
Bhebek ya Lebnan
"Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need." - Khalil Gibran
There was one A330 in BEY this afternoon. It was clearly in the frame when BBC journalist gave his live report. Is this the one that is in LCA now (I couldn't see the registration) or is it another one?
TOLtommy From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 3219 posts, RR: 4 Reply 6, posted (6 years 10 months 1 week 3 days 16 hours ago) and read 16562 times:
Quoting BA (Reply 7): Destroying infrastructure has a greater consequence on a country's economy than destroying the fleet of an airline. Without infrastructure, businesses cannot operate.
It would've been easy to strike the taxiway, planes and terminal. IAF and IDF didn't.
BA (Reply 7) : And for the record, Israel destroyed MEA's planes in 1968 and 1982.
At BEY, on December 28th 1968, the Israeli Air Force destroyed 8 MEA's aircraft : 1 B707, 3 Comets, 3 Caravelles, 1 Vickers Viscount (+ 1 leased VC-10), 3 from LIA (Lebanese International Airways - 2 Convair 990 + 1 DC-7), and 2 from TMA (1 DC-6 + 1 DC-4).
In 1982, MEA lost 6 B720 during the Isaeli invasion.
LTBEWR From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 12329 posts, RR: 12 Reply 8, posted (6 years 10 months 1 week 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 16196 times:
As noted, a number of the aircraft of MEA are registered in France as they maybe owned by leasing companies. For Israel to destoy the aircraft of MEA could be effectively declaring war against France as well, not something they may want to do.
At least MEA's fleet is ok, but for the forseeable future, BEY is shut down, and as all access in/out of Lebanon is shut down including by sea and road. That cannot help MEA.
MainMAN From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2005, 2064 posts, RR: 6 Reply 13, posted (6 years 10 months 1 week 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 15332 times:
Quoting LTBEWR (Reply 13): As noted, a number of the aircraft of MEA are registered in France as they maybe owned by leasing companies. For Israel to destoy the aircraft of MEA could be effectively declaring war against France as well, not something they may want to do.
Probably more like declaring war on an aircraft leasing company, and not France...?
Planemanofnz From New Zealand, joined Sep 2005, 1653 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (6 years 10 months 1 week 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 15306 times:
The main thing is that all MEA aircraft are safe and not destroyed. I wonder how long it will be untill Beirut Airport will be open for business again. Weeks, months, years?
SV777KiloAlpha From Saudi Arabia, joined Dec 2003, 266 posts, RR: 3 Reply 16, posted (6 years 10 months 1 week 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 15222 times:
Quoting Stylo777 (Reply 29): Further informations about the status quo of the remaining fleet? 2 A330 are left to be identified somewhere in the world...
One A330 is parked on a remote stand at the north apron at OMDB/DXB. I saw it last night as I was leaving DXB to BAH. Sorry, I could not get the registration as it was night.
MainMAN From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2005, 2064 posts, RR: 6 Reply 17, posted (6 years 10 months 1 week 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 15109 times:
Quoting Planemanofnz (Reply 28): The main thing is that all MEA aircraft are safe and not destroyed. I wonder how long it will be untill Beirut Airport will be open for business again. Weeks, months, years?
Nothing's certain at the moment, but under normal circumstances it could be open before the end of next week. No doubt we'll find out what's proposed soon, BEY could operate with just one repaired runway, which is what will probably happen.
From today's arrivals information into LHR, if anybody's interested.......
BA162 TEL AVIV 1140 Due 1133 (early...nice)
BA6502 BEIRUT 1305 Cancelled
LY315 TEL AVIV 1335 No info
ME215 BEIRUT 1400 No info
Stylo777 From Turkey, joined Feb 2006, 2869 posts, RR: 12 Reply 18, posted (6 years 10 months 1 week 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 15083 times:
Quoting SV777KiloAlpha (Reply 30): One A330 is parked on a remote stand at the north apron at OMDB/DXB. I saw it last night as I was leaving DXB to BAH. Sorry, I could not get the registration as it was night
ok my thoughts are approved. it is the wednesday evening flight ME 428 left BEY at 21:00 local for DXB.
So I guess the third one now stands in LHR or DUS 'cause these two are the only other oppurtunities which are served by an A330.
Middle East Airlines
ME 201 Rafik Hariri Int'l (BEY), Beirut, Libanon
Terminal W 08:10
Heathrow (LHR), London, Großbritannien
Terminal 3 11:15
Non-Stop
332 5:05 Xe15
Middle East Airlines
ME 221 Rafik Hariri Int'l (BEY), Beirut, Libanon
Terminal W 06:15
Düsseldorf (DUS), Düsseldorf, Deutschland 09:30
Non-Stop
332 4:15 3
FlySSC From France, joined Aug 2003, 7312 posts, RR: 61 Reply 19, posted (6 years 10 months 1 week 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 15021 times:
Quoting SV777KiloAlpha (Reply 30): One A330 is parked on a remote stand at the north apron at OMDB/DXB. I saw it last night as I was leaving DXB to BAH. Sorry, I could not get the registration as it was night.
It must be F-OMEA or F-OMEC.
F-OMEB was the one in BEY, who left from a taxiway yesturday to LCA.
F-OMEC operated ME202 LHR-BEY on July12th, landing at BEY at around 7:30PM LT.
Kay From France, joined Mar 2002, 1884 posts, RR: 3 Reply 20, posted (6 years 10 months 1 week 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 14586 times:
Quoting Alessandro (Reply 38): Secondly why would Israel want to wreck the aircrafts and the airport if
it´s not used by Hizbollah, it´s the people they want to hit
BHXDTW From Eritrea, joined Feb 2005, 1086 posts, RR: 6 Reply 21, posted (6 years 10 months 1 week 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 13990 times:
Well... dont know about anyone else, but I feel kinda bad for the pilots asked to fly these aircraft to LCA...
How are they going to get back to see their family ?
Raffik From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2006, 1640 posts, RR: 4 Reply 22, posted (6 years 10 months 1 week 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 13826 times:
Quoting BHXDTW (Reply 45): I feel kinda bad for the pilots asked to fly these aircraft to LCA...
How are they going to get back to see their family ?
There is no way back. I cannot get a line through to my father out there- the telephone lines must be down through the amount of people trying to get through to their loved ones from abroad. My father was making his way to the Syrian border yesterday, and I heard that it had been bombed. He could be dead
CYatUK From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2006, 804 posts, RR: 0 Reply 23, posted (6 years 10 months 1 week 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 13669 times:
Quoting Kesflyer (Reply 17): The ports may be blockaded, so good possibility they are heading to Syria ( Lattakia or another port ) and then by road south to Lebanon.
Only a gues, however seems it coudl be viable.
Anyone in Cyprus have a clue ??
Cyprus Airways operated a special flight to Damascus last night and brought back the remaining Cypriots from Beirut. CyBC reported that the stranded people were transported from Beirut to Damascus in a convoy after diplomatic talks with Lebanon, Syria and Israel to ensure their safety. Along with the Cypriots, Cyprus Airways carried 40-50 Europeans.
ERT has also reporter that Olympic Airways are also operating a flight to Damascus tonight to bring back Greek and Cypriot citizens.
CO7e7 From United States of America, joined Dec 2004, 2848 posts, RR: 2 Reply 24, posted (6 years 10 months 1 week 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 13617 times:
25 TheSorcerer: Anyone know what the MEA crews that flew the A/C out are gonna do? IE stay in Cyprus or make it back to BEY. thanks Dominic
26 SK909: I am happy that MEA secured their aircrafts. I will not comment on the conflict as it is not the right forum. I do think that Israel withheld from bom
27 Aleksandar: Don't say that. I'm sure your father is OK and he'll be back home with your family.
28 Garnetpalmetto: Alright all, just a fair warning in here to keep posts pertaining to civil aviation, specifically MEA's fleet. Sociopolitical commentary will be delet
29 BWI757: It's not difficult to carpet-bomb an airport and destroy everything. According to the media reports, Israel used MISSLES (read- presicion weapons) to
30 Bennett123: Well done to the moderators. Keeping politics out of the discussion is very difficult in these stressful times.
31 Planemannyc: Photo in the cover of the New York Times shows the fuel tanks burning includes a parked Kurdistan Airlines Boeing 737-200. I believe N247US. Is that a
32 Bennett123: Is there any news of the impact on Globejet.
33 LTU932: So how is this going to affect MEA's operations? How will flights be affected by this?
34 Humberside: So is all of MEA's fleet accounted for and will it all go to LCA in time? What about Menajet?
35 Positiverate: Well, the 5 MEA jets plus the 1 private jet equals 6. On a different note, whats the runway layout at BEY like?
36 StarGoldLHR: Israel let the planes go. When the bombed beirut before they ended up compensating Ghana Airways for a VC10. The aircraft are not Lebanon owned and d
37 BCNGRO: The pilots asked to fly these planes to LCA were very brave. They could have been easily shot down by Israeli fighters over the Mediterranean. I know
38 PlaneHunter: Very good news, great to hear MEA could save its fleet. With these ongoing attacks on BEY there would have been a permanent risk of missiles or bombs
39 Semsem: Raffik there was a Kurdistan Airlines B737 at Beirut.
40 Bennett123: Rolfen There is an image on the closed thread.
41 Flying Belgian: This would have been a very very SERIOUS gesture. Shooting a civilian airplane is one of the worst thing a state can do, even in war times. FB.
42 SeeTheWorld: CNN is reporting that the British and Americans brokered an agreement with the Israelis and Lebanon to allow the MEA aircraft to depart. Moments afte
43 KLMyank: The israelis once shot down a libyan 727 that strayed off course. Full of pax as well. I will reserve my disgust for the non aviation forums...
44 GoldenArgosy: It was reported on BBC America this morning that MEA flew a number of jets out of BEY to AMM. They are planning on storing them at Amman indefinately.
46 Bmacleod: If Israel knew there were no passengers on board they would have allowed MEA aircraft to depart. But they couldn't take chances.....
47 Laxintl: The ferry flights were coordinated and with the approval of Israel. A gesture showing Israel does not view MEA as direct tool of Hezbollah. You might
49 Okees: I think that some of the MEA aircraft were sent to AMM. Thats what i heard atleast..
50 DeC: I live very close to the airport in Larnaca, Cyprus. I am glad MEA could evacuate their fleet here, they're more than welcome and we're happy to be ab
51 Rolfen: This will stay uncomfirmed, MEA will never talk about this because it's illegal to deal with israel. Take with a grain of salt.
52 Wolsingerjet: Mea has seen times like this before and will rise up again as soon as things settle down.Stay safe guys...I think its safe to assume the IAF isnt done
53 Gary2880: Kudos to MEA. hopefully now most of the aircraft are out Israel won't start blanket bombing the airfield. what do they want anyway. is there a chance
54 AussieItaliano: First of all, Raffik, I'll offer some prayers for your father's safety. Second, I'm glad that MEA's fleet was able to be evacuated to LCA and AMM. Hop
55 MIAMIx707: Definitely, and don't forget to also pray for those hurt in the Israeli side, remember they too are human beings just like you and me. lol Yeah we al
56 RAPCON: The following report from CNN goes a long way in explaining how 5 foreign-owned a/c, operated under the auspices of MEA, were allowed to scape unharme
57 Trekster: Just been to MEA's website. Says nothing about whats been going on. Odd
58 BestWestern: Perhaps the employees have other more critical things to be doing rather than worrying about the website... Like not being bombed. Was the terminal s
59 Piercey: Same with BEY website, odd... As far as the terminal, I posted something in a different thread that was responded with that the terminal was not hit,
60 Monkeyboi: I planned on non-revving to BEY in September as it's somewhere I have always wanted to go. Can anyone advise me of how I can get to Beiruit (without T
61 Trekster: Ummm Id kinda not wanna go there right now. For obvious reasons. By the looks of it, no where is safe. Roads have been attacked, power stations. There
62 Aa757first: I don't think they care. The point was probably to avoid people from leaving the airport and I doubt a fully loaded A321 or A320 could take off from
63 Salim: the taxiway parallel to runway 3/21 is in fact the old 3/21 runway, so even a fully loaded 747 could take off from it
64 B707Stu: More attacks on the airport are being reported. Are they hitting the terminal?
65 AJMIA: Has BEY been used by the Hezbollah terrorists to attack Israel? If it is a civilian airport I don't understand why it is being bombed. My prayers to t
66 Aleksandar: You can see this website and see how MEA employees coped with previous wars: http://wassch71.tripod.com/cedarjet1.html Well, right now I can only pra
67 JHSfan: BEY is very important to the entire Lebanon so by closing the airport the Israeli government hope to force the rest of Lebanon to put a very hard pre
68 Raffik: The attacks on Beirut by Israel have only fuelled support of Hizbullah who are the only group in Lebanon who has the power to resist Israel. Israeli p
69 Soups: hope things gets better[Edited 2006-07-15 14:02:53]
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