Reports have come in of a Jet2 Holidays Boeing 757-200 aircraft encountering a birdstrike during climb-out from Manchester (IATA: MAN) airport this afternoon. Flight #EXS051B was a scheduled test flight from Manchester, operated by a 757 registered G-LSAN, when it reportedly encountered an engine surge in it’s number 2 engine. [Editorial Note: Initial reports cited a bird-strike to be the cause, though this has now been dispelled]
Further Details
The aircraft is believed to have taken off from Manchester’s Runway 05L at around 2:58pm on Monday 10 August, when it encountered a bird-strike in it’s right (number 2) engine. The aircraft was instructed to hold above Manchester whilst it burnt enough fuel to land safely back at Manchester. The aircraft has since landed safely back at Manchester.
Reports of the incident came in at around 15:00 as local residents reported “a loud noise” above the airport.
In an initial statement to Travel Radar, Jet2 confirmed: “The flight is just a test flight.” In a follow-up statement the carrier confirmed:
“One of our aircraft on a routine test flight followed procedure and returned to Manchester Airport this afternoon, after the crew reported a minor fault. The aircraft landed safely and will be thoroughly checked over, as is standard practice.”
Cause of the Incident
Listeners to local ATC frequency state the pilots made a ‘Pan Pan’ call and mentioned a right hand engine surge and fault compressor stall. We believed the right-hand, number 2, engine suffered an engine surge which emitted “loud bangs” and “engine smoke” over Manchester neighbourhoods, due to a faulty compressor.
We will update you with information as we receive it.
