By An Airbus Beluga, a uniquely shaped aircraft named for its resemblance to the beluga whale, landed at London’s Heathrow Airport on Monday to deliver crucial spare parts for a grounded British Airways plane.
The Beluga flew from Toulouse, France, carrying components for a British Airways Airbus A350 that has been out of service since April. The A350 was damaged in a ground collision with a Virgin Atlantic 787 that was being towed at Heathrow’s Terminal 3.
The incident, which occurred on April 25, saw the empty Virgin Atlantic aircraft clip the wingtip of the stationary British Airways plane during towing operations. Footage from the scene showed minor damage to both aircraft and the presence of emergency services and ground crew on the runway. No passengers were on board either plane at the time, and no injuries were reported.
While the Virgin Atlantic 787 has since returned to service, the British Airways A350 sustained more serious damage, necessitating the special parts delivery via the Beluga.
The Airbus Beluga is a massive cargo aircraft specifically designed to transport large aircraft parts or oversized cargo. Its distinctive shape allows it to carry entire sections of planes in its voluminous hold. Airbus currently operates a fleet of six Beluga aircraft for such specialized transport needs.
According to flight tracking website Flightradar24, the Beluga is scheduled to return to Toulouse later today after completing its mission at Heathrow.
This unusual sighting at one of the world’s busiest airports highlights the complex logistics involved in aircraft maintenance and repair, especially following incidents that can ground multimillion-dollar planes for extended periods.
The arrival of the Beluga at Heathrow also serves as a reminder of the intricate supply chains and specialized equipment required to keep the global aviation industry running smoothly, even in the face of unexpected challenges.
Source: news.sky.com
