Pics of St Lucia plane damage - no wonder it didn't fly!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2531516/Virgin-Atlantic-passengers-narrow-escape-plane-hits-debris-washed-runway-Caribbean-storm.html

That's quite a large hole! Out of action for rather a long while and how can you repair it in St Lucia?

Looks like my first car!

Of note only 18 pax on board- does this flight land somewhere else first or was it only 18 on board from UK?

[preiffer]

It's the route that does the triangle hope between the islands. So only inter-island passengers onboard.

Wow, that must have been a scary landing ! :0

Trust the Mail to be first with the news - happened a week ago - more about 'terrified' :0 passengers in the Express at http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/451 ... t-St-Lucia
The flight was returning from Grenada to collect the remaining passengers for return to LGW VS97/8. Damage is allegedly only to panels, but will be difficult to repair at ANU, meantime the fleet is one A330 down.
Should add all credit to the crew for a safe outcome. ^)

[Darren Wheeler]

Or for a slightly more neutral view...

http://avherald.com/h?article=46d97b6f&opt=0

A very unfortunate event and kudos to the crew for a safe landing.

There's speculation in the local media that weather forecasts were interrupted to benefit local commerce ... even so, such flash floods in what seemed to have been very heavy and sustained rain can happen. Just very unfortunate for VS that it happened when it did.

Anyone have any updates ?

[Darren Wheeler]

According to the Aircraft Database, she's still in St Lucia.