14/09/2009

City Airport Rattles Tiles

Fresh doubts have been cast on plans to expand Belfast's urban airport.

An investigation is under way after people living near George Best Belfast City Airport claimed the 'wash' from a low-flying jet smashed roof tiles on a house.

The BBC has reported that residents suffered a major scare.

Katrin Irvine who lives at Parkgate Crescent directly beneath the flight path said she heard a "big bang" at about 1pm on Sunday.

About 30 tiles had come off her roof and landed in several gardens, she said, with a spokesman for the airport responding they "would investigate the report".

"All aircraft approaching the airfield do so in accordance with strict Civil Aviation Authority regulations," a spokesman said.

Today, while there has been no comment forthcoming from the area's MP, First Minister Peter Robinson, the East Belfast Ulster Unionist MLA and party leader, Sir Reg Empey said there should be "no expansion of the City Airport following the incident".

Sir Reg said someone could have been killed and the airport should not expand any further.

"I think there has to be a balance between the local residents and the airport," he told BBC Radio Ulster this morning.

"Continued expansion, in my view, is incompatible with that balance being maintained. I do think it has got to stay more or less where it is and stop expanding."

See: Local MP 'Joins' Runway Debate

(BMcC)

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