Video: Rome airport staff give passenger jet a 'push start'
Workers at Rome's Fiumicino Airport were forced to push a 36-tonne passenger jet out onto the runway on Sunday, after a technical problem stopped it from taking off.
The incident involved a 90-seater Iberian Airlines, Bombardier CRJ900 series passenger jet bound for the port of Vigo in Spain.
The plane was scheduled to depart at 3.10pm but after a problem with one of the terminal's tug trucks - which are used to push planes onto the runway - the fully-loaded jet was left stranded.
Although most commercial jets can, in theory, reverse out of the gate by themselves, the operation is considered too fuel-intensive so small tugs are needed to push planes out of the gate before they begin takeoff.
After more than hour on the ground, the pilot finally got the go-ahead from air traffic control to request a push from 11 members of airport staff, who rolled up their sleeves to help get the plane on its way.
It was no easy feat – fully loaded with passengers and luggage, a CRJ900 jet can weigh up to 36 tonnes.
The plane eventually took off at 4.30pm. A video of the strange event can be seen below.
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The incident involved a 90-seater Iberian Airlines, Bombardier CRJ900 series passenger jet bound for the port of Vigo in Spain.
The plane was scheduled to depart at 3.10pm but after a problem with one of the terminal's tug trucks - which are used to push planes onto the runway - the fully-loaded jet was left stranded.
Although most commercial jets can, in theory, reverse out of the gate by themselves, the operation is considered too fuel-intensive so small tugs are needed to push planes out of the gate before they begin takeoff.
After more than hour on the ground, the pilot finally got the go-ahead from air traffic control to request a push from 11 members of airport staff, who rolled up their sleeves to help get the plane on its way.
It was no easy feat – fully loaded with passengers and luggage, a CRJ900 jet can weigh up to 36 tonnes.
The plane eventually took off at 4.30pm. A video of the strange event can be seen below.
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