Air Berlin pilots perform low fly-by, suspended
Air Berlin pilots perform low fly-by, leaving passengers in panic
Air Berlin pilots suspended after farewell fly-by
The landing of Air Berlin’s Flight AB7001 on Monday gave onlookers a scare after it made an extremely low fly-by while landing in German city of Dusseldorf with 200 people onboard.
This Miami to Dusseldorf flight was the airline’s final one after the company officially declared long-haul flights to be over.
The planemade a sharp left turn towards the terminal building, with the people on the outside terrace screaming out in fear.
An airport employee who watched the dramatic scenes unfold thought at first the aeroplane would crash right into the terminal.
The pilots of the Airbus A330 have been suspended. An investigation by the airline revealed theDusseldorf traffic control allowed the pilots to do a flyover as it was the last flight operated from the US to Germany.
“We wanted to make a mark, a dignified and emotional goodbye,” the Air Berlin pilot was quoted as saying by German broadcaster ZDF.
Markus Wahl, spokesman of a German pilot's organisation, said that at no time were people in danger in the well planned move and he is sure that the pilot did not do anything illegal.
On August 15, Air Berlin stated it was filing for insolvency, although most flights continued until further notice after the German government provided the airline with a loan.
On October 9, the airline however announced that it would cease all of its own operations by October 28.