Boeing 737 Engine Blast Flips Cessna 172 at California Airport
A dramatic general aviation incident at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, California, has prompted a joint investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). A Boeing 737’s engine blast overturned a small training aircraft on the tarmac.
The incident occurred on Saturday, after a Cessna 172 carrying flight instructor Jason Ryu and student Kunal Gawli had landed and was taxiing toward the parking area. United Airlines Flight 2611, a Boeing 737 preparing for takeoff, generated a powerful jet blast that struck the Cessna.
“As soon as we started to turn to the left to enter the parking lot, we experienced sudden, strong airflow,” Ryu told KCBS-TV.
The Cessna wobbled, tilted onto its left wing, and flipped upside down. Surveillance footage captured the sequence of events.
Neither Ryu nor Gawli was injured, though both were left hanging from their seatbelts as they radioed air traffic control for assistance. The FAA confirmed that the Cessna sustained “significant” structural damage.
The incident highlights safety concerns about the proximity of large commercial jets and small general aviation aircraft on shared airport taxiways.
Source: The Washington Times – Airline Engine’s Blast on Tarmac Knocks Over Small Plane