Story ID: 627
Radome Damage Grounds MRJ
By: Gregory Polek
Caption: Mitsubishi regional jet struck by tow vehicle, preventing it from flying at the airshow Tuesday.
Word Count: 109
Mitsubishi's MRJ90 on display this week at the Farnborough Airshow failed to participate in its planned flight demonstration Tuesday after a tow vehicle damaged its radome. The incident happened immediately after the MRJ finished its demonstration flight on Monday, during push-back to the static park. A spokeswoman would not identify the operator of the tow vehicle, saying only that the company had no affiliation with Mitsubishi. During a Wednesday media briefing, MRJ program management office head Alex Bellamy described the damage as a case of “ramp rash,” and another official said the company hoped the aircraft might rejoin the flying display by the end of the show.