Air accident experts are continuing an investigation into a fire on an Iberia flight from Barcelona to Dublin which resulted in an emergency evacuation of passengers and crew earlier this year.
An initial report published by the Department of Transport's Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) today, found severe mechanical problems in an auxiliary power unit (APU) that went on fire on the Airbus A320 shortly before 7pm on May 3rd .
Investigator Graham Liddy's report said the aircraft crew attempted to start the APU in the tail section of the plan at the end of a flight from Barcelona.
However, several attempts to start the power unit in the tail of the aircraft failed after it appeared to overheat and shut itself down.
Staff in the air traffic control tower saw flames coming from the back of the aircraft and warned the crew and called the airport emergency services.
The captain ordered an emergency evacuation and the 97 passengers and six crew got off the six-year-old aircraft safely. No one was injured.
Investigators found the fire was confined to the power unit and was "totally contained".
A bearing structure within the power unit was "severely disrupted" and the mechanism was "grossly distorted", investigations found.
Further tests will be carried out before the AAIU issues its final report.