Plans to send a DC-10 air tanker to help fight the Cold Springs fire near Nederland were halted Saturday after the aircraft was damaged during a stop in Pueblo to reload on fuel and fire retardant, an airport official said Tuesday.
The left wing of the giant aircraft clipped a hangar as it was taxiing to the refueling center, said John Vigil, Pueblo Memorial Airport's interim director.
The five people on board at the time of the crash were not injured.
"It was unfortunate," Vigil said of the incident. "It was minor, but it will be up and running again soon, I'm sure of that."
Crews moved the air tanker Monday morning to assess its damage and make repairs. Airport officials will meet Wednesday with an insurance company to assess damage to the hangar, Vigil said.
Vigil said the aircraft was handed off to mechanics from 10 Tanker Air Carrier, which is based in Albuquerque.
Vigil said the air tanker, which can carry up to 11,600 gallons of retardant, flew Saturday from Pocatello, Idaho, to Pueblo, where it was scheduled to reload. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the incident was reported about 2:45 p.m. Saturday.
The aircraft was scheduled to fly to Nederland, where the Cold Springs fire has burned more than 600 acres and destroyed eight homes, officials said.
A message left with 10 Tanker Air Carrier was not returned Tuesday night.
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