HEALTH and safety chiefs have launched an investigation after a teenager was seriously injured at Newquay airport.

The 17-year-old, believed to be working there for the summer season, suffered fractures to both legs after he was apparently run over by a flat-bed luggage truck on the airfield.

The teenager is believed to be the son of a senior official in charge of the loading and unloading of baggage from aircraft. It is unclear whether the official was on duty at the time of his son's accident.

Cornwall Council, which owns the airport, and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), have launched a joint investigation into the incident.

In a statement, the airport said: "Newquay Cornwall airport can confirm an incident took place on Wednesday, June 9, involving a member of the airside services team while assisting with the baggage off-loading process on the main apron.

"The staff member was taken to Royal Cornwall Hospital, Treliske, with injuries sustained to both legs. The accident was reported through the airport's incident reporting system that automatically notified the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as it was reportable under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations Act 1995. (RIDDOR).

"The airport company has carried out a thorough investigation into the incident and a copy of the investigation report has been sent to the HSE and the council's health and safety team.

"It is co-operating fully with these organisations and it would be, therefore, inappropriate to comment any further until this process has been fully concluded."

One source at the airport told the Cornish Guardian that he understood the teenager was working there for the summer season.

He said: "I couldn't believe it when I heard what had happened. Health and safety at an airport should be top class.

"This just shows that changes may need to be made here. Staff safety should be made paramount."

The council and the HSE said they are unable to comment on the incident, stating it was too "early" in their own investigations.

The teenager's family did not wish to comment when approached by the Cornish Guardian.

The incident comes 18 months after the airport hit national headlines when it was forced to close.

It was shut from December 1 to December 19, 2008, after the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) refused to grant an operating licence, following the handover of operations from RAF St Mawgan to the former county council. Improvement works to bring the airport up to the required CAA standard had not been met.