Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Trevor Mulkerrins
What: Aer Lingus/Aer Arann Avion de Transport Regional ATR-72-200 en route from Manchester to Shannon
Where: Shannon
When: Jul 17th 2011
Who: 21 passengers, 4 crew
Why: The pilot made a safe landing in turbulence but the front wheel collapsed (on landing or during taxi). The plane veered on to the grass.
Passengers had to disembark on to the runway via stairs and were ported to the gate.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Svyatoslav
What: Aer Lingus Airbus A320-200 en route from Dublin to Lyon
Where: Dublin
When: Jun 28th 2010
Why: After takeoff, the flight encountered a bird, resulting in a bird strike and engine damage. The pilot returned to Dublin and made a safe landing. Passengers were provided an alternative Airbus.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer John E. Jauchler
What: Aer Lingus Airbus A330-200, registration en route from Orlando, to Dublin
Where: Orlando
When: Dublin
Who: 245 passengers and 11 crew
Why: Just after takeoff, the left engine of the Airbus had a large oil loss and was subsequently shut down. The flight returned to the airport half an hour later and made a safe landing. Passengers were provided hotel accommodations and booked on alternative flights the next day.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Klaus Ecker
What: Aer Lingus Airbus A321-200 en route from London to Cork
Where: Shannon Ireland
When: Mar 21, 2010
Who: 181 passengers
Why: While on approach to Cork, an indicator light revealed a hydraulic issue. After two aborted approaches, the flight diverted to Shannon, and made a safe landing. It was towed off the runway. An alternative flight was provided for the passengers several hours later.
Hopefully Aer Lingus planned (230) job cutback will not also result in a cutback in safety.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer K. Dennis
What: Aer Lingus Airbus A321-200 en route from Dublin to Budapest
Where: Vienna
When: Jan 16th 2010
Who: not available
Why: While en route, the flight developed cabin pressure problems. The crew decided to divert to Vienna where they made a safe landing. After passengers debarked in Vienna, they were provided a bus to Budapest.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Javier Bravo Muñoz
What: Aer Lingus Airbus A330-300 en route from Dublin to New York
Where: Shannon
When: Jan 11th 2010
Who: not available
Why: While en route, just over the Atlantic, the flight developed a navigation problem. The crew turned the Airbus around and returned to Dublin where they made a safe landing. Repairs were made or maintenance was completed, apparently; and a little over an hour and a half later, the same plane re-embarked to New York.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Gerry Stegmeier
What: Aer Lingus Airbus A321-200 en route from London to Cork
Where: Dublin
When: Nov 24th 2009
Who: 117 passengers
Why: Although the plane completed the Cork to London flight, the return leg London to Cork had to divert to London when the plane experienced (non-specific) problems with its rudder.
A replacement flight flew in to Dublin to provide passengers the rest of the return flight.
George’s Point of View
Fast food.
Maybe you don’t ever go to a drive through, but I admit, sometimes in my life, I have. I make no excuses for it. But there is one time that sticks in my brain.
I was at an undesignated drive through in an undesignated city, and I pulled up to make my undesignated order, and after 2 seconds of talking to a speaker, realized I was being quizzed by a recording. Although it was working perfectly and in English, we didn’t speak the same language. And to make it even more aggravating, this is one of those driveways it is impossible to exit until the end. So I was forced to wait all the way around; and when I did, I did not get food; but I did make a formal complaint, which I followed through both indoors and in a letter to the undesignated franchise. Maybe it’s stupid, but I felt offended; and I did not return to that particular franchise until that impersonal protocol was removed.
And this was just fast food. My life was not at immediate risk.
Recordings don’t cut it. Sometimes you JUST NEED PEOPLE to communicate.
I’m betting that there are some French Aer Lingus passengers who feel the same way. Friday, somebody in the cabin of an Aer Lingus Dublin to Paris flight pushed the wrong button and subjected the French passengers to the wrong pre-recorded message…the emergency landing message. This put them all in fear of their lives. That same pain and suffering people feel when they’re actually about to crash–that’s what these French passengers were going through. The non-French were fine, since they didn’t get that message that they were about to crash.
I’ve been on planes that made emergency landings and in both instances we heard directly from a live human in the flight deck who explained the problem and urged us not to worry.
Where do they come off with stupid recordings like this? The airline should refund the full fare to these passengers for the grief they unnecessarily went through, even if only for a few minutes and airline operator should be happy they got off that cheaply.
There’s no excuse.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact Photographer Miguel Nobrega
What: Aer Lingus Airbus A320-200 en route from Dublin to London
Where: Dublin
When: Sep 9th 2009
Who: 120 passengers
Why: 25 minutes into the flight, the plane indicated a hydraulics problem. The flight crew returned to London where mechanics confirmed the hydraulic problem. The landing was safe, with no reported injuries.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Paul Stam
What: Aer Lingus Airbus A321-200 en route from Dublin to London
Where: Dublin Airport
When: Jun 6th 2009 11: 30 am.
Who:
Why: Coming out of London the Airbus was struck by lightning. The flight returned to London, and landed safely. Passengers debarked half an hour after they had gotten on, and booked other flights as the Airbus was examined for damage.