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Contact photographer Alastair T. Gardiner
What: JAC Japan Air Commuter Saab 340B en route from Kagoshima to Takamatsu
Where: Kagoshima
When: Oct 2nd 2009
Who: 20 people on board
Why: While en route, the plane was struck by lightning. As a safety measure, in spite of no visible damage, the crew decided to return to the airport, where the passengers debarked and were referred to alternative flights.
Air France flight AF-852 had to return and make an emergency landing at Charles de Gaulle Airport, France, on September 25th.
The plane was heading from Paris Orly Airport in Paray-Vieille-Poste, France, to Cayenne, French Guiana, when the crew reported that left engine had suffered a compressor stall and decided to divert.
The plane landed safely. Everyone aboard remained unhurt.
AirAsia India flight I5-549 had to return and make an emergency landing in Ranchi, India, on November 11th.
The Airbus A320-200 plane took off for Delhi, India, but had to return shortly afterwards due to a cargo smoke indication.
The plane landed back safely. All passengers and crew members remained unharmed.
Japan Airlines flight JL-61 had to divert and make an emergency landing in Sapporo, Japan, on September 29th.
The Boeing 777-300 plane heading from Los Angeles, California, to Narita International Airport, Japan, was diverted after the crew noticed a burning odor in the cockpit.
The plane landed safely. All two hundred and fifty-three people aboard remained unharmed.
Air New Zealand flight NZ-9 had to make an emergency landing in Auckland, New Zealand, on September 10th.
The Boeing 787-900 plane was flying from Honolulu, Hawaii, when the crew received a flat tire indication and declared an emergency.
The plane landed safely. All 286 passengers and crew members remained unharmed.
SkyWest Airlines flight 4896 had to divert and make an emergency landing at Capital Region International Airport in Lansing, Michigan, on August 18th.
The plane heading from Detroit to Kalamazoo, Michigan, was diverted after the crew noticed a mechanical issue.
The plane landed safely. All forty-six passengers and three crew members aboard remained unharmed.