Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Co van den Heuvel
What: Cathay Pacific Boeing 747-400 en route from London to Hong Kong
Where: London
When: Sep 11 2010
Why: After takeoff, the cabin did not pressurize. The pilot returned to London and made a safe landing and repairs.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Galen Burrows
What: Air Europa Boeing 737-800 en route from Madrid,SP to Lanzarote,CI
Where: Lanzarote
When: Jun 16th 2011
Why: On approach to Lanzarote, the plane developed flap problems. The crew responded by entering a holding pattern, and shortly afterward landed with flaps up. Touchdown was lower and at a higher speed but a safe landing.
What: Air Europa Boeing 737-800 en route from Lanzarote,CI to Bilbao,SP
Where: Bilbao
When: Jun 16th 2011
Why: The same plane was on approach to Bilbao and suffered a reoccurrence of the flap problem.
The pilots diverted to Madrid. Touchdown was lower and at a higher speed but a safe landing.
In George’s Opinion
One can not help but wonder what was going on behind the scenes here–if they had an attempted-but-failed flap repair in maintenance, or if someone had a boneheaded thought process of flying a disabled plane.
We do not have a record here that this was a ferry flight, so whether or not there were commercial passengers aboard, someone else will have to enlighten us.
Hopefully the flaps problem will be repaired rather than continuing to subject the crew to a less-than-airworthy plane. Good on you to the flight crew of EC-III
.
What: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-300 en route from Austin,TX to Tampa,FL
Where: Tampa
When: Feb 27th 2012
Why: While on approach, a bird impacted the Southwest Boeing.
Pilots made a safe landing. There was substantial damage to the plane
Ryanair flight FR-1431 had to return and make an emergency landing at Rhodes Airport, Greece, on November 5th.
The Boeing 737-800 plane took off for Athens, Greece, but suffered a dog strike during takeoff.
The crew subsequently turned back and landed safely. All passengers and crew members remained unharmed.
What: Germanwings Airbus A319-132
Where: Cologne Bonn German
When: Oct 26, 2012
Who: 128 aboard
Why: On takeoff from the airport, the flight suffered a bird strike in one engine.
Pilots shut down the affected engine, and diverted to the airport where they made a safe landing.
Passengers were provided an alternative flight.
Pakistan International Airlines flight PK-757 had to make an emergency landing at London Stansted Airport, England, on February 7th.
The plane flying from Lahore, Pakistan, to Heathrow Airport, London, United Kingdom, was diverted due to a bomb threat.
The plane landed safely. All 150 people aboard remained unharmed.
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Contact photographer Thomas Brackx
What: British Airways Boeing 777-200 en route from Antigua to London
Where: over the Atlantic
When: Oct 19th 2009
Why: While over the Atlantic, the flight encountered severe turbulence and descended to fly at a lower altitude. The flight arrived in London about a quarter of an hour ahead of schedule.
There is no indication at this point whether or not anyone was injured during the turbulence.
