What: Kingfisher Airbus A320-200 en route from Hyderabad to Mumbai
Where: Mumbai, India
When: Oct 21 2010
Who: 136 aboard
Why: On final approach to Mumbai, the plane incurred a bird strike which struck the landing gear. The plane made a safe landing at Mumbai, although there was some damage to the plane. Everyone made it safely off the plane.
Newspapers reported “bird was trapped inside the wheels of the plane.”
Aeroflot flight SU-43 made an emergency landing in Moscow, Russia, on July 22nd.
The Boeing 737-800 plane flying from Saint Petersburg, Russia, was descending toward Moscow when the crew received indication of an open cargo door.
The plane continued for a safe landing.
It is believed that a dog in the cargo compartment had opened the cargo door.
Qantas flight QF-1 had to return and make an emergency landing in Sydney, Australia, on August 3rd.
The Airbus A380-800 plane took off for Dubai, United Arab Emirates, but had to return shortly afterwards after the crew reported a fault in cabin’s temperature control system.
The plane landed safely. Everyone aboard remained unharmed.
Korean Air flight KE-644 had to divert for an emergency landing in Manila, Philippines, on February 28th.
The Boeing 777-300 plane heading from Singapore to Seoul, South Korea, was diverted after smell of smoke was noticed in the cabin.
The plane landed safely. All 285 passengers aboard remained unharmed.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Gilbert Hechema
What: Air France Airbus A340-300 en route from Paris to Bogota
Where: Paris
When: Sep 1 2010
Why: After flying about an hour out of Paris, the plane developed an unspecified technical malfunction and had to return to Charles de Gaulle airport where it made a safe landing. Passengers were routed to an alternative flight the next day, (inconveniencing also the return passengers in Bogota.)
The Airbus Group launched their two-seater, E-Fan electric trainer airplane in France last month.
The all-electric all-composite experimental plane designed specifically as a demonstrator for the small electric aircraft technology made its first public flight in Bordeaux, France, during the Airbus’ E-Aircraft Day.
The aircraft is comparatively quieter than the non-electric planes and has zero carbon dioxide emissions during flight. Moreover, it lasts an hour for training flights and half an hour for manoeuvres.
According to Airbus, the E-Fan electric trainer plane will be used as a model for designing, building and selling two improved versions through their subsidiary company, VoltAir.
