Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer
What: Air Mauritius Airbus A340-300 en route from Johannesburg S Africa to Mauritius
Where: Mauritius
When: Jul 28th 2011
Who: 65 passengers, 13 crew
Why: On approach to Mauritius, the flight encountered turbulence that injured 6 crew members and one passenger.
The injured were hospitalized.
Aeroflot flight SU-1513 had to divert and make an emergency landing at Koltsovo Airport in Yekaterinburg, Russia, on October 21st.
The Airbus A321-200 plane heading from Surgut International Airport to Sheremetyevo International Airport, Russia, was diverted after the crew noticed smoke emanating from a galley.
The plane landed safely. Everyone aboard remained unharmed.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Jason Whitebird
What: American Airlines Boeing 767-300 en route from Madrid to Miami,FL
Where: en route
When: Mar 7 2010
Why: While en route, the flight developed problems with the right engine. They returned to Madrid where they made a safe landing. Repairs were made, and passengers boarded, and made the flight to Miami, albeit late.
Jet Airways flight 9W 955 made an emergency landing in Indore, India, on September 30th.
The plane was flying from Hyderabad, India, when the crew noticed a technical issue with one of the engines.
The plane landed safely. All ninety-six passengers and seven crew members remained unharmed.
Aer Lingus flight EI 485 was forced to make an emergency landing at Cork Airport, Cork, Ireland, on the afternoon of October 18.
The Airbus A320-200, en-route to Dublin, Ireland, from Lisbon, Portugal, had to be diverted in emergency after a 24-year-old passenger “ran amok” and later died mid-air.
The plane landed uneventfully.
Among 168 passengers and 6 crew members aboard, 1 person sustained minor injuries while trying to help the man.
Vueling Airlines flight VY-1867 had to reject taking-off at Stuttgart Airport, Filderstadt, Germany, on August 13.
The Airbus A321-200 en-route to Barcelona, Spain, had to abort the take-off due to hot brakes.
The plane vacated the runway safely.
No one was injured.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Antonis Panayotatos
What: American Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-82 en route from Chicago to Dallas
Where: Chicago
When: Mar 11 2010
Who: 140 aboard
Why: After takeoff, the MD-82 flew through a flock of birds. Several birdstrikes occurred in the right engine. The flight was cleared to return and landed safely a little while later. No injuries occurred.
I’m not claiming that bird strikes only happen in certain seasons. Birds live near airports and share the airspace. It’s going to happen.
I’m just saying that some of the bird strikes can be predicted according to migratory patterns. Unfortunately, I don’t think this can be predicted in any useful way, at least not yet, but predicted in the sense that when you’re driving down the expressway and see a cloud of birds migrating, you know it is bird strike season again.
