Virgin America flight VX-865 had to return and make an emergency landing in Denver, Colorado, on May 23rd.
The Airbus A320-200 took off for San Francisco, California, but had to return shortly afterwards due to a bird strike.
The plane landed uneventfully. All 136 people aboard remained safe.
What: Saudi Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-90-30 en route from Damascus to Madinah, Saudi Arabia
Where: emergency landing at Prince Muhammad International Airport in Madinah
When: Thursday May 28th 2009-evening
Who: 121 passengers
Why: On approach, the plane experienced a failure in one of its engines. The pilot had to burn off fuel, telling the control tower he was unable to land. After a number of attempts, the MD-90 landed safely.
George’s Point of View
Math question
If an MD-80 flies from Damascus to Madinah carrying 121 passengers with all its engines, loses one and has to circle for thirty minutes after it arrives at its destination, how much fuel was in the plane to begin with?
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Aleksey Lisitsyn
What: Iran Air Boeing 727-200 en route from Moscow Sheremetyevo (Russia) to Tehran Imam Khomeini
Where: Tehran
When: Oct 18th 2011
Who: 94 passengers and 19 crew
Why: On approach to Imam Khomeini Airport, the crew aborted the approach due to a landing gear issue. The crew diverted the flight to Mehrabad Airport (also in Tehran).
The fly by at Mehrabad indicated the nose gear issue was actual, and not an indicator problem.
The crew landed without the nose gear on the main gear, and the runway had been foamed. There were no reported injuries.
Pakistan International Airlines flight PK-3209 had to return and make an emergency landing at Benzair Bhutto International Airport, Islamabad, Pakistan, on October 11.
The empty Boeing 777 departed from Islamabad for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to bring back Pakistani Hajj pilgrims. However, shortly after it took off, oil began to leak from the aircraft’s hydraulic landing gear.
The plane was then returned to the airport where it landed safely.
Authorities said that the engineers repaired the leak and the aircraft flew out to its destination with delay.
What: Northwest Airlines( Pinnacle) Canadair CRJ-200 en route from Knoxville,TN to Detroit
Where: Louisville
When: Aug 4th 2009 6 p.m
Who: 24 passengers
Why: Half an hour into the flight, the plane encountered turbulence which injured a flight attendant and a passenger. About twenty-five minutes later, the flight landed in Louisville KY where the flight attendant was hospitalized with minor injuries. The passenger received cuts and bruises which were categorized as not serious. The turbulence the flight encountered was attributed to the same storm system that was behind thunderstorms and flooding in the Kentucky area.
The rest of the passengers were placed on another flight out of Louisville.
Is it possible that pilots and airlines should actually avoid flying during severe weather conditions? I know it is an audacious thing to suggest. Human beings would much prefer to assert dominion over all things natural than to do something that would require a little common sense, especially if it would mean we actually had to wait an hour before taking off.
LOT Polish Airlines flight LO-6523 made an emergency landing in Warsaw, Poland, on February 27th.
The Boeing 787-800 plane took off for Mauritius, but had to turn back due to engine vibrations.
The plane landed safely after burning off excess fuel. Everyone aboard remained unharmed.
The airline arranged a replacement plane for the passengers.
A 1981 Yak 52 plane crashed in Syracuse, Hamilton County, Kansas, on May 25.
Authorities said the plane went down nose-first, near the intersection of U.S. Highway 50 and Kansas Highway 27.
The pilot, who was the sole occupant of the plane, was killed in the crash. He was identified as Anthony Englert, 54, of Syracuse.
The FAA and the NTSB are investigating.
