AirAsia flight AK-10 had to reject takeoff from Chennai, India, on December 22nd.
The Airbus A320-200 plane was accelerating to takeoff for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, when the crew rejected takeoff due to a bird strike.
The plane safely returned to the apron.
All one hundred and sixty-eight people aboard remained unharmed.
In order “…to evaluate, investigate and determine the actual cause of the accident so similar accidents could be avoided in the future” an international team has been appointed by the government of Malaysia to investigate MH370.
Australia reports debris washing ashore that may be connected to the crash. If the debris proves to be from the plane, ocean patterns may be studied to help establish positioning. If the debris is related, it will be the first hard evidence found.
The current search focuses in a 10-kilometer radius of the area of pings sourced, it is believed, from MH370’s black boxes before the ping batteries ran out.
Poor weather conditions have curtailed air searches, although ships have continued.
The position of Malaysian authorities is that the plane was deliberately diverted, but mechanical failure has not been ruled out.
Rolls-Royce claims the Trent 900 problem is confined to a specific part in the turbine area. 21 of 38 A380s operated by Singapore Air, Qantas and Lufthansa use Rolls-Royce Trent 900 series engines. Singapore Air may have to replace 24 engines. Qantas is inspecting 14 engines which may shared among six planes—which may explain some of the strain evident in so many recent Qantas incidents. Six grounded super jumbos are costing Qantas a million dollars a day.
On the Airbus A380, bound for Sydney from Singapore, which was carrying 433 passengers and 26 crew members, an engine exploded over Batam, sending turbine shrapnel flying out of the plane’s engine, severing cables in the wing, taking out flight control systems and narrowly missing the fuel tank. With fuel gushing out of the fuel tank there and hot components, passengers are lucky the wing did not ignite.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact Photographer Ben Wang
What: US Airways Airbus A320-200 en route from Phoenix to Oakland
Where: San Francisco International
When: Jul 13th 2009
Who: 147 passengers
Why: Nose gear steering of the US Airways Airbus failed on approach to Oakland. The flight was diverted to San Francisco, where nose gear operation apparently was recovered prior to landing.
What: Pawan Hans Aérospatiale AS365 N3 Dauphin
Where: Chandigarh Airport India
When: Dec 16, 2010
Who: 2 pilots, S P S Brar and M S Brar
Why: While en route to pick up a government official Punjab Industries Minister Manorajan Kalia to Mukerian in Hoshiarpur distric, after takeoff from Chandigarh Airport, the helicopter tilted and fell to the ground, and caught afire. The helicopter had been leased to the Indian government for the past 14 years.
The pilots managed to get out of the burning helicopter alive. They have been hospitalized at Western Command Hospital at Panchkula.
An inquiry is underway.
What: Emirates en route from Bangkok to Dubai
Where: Mumbai
When: Nov 7, 2012
Who: 206 aboard, 190 passengers, 16 crew
Why: The UAE flight was over Mumbai when there was an indication of an engine fire.
The pilot declared emergency at 11:22 and with one engine up, landed at 11: 36 pm. at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai. After passengers disembarked, the plane was towed to a hanger for inspection. The fire was out by the time officials inspected the engine.
The Central Industrial Security Force cordoned off the area.
An alternative flight was provided for the passengers, which left Mumbai for Dubai at 7.20 am Thursday.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Dave Sturges
What: PIA Pakistan International Airlines Airbus A310-300 en route from Islamabad to Manchester
Where: Moscow
When: Dec 20th 2009
Who: 189 passengers and 12 crew
Why: While en route, the crew received a fuel pump warning. The flight diverted to Moscow where the plane landed safely. Passengers were provided an alternative plane.
