Sunwing Airlines flight BY-5483 made an emergency landing in Sofia, Bulgaria, on June 21st.
The Boeing 737-800 plane heading from Paphos, Cyprus, to Norwich, England, was diverted after smell of smoke was noticed on board.
The plane landed safely. All passengers and crew members remained unharmed.
Volotea flight V7-1546 had to return and make an emergency landing at Falcone-Borsellino Airport, Palermo, Italy, on March 19.
The Boeing 717-200, en-route from Palermo to Naples, Italy, was mid-air when the crew reported problem with the gear after retraction, prompting it to return.
The plane landed safely.
All 64 passengers onboard remained unharmed.
What: Air Tran Boeing 717-200 en route from Charlotte to Atlanta
Where: Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport
When: May 4 2011
Who: 115 passengers
Why: After taking off, the left engine compressor stalled. The pilots shut down the left engine and returned to the airport.
Spartanburg EMS, and Boiling Springs, Greer, Pelham and Tyger River fire departments were on the scene
We talked about the May 16 cockpit fire on a United Boeing 757 (New York to Los Angeles) that made an emergency diversion to Dulles. That event involved an airborne cockpit fire so extreme that the pilot reached for the fire extinguishers to put out flames coming from his windshield—but he was brought up short by the length of the oxygen hose. In the smokey situation, it must have been a special concern to have the oxygen mask rip away from the pilot’s face. I can only assume there is other essential gear stored and unreachable due to the length of the hose, because I haven’t seen anyone talk about solving the hose length issue by moving the extinguishers closer.
In fact, on some Boeing 757 and 767s the length of the hose attached to the pilot’s oxygen mask and smoke goggles is under scrutiny now by the FAA for being too short to reach the fire extinguishers. Apparently Boeing has resisted lengthening the hose because of the danger of the pilot getting tangled in the hose.
Since the FAA is looking into the issue of the possibility of the hoses being too short, one can not help but wonder if this problem were a factor in the May 22 – Air India Express Flight 812 Boeing 737-800 crash at Mangalore International Airport, or the Jan 25 Ethiopian Airlines Flight 409 Boeing 737-800 that crashed into the Mediterranean Sea shortly after take-off from Beirut. How do we know that too-short hoses did not contribute to those tragic events?
Conversely, if the 737 hose length is not too short and allows the pilot to reach where it essential for the pilot to reach, and there is no hose problem on the 737, then why has Boeing not corrected this problem on 757s and 767s?
Delta Airlines flight DL-44 had to return and make an emergency landing in Las Vegas, Nevada, on June 10th.
The plane took off for John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, but had to return shortly afterwards due to suspicion of a windshield crack.
The plane landed safely. All 164 people aboard remained unhurt.
What: US Airways/PSA CRJ2 Charlotte to Charleston,WV
Where: Charlotte-Douglas International airport.
When: Feb 12, 2012
Who: 44 passengers 3 crew
Why: A flight from Charlotte to Atlanta had just taken off when the plane began making unidentified noises. In about an hour after take-off, pilots returned to the airport to make a safe landing with emergency services on standby.
Passengers were provided alternative flights.
Delta Airlines flight DL-2668 made an emergency landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, on November 10th.
The Boeing 717-200 plane heading from LaGuardia Airport, New York, to Boston, Massachusetts, was diverted after the crew reported an engine failure.
The plane landed uneventfully. All 97 people aboard remained safe.
The airline arranged a replacement plane for the passengers.
