Jetstar Airways flight JQ-1 had to return and make an emergency landing in Melbourne, Australia, on January 6th.
The Boeing 787-8 plane took off for Honolulu, Hawaii, but had to turn back due to failure of an anti-ice system.
The plane landed safely. Everyone aboard remained unharmed.
Two small planes collided midair over Wil, a town in St. Gallen canton in northeastern Switzerland, in the afternoon of August 24.
According to St. Gallen Canton Police, both the aircrafts, one en-route from Lommis airport in Thurgau canton and the other flying from Zurich, were able to land in emergency after the collision.
One of the planes landed in a field. All 4 people aboard this plane, including the pilot, were seriously injured.
The second plane landed in a Sitterdorf airfield, injuring the pilot and 2 passengers on board.
The cause of the collision is under investigation.
What: American Airlines Boeing 767-200 flight from New York City to San Francisco
Where: Buffalo Niagara International Airport
When: Nov 27, 2011
Who: 713 passengers
Why: After having taken off from JFK, the flight developed smoke in the cockpit.
Pilots diverted to Buffalo, where they made a safe landing. No injuries were reported.
American Airlines routed another plane in to pick up the passengers. In the meantime, passengers were put up overnight in a hotel.
On an unrelated note, the CEO of American Airlines, CEO Gerard Arpey, stepped down. After a meeting in NY on Monday, the company is filing Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Operations of the airline will continue as usual, and frequent fliers will not be affected. However, some jobs will be cut. American Eagle also filed for bankruptcy, delaying its spin off from American.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Michael Fast
What: Air Canada Boeing 767-300 en route from Vancouver to Hawaii
Where: Vancouver
When: Dec 26th 2009
Who: not available
Why: Moments after takeoff, the pilot detected vibration in one engine, and he returned to the airport. Inspection of the aircraft revealed that the vibration was due to a bird strike. Passengers were provided a replacement flight.
Swiss International Air Lines flight LX-289 made an emergency landing in Johannesburg, South Africa, on January 1st.
The Airbus A340-300 plane took off for Zurich, Switzerland, but had to turn back due to issues with the weather radar.
The plane landed safely. There were two hundred and nineteen passengers aboard at the time; all of them remained safe.
Delta Airlines flight DL-588 had to divert and make an emergency landing at Narita International Airport, Japan, on December 14th.
The Boeing 767-300 plane heading from Shanghai, China, to Seattle, Washington, was diverted after the crew suspected a fuel leak.
The plane landed uneventfully. All two hundred and twenty people aboard remained safe.
A development like the Boeing helicopter that can make autonomous takeoffs and landings is one that brings with it a whole set of questions.
The “little bird” which is the first full-size helicopter to take off and land on its own was developed by Boeing, Carnegie Mellon University and Piasecki Aircraft.
One wonders for example, if the software/hardware is transferable to other helicopters, and if this would increase or decrease the safety of those aboard.
I am looking forward to hearing more about the progress of this helicopter.
According to Boeing, the Unmanned Little Bird Demonstrator is a modified MD 530F single-turbine helicopter designed for optionally manned flight, a platform capable of dual pilot, single pilot or no pilot flight operations. It can be remotely operated or programmed for autonomous operation in any mode. The unmanned variant is only being marketed internationally.
