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Contact photographer Simón Blaise
What: Aerolineas Argentinas Boeing 737-700 en route from Sao Paulo Brazil to Buenos Aires Argentina
Where: Sao Paulo
When: Feb 2nd 2012
Why: After takeoff from Sao Paulo, the flight suffered an bird strike, which disabled it. The vibrating engine had to be shut down. Pilots returned to Sao Paulo a quarter of an hour after leaving.
Passengers were provided alternative transport.
Cathay Pacific flight CX-253 made an emergency landing in Hong Kong, China, on May 21st.
The Boeing 777-300 plane took off for Heathrow Airport, England, but had to turn back after the crew noticed a cracked windshield.
The plane landed back safely. There were 270 passengers aboard at the time; all of them remained unharmed.
Cezar Britto, president of The Order of Lawyers of Brazil said it was “a tragedy waiting to happen,” echoing public opinion. “What exploded in Cagonhas was not just the TAM airbus and almost 200 victims but the credibility of the Brazilian aviation system.”
Cagonhas is notorious for its short, dangerous runway.
“The runway was as slippery as soap,” a pilot confessed.
Rescuers pulled 181 bodies from the twisted metal wreckage and rubble. Five people are listed as missing. 11 are hospitalized. No passengers survived.
Relatives gathered to identify the remains amid calls for authorities to improve airport safety.
The crash is the latest of a series of airline disasters. The main runway had been resurfaced last month, but more work was scheduled to allow for better water drainage.
“Control tower operators had warned the runway should be closed,” said Sergio Olivera, who heads the Federation of Air Controllers.
Footage of landing showed the aircraft travelling at high speed–the Airbus took only three seconds as opposed to the usual 11 to traverse the runway then disappeared after skidding off the left side of the runway. Then a ball of flame filled the sky.
An investigation has been ordered. One of the black boxes has been recovered.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva declared three days of national mourning. Pope Benedict XVI expressed his sorrow.
In February a judge banned Fokker 100, Boeing 737-800 and Boeing 737/700 jetliners from the airport but the ruling was overturned in appeals.
United Airlines flight UA-879 made an emergency landing at Shannon Airport, Ireland, on January 12th.
The plane heading from Heathrow Airport, England, to Houston, Texas, was diverted after a passenger suffered a medical emergency.
The plane landed safely. The patient was taken to a hospital.
Finnair flight AY-73 had to return and make an emergency landing in Helsinki, Finland, on September 22nd.
The Airbus A330-300 plane took off for Tokyo Narita Airport, Japan, but had to turn back due to an engine control problem.
The plane landed back safely. All passengers and crew members remained unharmed.
Air India flight AI-849 made a safe emergency landing at Pune Airport, Maharashtra, India, on May 12th.
The Airbus A321-200 flying from Delhi, India, had landed safely but it over-ran the end of runway.
The passengers were evacuated via slides.
All 152 people aboard remained safe.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Mirko Krogmann
What: A Transaero Airlines Boeing 737-300 en route from Atyrau to Almaty
Where: Kzyl-Orda
When: Dec 8th 2009
Who: 81 passengers and 9 crew
Why: While en route, the crew detected a faulty fuel flow sensor and diverted to Kzyl-Orda for repairs, after which passengers resumed the flight on the same plane.
