Air Nelson flight NZ-8807 had to return for an emergency landing in Tauranga, New Zealand, on April 1st.
The plane took off for Christchurch, New Zealand, but had to return shortly afterwards after one of the pilots fell ill.
The plane landed safely. Everyone aboard remained unharmed.
What: Kingfisher en route from Delhi to Mumbai
Where: Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi
When: July 2, 2011, 9:08 a.m.
Who: 118 passengers and eight crew members
Why: The flight took off from Delhi but then an alarm went off, causing the pilot to declare an emergency and return to the airport.
The pilot made a safe landing at Indira Gandhi International Airport at 9:08 a.m. and taxied to the apron. There were no injuries. Passengers apparently disembarked normally and were provided an alternative flight.
Gulf Air flight GF-506 had to return for an emergency landing in Bahrain, on March 9th.
The Airbus A320-200 plane took off for Dubai, United Arab Emirates, but had to return shortly afterwards after the first officer reported feeling unwell.
The plane landed back safely. The first officer was shifted to hospital.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Joe Buvid
What: Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 en route from Seattle to Oakland
Where: Oakland
When: Sept 19, 2011
Who: 126 passengers, 6 crew
Why: While passengers were winging it from Seattle, a handwritten bomb threat note threatening the Oakland flight was found in an airport bookstore in San Francisco International Airport.
The flight landed at Oakland as planned—twenty minutes early, due to some background aviation networking. The fake crisis brought in some real FBI agents and real bomb sniffing dogs who got everyone out of the plane (and screened); and the plane was sent to an isolated location to (fortunately, not) blow up. No bomb was found.
A false report or threat of a bomb or harmful device is punishable by up to four years in prison, a $2,000 fine plus reimbursement of costs to government.
Sent from 37 thousand feet headed to NY
What: US Airways commuter en route from Philadelphia to Islip
Where: Long Island MacArthur Airport
When: June 22, 2011, 1:10 p.m
Why: The 50 person commuter jet had to make an emergency diversion to MacArthur Airport when the flight developed a flap problem.
Virgin Australia flight VA-319 made an emergency landing in Melbourne, Australia, on October 20th.
The Boeing 737-800 plane took off for Brisbane, Australia, but had to turn back after the crew suspected a bird strike.
The plane landed back safely. All passengers and crew members remained unharmed.
What: two-passenger Piper Cherokee on a training flight
Where: emergency landing in Pitt Meadows marsh adjacent to the Swan-E-Set golf course
Who: Delta flight instructor and student from Canadian Flight Centre
Why: The engine of a school plane failed as the plane heading toward Delta’s Boundary Bay airport Vancouver. Thanks to the instructor, the plane landed safely with no injuries
