Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Richard Brownrigg
What: Spirit Airlines Airbus A319-100 en route from Cartagena Colombia to Ft. Lauderdale
Where: Ft. Lauderdale
When: May 30th 2010
Who: 90 passengers and 5 crew
Why: On landing, while still on the runway, smoke permeated the cabin, forcing evacuation on to the runway. Three passengers were hospitalized due to injuries during the evacuation.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Ole Simon
What: Pegasus Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration TC-ASP performing flight PC-223 from Ercan Cyprus to Adana Turkey
Where: Ercan
When: Dec 9th 2011 11:05
Who: 75 passengers and 6 crew
Why: Just ten minutes out of Ercan, over the Five Finger Mountains, the plane was struck by lightning.
Consequently, several systems malfunctioned. Pilots returned to Ercan State Airport and made a safe landing. Passengers were provided alternative flights.
Many regions in cyprus have been subjected to torrential rain and thunder.
Danish Air Transport flight DX-31 had to return for an emergency landing in Bornholm, Denmark, on December 3rd.
The plane took off for Copenhagen, Denmark, but had to turn back after the crew noticed smoke in the cabin and cockpit.
The plane landed safely. All 14 passengers and 4 crew members remained unharmed.
Virgin Atlantic flight VS-107 had to return and make an emergency landing at Heathrow Airport, London, England, on April 27th.
The Airbus A330-300, en-route to Detroit, Michigan, was mid-air when it had to return after the crew reported hydraulic failure followed by a possible landing gear failure.
The plane landed uneventfully. All passengers aboard remained safe.
The passengers were rebooked onto other flights.
Singapore Airlines flight SQ-107 made a safe landing at Changi Airport, Singapore, on November 24.
The Airbus A330-300, en-route from Kuala Lampur, Malaysia to Singapore, was struck by lightning shortly before landing.
The plane landed safely.
All passengers aboard remained unharmed.
Contact photographer Mark Kwiatkowski
What: Lufthansa A321-100, registration en route from Munich Germany to Lisbon Portugal
Where: Diverted to Geneva Switzerland
When: May 9th 2009
Who: 147 passengers
Why: En route, the airbus was hit by clear air turbulence. Twelve passengers were injured, and 2 crew members. 5 were taken to the hospital.
George’s Point of View
Turbulence does not necessarily result in a plane being taken out of commission. The passengers were delayed for five hours while replacement transportation was procured. There is no indication why.
This makes me question why the passengers had to switch planes.
- Was this just a precaution?
- Was the turbulence so bad that it damaged the plane?
- Did they get jostled around much the galley contents (or during mealtime) that it made a 5+ hour mess?
- Did something on the plane go on the fritz before during or after?
Inquiring minds want to know…
Update: Meal service was in progress at the time of the turbulence.
Pictured: an American Eagle Jet
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Contact Photographer Jonathan Morgan
What: American Eagle Embraer ERJ-145 en route from Dallas to Dayton Ohio
Where: Dallas
When: Jul 11th 2009
Who: 43 passengers
Why: Just after takeoff, the flight experienced issues with hydraulics. The landing gear failed to extend. Nearly an hour after leaving, the flight landed safely at the airport of origin, although “alternate gear extension” implementation was required.
American Eagle is affiliated with American Airlines.
