Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact Photographer Dave Chapman
What: Alitalia Airbus A321-100 en route from Moscow to Rome
Where: Minsk
When: Aug 20th 2009
Who: 0 passengers, 6 crew
Why: While en route to Rome, the flight lost cabin pressure. The flight descended to a safe level and landed safely at Minsk.
George’s Point of View
I suppose that ferry flights are an unavoidable reality of aviation; but in these days of conservation and high fuel prices, one wonders at the reasoning behind flying 1475 miles in an Airbus with 6 crew. If they’re flying in for repairs, isn’t there a danger for the crew? Is this the best possible management of vehicle, fuel, and manpower?
No wonder Alitalia reported a $385 million loss so far this year.
Airnorth flight TL-160 had to return and make an emergency landing in Darwin, Australia, on June 8th.
Delta Airlines flight DL-369 had to return and make an emergency landing in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 7th.
Yakutia Airlines flight R3-495 had to return and make an emergency landing in Yakutsk, Russia, on December 5th.
