American Airlines flight AA-9240 had to return and make an emergency landing in Phoenix, Arizona, on January 3rd.
The Airbus A321-200 plane took off for John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, but had to turn back due to smoke in the cabin.
The plane landed back safely. All passengers and crew members remained unharmed.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Chris P Denton
What: Qantas Boeing 747-400 en route from San Francisco to Sydney
Where: San Francisco
When: Aug 31 2010, 12:45 a.m.
Who: 212 passengers, 19 crew
Why: After takeoff, the right engine failed (exploded), and disrupted the outer engine cowling. Observers reported “a thud, shower of sparks, and engine fire.”
On board, the pilot announced that the captain announced that an engine blew up. The crew shut down the afflicted engine, dumped fuel over the Pacific and returned to San Francisco where it made a safe landing. Inside while landing, passengers cheered.
Passengers were provided hotel accommodations. There were no injuries. Experts have noted the rarity of this type of engine explosion, and also mention how lucky passengers are it occurred facing “out” – although the engine is built to contain exploding particles.
* The 747 has 4 engines.
Delta Airlines flight DL-1270 had to divert and make an emergency landing at Panama City, Florida, on June 14th.
The McDonnel Douglas MD-88, flying from Atlanta, Georgia, to Pensacola, Florida, had to divert due to some problems with one of its engines.
The plane landed safely.
No one was injured.
Saratov Airlines flight 6W-5837 had to divert and make an emergency landing in Saratov, Russia, on September 10th.
The plane heading from Kirov, Russia, to Simferopol, Ukraine, was diverted due to an engine indication problem.
The plane landed safely. All seventy-two people aboard remained unharmed.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Dan Miclea
What: Virgin America Airbus en route from San Francisco to New York City
Where: Grand Junction Colorado
When: September 8, 2011, 2:00 a.m.
Who: 111 passengers and 6 crew
Why: While en route, the Virgin America flight experienced problems, described by one passenger as “the engine quit” and by another as “a giant flame from the engine.” While en route, passengers were awakened by a loud noise, and according to one passenger, flight attendants rushed to the cockpit.
Pilots shut the engine down and continued the flight. Individuals with military experience were asked to assist in case of emergency.
(We don’t usually get this much detail, but it is clear that the passengers were terrified. Pilots always say these huge jets with multiple engines are built to fly without one, in case of emergency; but personally I can relate more to the anxiety of the passengers than the confidence of pilots in their machines. Though one has to admit, knowing a pilot confident in his plane is flying is more comforting to a passenger than a pilot who is hysterical.)
Pilots explained the situation to the passengers. Forty minutes later landed safely in Grand Junction.
Passengers were provided hotel accommodation, $150 for another flight, and another flight was provided within ten hours. The incident is under investigation.
What: Jet Airways Airbus A318 en route from Hamburg to Dubai
Where: Constanta, Romania
Who: five crew and three passengers
Why: While en route, the jet airways airbus windshield cracked.
Pilots diverted to Mihail Kogalniceanu airport in Constanta, where they made a safe landing. No injuries were reported.
Allegiant Air Flight 606 made an emergency landing at Jacksonville International Airport, Florida, on December 24.
The plane, en-route from Orlando, Florida, to Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport, Ohio, was diverted after an indicator light in the cockpit went off.
The plane landed uneventfully. All 141 passengers and 6 crew members remained safe.
The airline arranged a replacement plane for the passengers.