What: ANA All Nippon Airways Airbus A320-200 en route from Nagoya to Sapporo Where: Nagoya When: Oct 20th 201 Who: 169 aboard Why: On taking off from Nagoya, the pilots found a cabin pressure problem. They returned to Nagoya to make a safe landing. The plane was in the air less than half an hour.
The error appears to have been the indicator. An investigation is underway.
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What: Air France Airbus A340-300 en route from Caracas Venezuela to Paris Where: NW of Point A Pitre Guadeloupe When: Jul 22nd 2011 Why: In an experience that is being compared to Air France Flight 447, in night/instrument conditions, the AF Airbus flew through turbulence (reported by pilots, not on METAR) at 35,000 feet, accelerated (to 0.66 mach), and autopilot quit. Pitch attitude increased to 11 degrees and decelerated. Turbulence reduced, and pilots were able to level off and return the flight to normal parameters.
Hopefully the events of this flight will inform us of what is going on in the Airbus at high altitude
In George’s Point of View
Perhaps this flight recapitulates the events of Air France 447. It certainly seems to. Because of what history shows us, I wonder if there was a repeat of faulty input from the pitot tubes. The pilots, in this case managed to regain control of the plane. (I doubt if there is an airbus pilot now who hasn’t studied the events of AF447 and worked out some kind emergency response.)
Pilots blame the equipment. The BEA blames the pilots. Air France blames the instruments.
When the dust settles and the finger-pointing stops, we want those involved to stop blaming, and start taking responsibility.
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Air India flight AI021 had to land in emergency in New Delhi, after rats were found running around the cabin, on the evening of August 4.
The Airbus A-321 was on its way from Calcutta to New Delhi when the crew members discovered ‘scores’ of rats in the cabin. The plane safely landed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi after which, the passengers were evacuated and the aircraft was grounded for pest control treatment and fumigation.
According to a senior commander, “Rats on board an aircraft can lead to a catastrophe if they start chewing up electric wires of a fly by wire plane…If that happens, pilots will have no control on any system on board leading to a disaster.”
However, an Air India officer was reported saying that the rat infestation is ‘common’ in planes worldwide as the rodents could ‘get in anywhere.’ “They follow the catering vans into the plane when they smell the food,” he said.
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What: IndiGo Airbus A320-200 en route from Bangalore to New Delhi India Where: Hyderabad When: Sep 1st 2009 Who: 99 aboard Why: While over Hyderabad, smoke was seen coming from an engine, and the fire alert went off. The plane managed a safe landing. It was not noted if the passengers debarked normally, or by slides, but no injuries were reported.
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What: Jetblue Airbus A320-200 en route from New York to Las Vegas Where: Amarillo When: March 27 2012 Who: 1 medical emergency, 135 passengers, six crew Why: While en route, the pilot of the JetBlue Airbus suffered a panic attack. He was locked out of the cockpit and restrained, and another JetBlue pilot who was aboard assisted the first officer in the cockpit as they diverted to Amarillo and made a safe landing.
The pilot had walked to the back of the plane, and when he returned to the cockpit and found he was locked out, he began yelling “Let me in” and raving about a bomb.
After landing in Amarillo, the captain was taken off the plane into an ambulance that sat on the tarmac for thirty minutes before he was taken to an Amarillo hospital.
Jet Blue’s Official Statement
“Flight 191 departed New York’s JFK airport at 7:28 am ET (was scheduled to depart 6:55 am ET). At roughly 10 am CT/11 am ET, the pilot in command elected to divert to Amarillo, TX for a medical situation involving the Captain. Another Captain, traveling off duty, entered the flight deck prior to landing at Amarillo, and took over the duties of the ill crewmember once on the ground. The aircraft arrived Amarillo at 10:11 am CT, and the crewmember was removed from the aircraft and taken to a local medical facility.
Customers remain on board at this time. JetBlue is working with local authorities and airport officials for the safe deplaning of the aircraft and will send a new aircraft to continue the flight to LAS.”
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What: Southwest Airways Boeing 737 en route from San Francisco to Denver Where: Oakland When: August 28, 2012 7:48 a.m. Who: 143 passengers Why: The flight made an emergency landing at Oakland due to cabin pressurization problems. Fire and rescue crews were on standby.
Passengers were provided another flight which arrived in Denver two hours late.
In George’s Point of View
Maintenance! Maintenance! Maintenance!
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