What: China Eastern Airlines Airbus A320 en route from Yancheng to Taiwan
Where: Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, Taiwan
When: Oct 1, 2012
Who: 89 aboard
Why: After arriving airport from Yancheng and parking, the airbus’ left door was struck by the mobile stairway being set up for passengers to disembark.
After passengers disembarked, the plane was cleared for the subsequent Taiwan-Nanchang flight
What: Qatar Airways Airbus 330 flight from Doha to Lagos
Where: Lagos
When: Sept 29 2012 1 p.m.
Why: On approach to Lagos, the pilots declared emergency over a landing gear problem.
Pilots made a safe landing with emergency services on standby.
It was a landing gear problem, according to Other sources cite a deflated tire.
What: PAL Airbus A-319 Flight PR-124
Where: Zamboanga
When: Sept 22, 2012
Why: PAL Flight PR-124 was cancelled when engine inspection indicated a bird strike from an earlier flight. The 101 passengers who were scheduled on that flight were transferred to other flights.
The engine damage occurred on PR-123 Manila-Zamboanga which had arrived at 6:18 a.m.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Raymond Wang
What: Malaysia Airlines Airbus A330-200 en route from Chennai to Kuala Lumpur
Where: Penang International Airport
When: Sep 15 2012 8:04
Who: 195 passengers
Why: While en route, the plane developed cabin pressure issues. The Free and Independent News site reported that the pilot dropped the Airbus rapidly from 39,000 to 10,000 feet. Passengers aboard the flight were screaming, crying.
Apparently the crew wasn’t in much better shape. (Panic mode)
Apparently an automated voice announced the emergency to passengers. (I wonder if it was the automatic pilot?) In the chaos, some of the oxygen masks failed. (That source also indicated 120 passengers aboard. Maybe people in a panic can’t count?)
Also this item was twittered: Samy Vellu was on board troubled Chennai-KL flight
Pilots diverted to Penang and made a safe landing. There were twitters by passengers swearing it was the worst flight ever
What: Emirates Airlines Airbus A330-200 en route from Dubai to Kochi
Where: Kochi
When: September 14 2012
Who: 275 aboard
Why: According to IBN Live, an Emirates flight from Dubai to Kochi developed hydraulic problems and had to make an emergency landing in Kochi.
ATC said “Precautions were taken.” We assume this to mean that emergency services were on standby, but have no indication if any services were actively engaged.
The flight made a safe landing.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Yunjin Lee
What: PIA Pakistan International Airlines Airbus A310-300 en route from Islamabad to Medina
Where: Karachi
When: Sep 12th 2012
Who: 187 passengers
Why: After the plane’s hydraulic system developed a fault, pilots informed ATC.
ATC recommended diversion to Karachi. Pilots made a safe landing at 9.22 pm. An alternative flight was provided.
What: Vueling Airbus A320-200 en route from Malaga to Amsterdam
Where: Amsterdam
When: Aug 29 2012
Who: 183 passengers
Why: While en route, the pilots of the Vueling Airbus lost contact with Dutch ATC.
The lack of communication led the Airbus to be escorted by F16s to “establish visual contact with the crew.”
On landing at Schiphol, the plane was isolated more than a mile from the terminal, with medical and security teams on hand, and a bus to transport passengers to the airport. Schiphol had already been evacuated after a World War II bomb which had been uncovered was scheduled for removal.
What: Philippine Airlines Airbus 320 en route from Manila to Tacloban
Where: Tacloban Airport
When: August 28, 2012, 6:49 a.m.
Who: 94 aboard
Why: On landing at Tacloban, the plane flew through a flock of ducks, several of which were ingested. Pilots made a safe landing.
The return flight was supposed to be at 7:30 a.m. but it was cancelled as the plane was inspected for damage.
What: SAS Airbus 321 en route from London to Copenhagen
Where: Heathrow airport
Who: 175 passengers
Why: The cart that crashed into an SAS plane at Heathrow caused £1 million worth in damage, all because driver Dennis Jackson had forgotten which vehicle he was driving when he drove a too tall vehicle under the plane’s too low tail. The SAS Airbus 321 impacted the rear of the craft near the fuel line and sliced through the plane. The plane was subsequently evacuated.
Jackson’s employer Dnata gave him a written warning.
It was, as one attorney said, an “expensive accident,” costing a fine of a week’s wages, £150(fees), £85 (costs) and £15 (victim surcharge).
What: Jetblue Airbus A320-200 en route from New York to Los Angeles
Where: Denver
When: Aug 19 2012
Who: one disorderly
Why: On August 22, Marcus Covington was charged with abusive sexual contact and interference with flight crew members and attendants.
The August 19 flight where the infraction occurred was en route from NY to LA. The Captain diverted to Denver after Covington groped a pregnant woman, argued with flight attendants, and was taken into custody by a special agent who was aboard the flight. Covington, who had been seen taking eight pills of some kind, accosted the pregnant woman near the restroom.
The complaint says “He then ran his hands up the front of her body going from her crotch up to her breasts. He started with the back of his hands, but turned his hands with his palms facing her as he ran his hands over her breasts. She pushed him away and she got behind the flight attendant that had come up behind her. She then went into the lavatory where she remained crying for approximately five minutes.”
Covington left the plane in handcuffs.
According to the NTSB, “on January 25, 2008, a United Airbus A320, registration N462UA, experienced multiple avionics and electrical failures, including loss of all communications, shortly after rotation while departing Newark Liberty International Airport, Newark (EWR), New Jersey. The flight returned for landing at EWR and electrical power was restored to the cockpit after landing when the flight crew selected the AC Essential Bus button. There were no injuries to the 107 passengers and crew aboard the airplane and no damage to the airplane. The airplane was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 and was a regularly scheduled passenger flight to Denver International Airport, Denver, Colorado.”
Note that this was a glass cockpit. (A glass cockpit has digital instrument displays rather than analog.)
In case of electrical failure, new Airbus models have backup systems and backups for the backups for their glass cockpits, but 50 episodes of multiple electrical failure have been recorded in the Airbus A320 (A318, A319, A320 and A321) according to AP. Obviously not all Airbus models are new.
In 2009, the EU issued an order giving airlines four years to make the fixes so that pilots don’t end up losing all their electrical systems. The FAA issued the order in 2010. France reported 48 failures of 5 of 6 displays in 2008.
The NTSB has suggested to the FAA that the optional fix be mandatory, but currentlyAirlines are not required to tell the Federal Aviation Administration when the repairs are made, and they can’t afford to automatically immediately ground planes when a bulletin is issued. Is this safety Russian-Roulette style?
What: Air India’s A330 en route from Delta to Shanghai
Where: Shanghai
When: July 5, 2012
Who: 60 passengers, 11 crew
Why: After 2 crew and 18 passengers were injured by turbulence, the flight crew Captain S.P. Suri and first officer Captain Rajesh Mulchandani, were suspended.
Rather than diverting to the nearest airport, Kolkata, at the request of the injured, the pilots continued to land in Shanghai. The pilot reported only mild turbulence, and that passengers and the cabin crew were told to belt up.
The severe turbulence which tossed around the plane was not reported. The DGCA has ordered a probe.
What: China Southern Airlines Airbus A319-100 en route from Daqing to Guangzhou
Where: Hangzhou
When: Jul 25, 2012 4:50 p.m.
Who: 105 passengers
Why: The flight, scheduled from Daqing to Hangzhou to Guangzhou was climbing out of Hangzhou when smoke was reported.
Pilots returned to Hangzhou and made a safe landing.
China Southern Airlines’ official page said “an investigation later found the smoke was in fact a mist produced by faulty airconditioning system” according to CRIEnglish. Another jet was provided for passengers to complete their journey.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Robert Noël
What: US Airways Airbus A330-300 en route from Charlotte to Rome
Where: Philadelphia
When: July 10, 2012, 10:00 pm
Who: 176 passengers, 12 crew, 5 crew ill
Why: While en route, a number of US Airways flight crew became sick from smelling an odor. The pilot diverted to Philadelphia where they made a safe landing. Passengers were provided an alternative flight.
The flight crew was hospitalized. The fumes that made them ill have not been identified.
What: Spirit Airlines Airbus A319 en route from Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale
Where: Houston
When: July 8, 2012
Who: 100+ passengers
Why: After a disruption aboard the flight, the pilots diverted the Spirit Airlines flight to Houston, where they made a safe landing. Passengers who disembarked had no Spirit Airlines counter because, although flights are soon scheduled to begin landing there, currently there is no Spirit Airlines Customer Service at Houston Intercontinental Airport.
On arrival, the disruptive passenger was handed left in the custody of Houston Law Enforcement.
The disruptive passenger was an elderly blind frenchman in his eighties who had become disoriented and frightened. His son was called by authorities.
Passengers reboarded the flight and departed Houston at 6:42 PM.
What: Air India Airbus A-319 en route from Abu Dhabi to New Delhi
Where: Nawabshah 3:37 a.m.
When: July 9, 2012
Who: 122 passengers and six crew
Why: While en route, the flight developed problems with three hydraulic systems. The crew diverted to Nawabshah Pakistan. According to news reports, “The captain preferred to keep passengers on board.”
Air India is sending a team of eight engineers to Nawabshah to repair the plane and return it.
The shuttle sent to return with the stranded passengers is expected to return by 4 pm.
The DGCA is investigating.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Nicholas Vollaro
What: Jetblue Airbus A320-200 en route from Las Vegas to New York
Where: Las Vegas
When: June 17
Who: 135 passengers
Why: After taking off from Las Vegas, “yellow” hydraulics aboard the jet blue flight failed, leading the pilot to declare an emergency and return to the airport due to “mechanical indications.”
Passengers were getting airsick due to the plane’s rocking locomotion, and described the flight as nightmarish.
On landing, the plane was towed, as the steering was reported as inoperable.
video below
Update
U.S. District Judge Mary Lou Robinson issued e a ruling Friday in Amarillo judging suspended JetBlue pilot Clayton F. Osbon as mentally competent to stand trial on federal charges stemming from a March 27 in-flight incident that forced his co-pilot to divert a Las Vegas-bound jet to Amarillo’s airport. He has no trial date set. It should be noted that the ruling that he is currently competent does not mean he was mentally competent at the time of the incident, at which time he was incoherent, racing inside the cabin, yelling about the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and pounding on the cockpit door
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.
What: IndiGo Airbus A320-200 en route from New Delhi to Jammu
Where: Jammu
When: Jun 13, 2012 9 am
Who: 130 passengers
Why: The Indigo flight arrived in Jammu with smoke coming out of an engine. The flight was given priority to make an emergency landing. There were no injuries reported. Passengers were evacuated promptly from the plane.
The grounded plane A320 is undergoing examination. On Flight Aware, the return status is reported as scheduled/delayed, with the departure delayed from 11:10AM to 06:55PM IST
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Szabo Gabor
What: Egyptair Airbus A320-200 en route from Cairo to Nairobi
Where: Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi
When: June 6, 2012, 3.36am
Who: 143 aboard
Why: While landing at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, the plane veered off the runway on to soft ground, shutting down the airport and causing delays for the rest of the day. Passengers were evacuated with no injuries reported. Flights were diverted to Mombasa and Entebbe.
Passengers disembarked on the soft ground and were ported to the gate.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Kris Mogford
What: Emirates Airlines Airbus A380-800 en route from Dubai to Toronto
Where: Ottowa
When: Jun 1st 2012
Who: 530 aboard
Why: On approach to Toronto, the pilot entered a holding pattern due to bad weather, but on approach, was alerted to windshear, and made another precautionary go-round due to gusty conditions. They diverted to Ottowa where they made a safe landing. the plane touched down safely shortly after 5 p.m.
The plane refueled, and made a safe landing in Toronto at Pearson after 9 pm.
Pilots had declared (and undeclared) a fuel emergency on approach to Ottowa. After landing, the runway was inspected.
What: Emirates airbus A380 en route from Dubai to Toronto
Where: Ottowa
When: June 1, 2012
Who: 530+ passengers
Why: After taking off from Dubai, the pilot encountered problems. In fact, pilots circled Toronto before they diverted to Ottowa, where they made a safe landing with firefighters and paramedic emergency services on standby. The plane, the first A380 ever to land at Ottawa International Airport, touched down at 5 pm.
Pilots diverted to Ottowa because Ottawa International Airport has a 10,000-foot runway. An A380 requires at least 9,875 feet.
According to Global Toronto, the jet nearly ran out of fuel after being rerouted due to torrential rains in Toronto.
The flight eventually made it to Toronto at 9:00 pm.
Airbus launched a new recruitment initiative in Toulouse, France,and announced handling of the A380s to be coming in for their wing-rib bracket fix. The Airbus solution is to switch to a less brittle aluminum for the replacement parts. The cracks were first discovered on Singapore Airlines’ aircraft in 2011.
The Airbus retrofit plan includes ribs being replaced with all-aluminum components, inspection manholes reinforced and the feet blunted. In 2013 the parts will be available for wing modification and rib design from the end of this year. All A380s in service will require the overhaul. The fault has been blamed on components designed in Filton, Bristol.
What: UPS Cargo Airbus en route from Louisville to Tulsa
Where: Tulsa International Airport
When: May 22, 2012 5:40 a.m.
Who: 2 Crew
Why: En route, the plane flashed a landing gear warning.
Pilots made a safe landing in Tulsa but had to be towed. The runway was closed for thirty minutes.
Below see video of Airbus landing.
What: UNITED Airlines Airbus A320 en route FROM Washington DC to Cancun
Where: Tampa International Airport
When: May 21, 2012, 11:25 AM
Who: 127 passengers
Why: The DC-Cancun flight was over the Atlantic when it diverted to Tampa. Pilots informed ATC when smoke appeared in the cabin. They made a save landing.
Emergency services were on standby on arrival in Tampa. Passengers were evacuated on landing. No injuries were reported.
Mechanics took on examining the plane. Passengers were provided an alternative flight.
