American Airlines flight AA135 had to return and make an emergency landing at London Heathrow airport, on December 15.
The airline said that the Los Angeles-bound Boeing 777 had to turn back due to a medical emergency.
The plane, carrying 267 passengers, landed back safely at around 4 p.m.
Authorities said the flight again departed London shortly after 6 p.m.
Air France flight AF-733 had to make an emergency landing at Shannon airport, Ireland, at around 10 a.m. on December 14.
The Boeing 747-, heading from the Dominican Republic to Paris, had to land in emergency after a fire alarm went off.
The plane landed uneventfully and all 156 people aboard remained unharmed.
A replacement plane was arranged for the passengers.
It was later found that the heat from a cargo of vegetables triggered the fire alarm.
Seventy minutes after a mayday when a cargo of vegetables (peppers and flowers) set off a smoke alarm, Air France flight AF-733 made an emergency landing at Shannon Airport today at 9.55am. The flight was en route from Santo Domingo to Paris with 142 passengers and 14 crew when they diverted.
Emergency services, Shannon based Irish Coast Guard helicopter, the fire department, the RNLI lifeboat at Kilrush, and HSE ambulances were on standby as passengers disembarked via stairs. Passengers are being accommodated in the terminal as they wait for an alternative flight.
No fire or heat spots were detected aboard.
After AF447–the deadliest in the history of Air France–it is always alarming to hear of an issue aboard an AF trans-Atlantic flight. That Air France Rio de Janeiro-Paris flight crashed on June 1, 2009 and led to an exhaustive but successful multi-phase ocean search. On April 3, 2011, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution located the debris field.
While today’s thermal food was both alarming and anti-climactic, it was also a successful demonstration of contemporary aviation accident prevention. We are well familiar with how investigations of safety issues contribute to making flight safer, but rarely do we give credit to crew resource management. How the crew responds to the crisis, (even when it is just a sensitive alert that goes off), how well coordinated and cool-headed the crew is can mean the difference between life and death.
We don’t need to think of AF447, or even Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, to appreciate the integrated clockwork of a well-trained crew; but it does make us wonder if those crews were as well-trained as the one on this jet today, if either of those tragedies might have been prevented.
Southwest Airlines flight 3654 had to make an emergency landing in Baltimore, Maryland, on December 10.
The decision for emergency landing was made after a smoke detector set off. The plane was en-route from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.
The Boeing 737 landed uneventfully and all 118 passengers and 5 crew members remained unhurt.
The airline said in a statement that the fire detector went off after a passenger used an e-cigarette in the lavatory.
Pakistan International Airlines flight PK-782 had to return and make an emergency landing in Toronto, Canada, on December 7.
The Boeing 777-200, bound for Karachi, Pakistan, had to return after the pilot reported that the cabin was not pressurizing properly.
The plane landed uneventfully and was taken for examination.
The aircraft had first attempted to depart from Toronto on December 5 but returned immediately due to cabin pressurization issue. The technicians at Air Canada Hangers conducted maintenance after which it was cleared to take off again 2 days later.
A Qantas flight had to return and make an emergency landing at Hobart Airport in Tasmania, Australia, on the evening of December 9.
The Melbourne-bound Boeing 717 had to turn back, just 20 minutes after taking off, after a warning system indicated a technical issue with the aircraft.
The plane landed safely and was taken for examination.
The flight was able to depart again at 7:40 p.m.
This is the 4th emergency landing of a Qantas jet within 48 hours. The airline insisted that the incidents were un-related. According to Qantas chief Alan Joyce, “We have really high reliability. We have low levels of turnbacks compared to most of the world fleets.”
Qantas flight QF904 had to return and make an emergency landing at Perth Airport, Australia, at 2:47 p.m. on December 8.
The flight, heading from Perth to Karratha, had to return after an unusual odor was detected in the aircraft’s cabin.
The Boeing 737, carrying around 85 people, landed uneventfully. St John Ambulance examined more than 75 people for smoke inhalation.
The cause of odor is under investigation.
Delta Airlines flight 312 had to make an emergency landing at Toledo Express Airport, Ohio, on the night of December 4.
The pilot declared an emergency after a smoky odor was detected in the aircraft’s cabin. The flight was heading from Detroit Metropolitan Airport, Michigan to Fort Lauderdale, Florida at the time.
The Boeing 757-300 landed without incident and was able to taxi to the gate on its own power. No one aboard was injured.
The plane was taken for examination while the passengers were transferred to another aircraft.
American Airlines flight 974 had to divert and make an emergency landing at LF Wade International Airport, Bermuda, on December 3.
The Boeing 767-300, en-route from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to New York, was forced to divert after a computer indicated fire in one of its wheels.
The plane made an uneventful emergency landing at 6:20 a.m. All 120 passengers aboard remained unharmed.
Firefighters thoroughly inspected the plane.
The airline said they would be making arrangements for the passengers.
American Airlines Flight 67 was searched for a bomb after it landed at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport on November 30.
Authorities said they received a threat involving the New York-bound flight which originated in Barcelona.
The flight landed at JFK at 12:01 p.m., immediately after which, around 200 passengers and 9 crew members were safely evacuated. Police and K-9 unit dogs thoroughly searched the aircraft as well as its cargo, however, no explosive material was found.
The airline said in a statement, “American Airlines apologizes for any inconvenience this may have caused. However, the safety of our passengers and crew is our top priority.”
Officials said the focus of investigation would now be the source of threat.
Delta Airlines flight 434 had to make an emergency landing in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, just after 1 p.m. on November 29.
According to an airline statement, “Delta flight 434, a Boeing 757-200 aircraft with 169 passengers onboard, from New York-JFK to San Francisco diverted to Pittsburgh International Airport when the crew detected a smoky odor in the vicinity of the aft galley. Out of an abundance of caution, the captain elected to divert the flight.”
The plane landed uneventfully and none of the passengers and crew members was hurt.
Authorities said the plane was examined after which, it was able to take off again at 2:30 p.m.
The cause of smoky odor is not known at the moment.
British Airways Flight BA-48 had to make an unscheduled landing at Shannon Airport, Ireland, at around 10:24 a.m. on November 23.
The pilot sought permission for diverting to Shannon Airport after one of the engines of Boeing 777 aircraft had to be shut down due to some fault. The flight was en-route from Seattle, Washington to London Heathrow at the time.
The plane landed uneventfully and all 220 passengers and crew members remained unharmed. The aircraft was taken for examination.
An airline spokesperson said, “Our flight diverted to Shannon due to a minor technical issue and our cabin crew looked after the customers on board. Safety is always our first priority, and the aircraft diverted purely as a precaution.”
A replacement plane was arranged for the passengers which took off 6 hours later.
Earlier on November 21, the same aircraft, performing flight BAW-215 from London Heathrow to Boston, made an unscheduled landing at Shannon Airport due to a problem with generators.
British Airways flight BAW-215 had to divert to Shannon Airport in Ireland, for an unscheduled landing on November 21.
The Boeing 777-200ER was on its way from London Heathrow to Boston when the crew reported a technical issue. It is believed that the one of the aircraft’s generators stopped working and the backup unit had to be used.
The plane dumped fuel to shed off extra weight and landed safely at Shannon airport at 6:58 p.m.
Engineers examined the aircraft after which it was able to resume its journey shortly after 9 p.m.
All Nippon Airways flight NH950 had to return and make an emergency landing at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, Philippines, at around 10:19 a.m. on November 21.
The incident happened after the pilot reported smoke coming out of the Boeing B767’s cockpit. The flight was heading to Narita, Japan at the time.
The plane landed uneventfully and none of the 174 passengers and 10 crew members aboard was harmed.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines is investigating.
United Airlines Flight 1564 had to return and make an emergency landing at Washington Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Virginia, on the night of November 17.
The Boeing 757 departed for San Francisco International Airport at around 6:30 p.m., but was forced to turn back due to a mechanical issue.
The plane, carrying 151 passengers and 6 crew members, landed uneventfully. No one was injured.
An airline official said, “Our maintenance team is currently inspecting the aircraft, and we will accommodate passengers to San Francisco later this evening.”
A SpiceJet aircraft hit a buffalo while taking off from Surat airport in Gujarat, India, at around 7 p.m. on November 6.
The Boeing 737-800 was taking off for Delhi when it hit and killed a stray buffalo.
None of the 146 passengers and crew members reported any injuries.
The aircraft was grounded for repair while the passengers and crew members were shifted to another aircraft.
The airline said in statement, “Stray animals are a growing menace in some airports. This incident has affected our regular operations and hence SpiceJet flights from Surat will now be suspended indefinitely.”
The Civil Aviation Authority has ordered the Airports Authority of India and the Director General of Civil Aviation to investigate the incident separately.
United Airlines flight UA-925 had to divert and make an emergency landing at Dublin Airport, Ireland, at around 6:15 p.m. on November 6.
The Boeing 777-200(ER), heading from London Heathrow Airport to Washington DC, was diverted after the crew reported smoke and fumes in the cockpit.
The flight landed uneventfully after shedding off extra fuel. None of the 140 passengers and crew members was harmed.
Air Canada flight AC015 had to return and make an emergency landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Ontario, Canada, at 11:30 a.m. on November 3.
The Boeing 777, heading to Hong Kong, was returned after a cargo door indicator light turned on.
The plane landed safely and none of the 349 passengers aboard was hurt.
The passengers were shifted to another aircraft which took them to their destination
Malindo Air flight OD206, heading from New Delhi, India to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, had to make an emergency landing in Bangkok, Thailand, at 2:25 a.m. on November 3.
The authorities said the pilot decided to make an emergency landing at the nearest airport after a technical issue was discovered in the Boeing 737-900ER aircraft.
The plane landed uneventfully and all 121 passengers and 8 crew members remained unharmed.
The airline said in a statement, “The passengers are being taken care of by Thai Lion Air and arrangements to put them on another flight to Kuala Lumpur at 3.45pm (4.45pm Malaysian time) are already under way.”
The aircraft was taken for examination.
An Air New Zealand pilot collapsed shortly after she landed the Flight NZ175 full of passengers in Perth, Australia, on October 26.
It is suspected that Captain Ann Barbarich, 59, one of the first female pilots to work for Air New Zealand, suffered a brain aneurysm, just minutes after landing the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. One of the 3 other pilots took controls and taxied the aircraft to the gate.
Captain Barbarich was examined by 2 doctors aboard and was then rushed to the Royal Perth Hospital where she died 2 days later on October 28.
None of the 233 passengers aboard was injured.
According to Air New Zealand chief pilot David Morgan, “Ann was at the controls when the aircraft landed in Perth and the aircraft landed normally…Unfortunately after landing she became seriously ill. Another pilot took over and taxied the aircraft to the gate while the other pilots began to assist Ann. The aircraft was safe and under control at all times…Ann will be sadly missed by everyone at Air New Zealand. We have been actively supporting her family over recent days and will continue to do so. Our thoughts continue to be with them at this difficult time.”
Thomas Cook flight TCX1638 had to return and make an emergency landing at Gatwick airport in West Sussex, UK, on October 31.
The Boeing 757-3CQ departed from the airport at around 9 a.m. and was heading to Hurghada, Egypt, when its emergency slide unit fell off. The pilot was then instructed to turn back and land at Gatwick.
The flight landed safely and all 237 passengers remained unharmed. The passengers were shifted to another flight.
It is believed that the emergency slide fell near the border of Kent and East Sussex. The local police were informed and they sent search teams to spot the unit.
Thomas Cook and the Air Accidents Investigation Branch are investigating.
A WestJet flight, carrying 95 passengers and 6 crew members, had to make an emergency landing in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, on October 21.
Airline spokesman Robert Palmer confirmed that the flight was on its way from Edmonton to Toronto when the crew reported possible smoke in the cabin. The plane was then diverted to Thunder Bay for an emergency landing.
The Boeing 737 aircraft was taken for examination after it landed uneventfully. No one was hurt.
The passengers were accommodated in other flights.
A Kenya Airways flight had to land in emergency at Mombasa Moi International Airport, Kenya, at around 12:05 p.m. on October 20.
The Manager of Moi International Airport, Yatich Kagungo, confirmed that the Boeing 737-800 plane, en route from Delhi, India to Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, was diverted after running low on fuel. “We were alerted that the plane experienced low fuel gauge as it entered Kenyan airspace, we had to arrange for emergency landing in Mombasa as nearest airport .It was very successful,” he said.
None of the 38 passengers aboard was hurt.
The aircraft later resumed its journey after re-fuelling.
American Airlines flight 2293 returned to San Francisco International Airport for making an emergency landing at about 2:15 p.m. on October 13.
The Boeing 757 was on its way from San Francisco to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport when the passengers noticed that the cabin wall was starting to tear apart. According to a passenger James Wilson, “It was the whole Row 14 on all sides, from the floor to the ceiling…It sounded like it was popping and banging so loud at first I thought stuff was coming out of the overhead compartments.”
American Airlines spokesman Matt Miller said that the flight was turned back due to a possible blown air duct. “When they realised those panels came loose, the captain decided it was best to return to San Francisco and landed the plane there safely,” he said.
He also confirmed that all 184 passengers and 6 crew members remained unhurt.
The incident is under investigation.
Thomas Cook flight TCX2534 had to return and make an emergency landing in Manchester, England, on October 13.
The Boeing 767, carrying 278 passengers, took off from Manchester Airport at around 7:15 a.m. and was on its way to Dalaman, Turkey, when the crew declared emergency and decided to return.
According to a Thomas Cook spokesperson, the decision for emergency landing was made as a precaution due to an unexpected hydraulic fault in the aircraft.
The plane landed uneventfully after circling over Peak District National Park to shed off extra fuel. No one was hurt.
The airline said, “We’d like to apologise to our customers for the delay to their flight today. Returning the aircraft to Manchester allowed our engineers to inspect the aircraft quickly and we’ve now been able to ensure our customers can start their holiday as soon as possible on a replacement aircraft.”
