Boeing

  • | | | |

    Thomson Flight Made Emergency Landing in Portugal

    Thomson airwaysA Thomson Airways flight had to make an emergency landing at the Lajes airport in Portugal, at about 4:13 a.m. Lisbon time on August 5.

    The twin-engine aircraft Boeing 787-800 aircraft was on its way from Dominican Republic to Manchester, UK when the crew had to shut down its right hand engine due to an indication of low oil pressure.

    The plane was then diverted towards Lajes airport where it made a safe emergency landing. All 288 passengers remained safe.

    The passengers were provided a replacement aircraft which took them to their destination.

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    United Airlines Flight Diverts to Halifax, Canada

    new-united-logoThe United Airlines Flight 999 had to divert and make an emergency landing at Canada’s Halifax Stanfield International Airport on the night of August 5.

    The Boeing 777 was on its way to Brussels from Newark, New Jersey, when fire broke out on board. The pilot then decided to divert to Halifax which was the nearest airport at the time.

    Firefighters were put on alert at the airport when the plane touched the ground safely at around 10 p.m. There were 233 people aboard; all of them remained unhurt.

    According to Peter Spurway, the spokesperson of Halifax Airport Authority, the fire broke in a contained area of the aircraft and was extinguished before the plane landed.

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    Electrical Odor Forces United Airlines Jet to Make Emergency Landing

    United Airlines BoeingUnited Airlines flight 328 from Denver to Honolulu made an emergency landing in Salt Lake City, Utah, in the afternoon of July 25.

    The Boeing 777 with 269 passengers and 10 crew members aboard was forced to make emergency landing due to an “electrical odor,” according to airline spokeswoman Jennifer Dohm.

    The plane landed safely and no one was hurt.

    The aircraft was taken for inspection by the airline’s maintenance team.

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    Potentially unsafe situation in Crimea area lives up to potential. Statement from Maylaysia Airline, Partial Manifest, Cargo

    ICAO’s take is that the air traffic control region where the passenger plane came down was believed to be under the control of the Ukraine, and they will be pointing blame at the Ukraine for its internal strife.

    The Ukraine is saying…but the ICAO said it was safe.

    Other countries were already avoiding the hot zone. We should ask the ICAO why they were professing it was safe when it was so obviously not.
    washglasses

    Let’s all remember that greasing the wings of airline commerce does not mean greasing up the safety glasses too.

    Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Safety measures failed because of corporate optimism, cutting corners and who knows what other reasons. Prepare for the mudslinging and blame throwing to begin. Someone pulled the trigger, and someone let it happen. Someone will be held accountable.

    Now…Here is Malaysia’s Friday statement.
    Cargo manifests, hedging on the passenger manifest, and a news clip (including 25 minutes with CBS and President Obama) and a partial translation of that raw smoke video we have seen 37 times and wondered about.

    Friday, July 18, 08:20 PM GMT +0800 Media Statement 4 : MH17 Incident
    Media Statement 4: MH17 Incident

    1. Flight plan

    MH17’s flight plan was approved by Eurocontrol, who are solely responsible for determining civil aircraft flight paths over European airspace. Eurocontrol is the air navigation service provider for Europe and is governed under ICAO rules.

    The route over Ukrainian airspace where the incident occurred is commonly used for Europe to Asia flights. A flight from a different carrier was on the same route at the time of the MH17 incident, as were a number of other flights from other carriers in the days and weeks before. Eurocontrol maintains records of all flights across European airspace, including those across Ukraine.

    In April, the International Civil Aviation Organization identified an area over the Crimean peninsula as risky. At no point did MH17 fly into, or request to fly into, this area. At all times, MH17 was in airspace approved by the ICAO.

    2. Altitude

    MH17 filed a flight plan requesting to fly at 35,000ft throughout Ukrainian airspace. This is close to the ‘optimum’ altitude.

    However, an aircraft’s altitude in flight is determined by air traffic control on the ground. Upon entering Ukrainian airspace, MH17 was instructed by Ukrainian air traffic control to fly at 33,000ft.

    3. Nationalities

    Following this afternoon’s press conference, Malaysia Airlines can confirm that a further 16 passengers’ nationalities have been verified. The latest breakdown of nationalities of those on board the flight is as follows:

    · 189 Netherlands

    · 44 Malaysia

    · 27 Australia

    · 12 Indonensia

    · 9 UK

    · 4 Belgium

    · 4 Germany

    · 3 Philippines

    · 1 Canada

    · 1 New Zealand

    Four passengers’ nationalities remain to be verified.

    4. New flight route

    Following this incident, Malaysia Airlines now avoids Ukrainian airspace entirely, flying further south over Turkey.

    -end-




    And below, take a look at an update of the raw news video with translation; families in distress; speculation about the terrorist/separatists.
    Note ICAO was reportedly denying war zone warning and Ukraine was denying war, but the NOTAM warnings were ALREADY up by US, Britain and European aviation authorities.

    Missed the flight. Second Chance.

    CBS News Special Report: American on Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 – 25 Minutes

  • | | | | | | | |

    #MH17 Public Statements

    FROM THE FAA:

    On the evening of July 17, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a Notice to Airman (NOTAM) prohibiting U.S. flight operations until further notice, in the airspace over eastern Ukraine, due to recent events and the potential for continued hazardous activities. The restricted area includes the entire Simferopol and Dnepropetrovsk flight information regions (FIRs). This action expands a prohibition of U.S. flight operations issued by the FAA in April, over the Crimean region of Ukraine and adjacent areas of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. No scheduled U.S. airlines are currently flying routes through this airspace.

    The NOTAM reads:

    FDC 4/2182 (A0025/14)–null AIRSPACE SPECIAL NOTICE UKRAINE POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS SITUATION -SIMFEROPOL (UKFV) AND DNEPROPETROVSK (UKDV) FLIGHT INFORMATION REGIONS (FIR)

    UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, DUE TO RECENT EVENTS, ALL FLIGHT OPERATIONS BY UNITED STATES (U.S.) OPERATORS WITHIN THE SIMFEROPOL (UKFV) AND DNEPROPETROVSK (UKDV) FIRS ARE PROHIBITED. EVENTS HAVE INDICATED THE POTENTIAL FOR CONTINUED HAZARDOUS ACTIVITIES. THIS ACTION EXPANDS A PROHIBITION OF U.S. FLIGHT OPERATIONS ISSUED BY THE FAA INITIALLY AS A NOTAM ON APRIL 3, 2014, AND LATER AS SFAR NO. 113 OVER THE CRIMEAN REGION OF UKRAINE AND ADJACENT AREAS OF THE BLACK SEA AND THE SEA OF AZOV. THE PROHIBITIONS DESCRIBED IN THE SPECIFIED AIRSPACE CONTAINED IN THIS NOTAM AND THE ASSOCIATED JUSTIFICATION FOR THIS SPECIAL NOTICE WILL BE RE-EVALUATED BY 31 OCT 2014. 18 JUL 00:30 2014 UNTIL 1410312359. CREATED: 18 JUL 00:41 2014

    ICAO:
    ICAO Monitoring Loss of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17
    ?The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) expresses its deep regrets following the loss of the passengers and crew aboard Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17. ICAO is closely monitoring reports on this tragic incident and is coordinating with all relevant parties.

    ICAO recently issued a State letter advising States and their air operators of a potentially unsafe situation arising from the presence of more than one air traffic services provider in the Simferopol Flight Information Region (FIR). The loss of MH17 occurred outside of the Simferopol FIR and ICAO stands ready to support the accident investigation upon request.

    IATA


    From Malaysia Airlines

    Friday, July 18, 04:15 AM SGT +0800 Statement by Prime Minister Najib Razak: Malaysian Airlines flight 17
    Yesterday evening, I was informed of the terrible and deeply shocking news that a Malaysia Airlines jet went down in eastern Ukraine.

    Malaysia Airlines has confirmed that the jet was Malaysia Airlines flight 17, which was on a scheduled flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.

    The flight departed Amsterdam at 12.15pm, local time. It was scheduled to arrive in Kuala Lumpur at 6.10 am, local, Malaysian time.

    The aircraft was a Boeing 777-200.

    The aircraft’s flight route was declared safe by the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

    And International Air Transportation Association has stated that the airspace the aircraft was traversing was not subject to restrictions.

    Malaysia Airlines has confirmed that the aircraft did not make a distress call.

    The flight was carrying a total number of 295 people – comprising 280 passengers and 15 crew members.

    Malaysia Airlines is in the process of notifying the next-of-kin of the passengers and crew. All possible care will be provided to the next-of-kin.

    The Government of Malaysia is dispatching a special flight to Kiev, carrying a Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team, as well as a medical team.

    According to information provided by Kiev Air Traffic Control, the location of the plane’s emergency locator beacon is 48 degrees 7 minutes and 23 seconds North; and 38 degrees 31 minutes and 33 seconds East.

    The Ukrainian authorities believe that the plane was shot down.

    At this early stage, however, Malaysia is unable to verify the cause of this tragedy.

    But we must – and we will – find out precisely what happened to this flight.

    No stone can be left unturned.

    If it transpires that the plane was indeed shot down, we insist that the perpetrators must swiftly be brought to justice.

    Emergency operations centres have been established. In the last few hours, Malaysian officials have been in constant contact with their counterparts in Ukraine and elsewhere.

    And I will be speaking to a number of world leaders over the coming hours.

    I have had several conversations with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands.

    I have also spoken to the President of Ukraine. He has pledged that there will be a full, thorough and independent investigation, and Malaysian officials will be invited to take part.

    The Ukrainian president also confirmed that his government will negotiate with rebels in the east of the country, in order to establish a humanitarian corridor to the crash site.

    Just now, I received a call from President Obama.

    He and I both agreed that the investigation must not be hindered in anyway.

    An international team must have full access to the crash site.

    And no one should interfere with the area, or move any debris, including the black box.

    This is a tragic day, in what has already been a tragic year, for Malaysia.

    As we work to understand what happened, our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of those onboard the flight.

    I cannot imagine what they must be going through at this painful time.

    The flight’s passengers and crew came from many different countries.

    But today, regardless of nationality, we are all united in grief.

    ENDS

    Friday, July 18, 12:30 AM SGT +0800 Media Statement 1: MH17 Incident
    Media Statement 1: MH17 Incident

    Malaysia Airlines confirms it received notification from Ukrainian ATC that it had lost contact with flight MH17 at 1415 (GMT) at 30km from Tamak waypoint, approximately 50km from the Russia-Ukraine border.

    Flight MH17 operated on a Boeing 777 departed Amsterdam at 12.15pm (Amsterdam local time) and was estimated to arrive at Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 6.10 am (Malaysia local time) the next day.

    The flight was carrying 280 passengers and 15 crew onboard.

    More details to follow.

    Ends.

    Statement by Prime Minister Mark Rutte in response to the Ukraine air disaster
    News item | 17-07-2014

    I am deeply shocked by the dramatic reports of the air disaster involving Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur over Ukrainian territory. Much remains unclear as regards the cause and circumstances of the crash and those on board the aircraft. I have just spoken to the Ukrainian president.

    I am now on my way back to the Netherlands to monitor and address the situation from The Hague.

    Our thoughts are with those who were on board the aircraft and their family and friends.

    Statement Minister Opstelten on flight MH17
    News item | 17-07-2014

    Response by Minister Opstelten the messages about the crash of flight MH17.

    I am deeply shocked by the tragic news about the crash of flight MH17 from Malaysian Airlines from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur over Ukrainian territory. Here are casualties from many countries, while there are also many Dutch.

    My thoughts are with all the relatives and friends of the people who were in that plane and who are now in limbo.

    The images that you and I have seen are of course terrible. But still many are unclear about the facts and circumstances.

    There is obviously researched. Once the situation gives cause to reveal additional information. Malaysian Airlines gives an explanation as soon as possible so I understand now.

    I am aware that this research can never go fast enough, but everyone does at this time every effort to inform family and friends. As well as possible For relatives of passengers of flight MH17 is as soon as possible a phone announced by Schiphol for more information and care. Is directly communicated. Once known

    Here I must leave it at that, I’m going back to be informed by my team. Closer to me

    Second statement of Prime Minister Mark Rutte on flight MH17.

    It has taken place in Ukraine where MH17 flight, en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, crashed. Terrible disaster On board were 283 passengers and 15 crew members. Among the passengers were at least 154 Dutch.

    The worst case scenario has become reality. We are struck by one of the largest aviation disasters in Dutch history.

    The Netherlands is shocked by this tragic event.

    Our thoughts go out to the families, who are facing. With an intense sadness

    We live very with them.

    The relatives of the victims to the extent known to be informed.

    There is still much uncertainty about the exact cause of the disaster.

    Believe me that we are doing everything to find out. The facts as soon as possible

    Also everything is being done to repatriate the deceased. Asap

    Survivors and relatives of victims in a special issue of Foreign Affairs rightly. The number is: 070-3487770

    There is currently a consular assistance team en route to Kiev to strengthen. NL embassy

    There is also a team of the Dutch Embassy in Malaysia present at the airport in Kuala Lumpur to accommodate. Relatives there

    You’ll have lots of questions, I understand very well, but many questions we can not answer at this time.

    Tomorrow we hope to have more information available and you will be informed about naturally.

  • | | | | | |

    MH17 Another Malaysia Airlines tragedy of infinite magnitude. Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 Shot Down in Ukraine

    Bswewz1CUAEIewq
    Ukraine’s Ministry of Interior confirmed that a Malaysia Airlines plane en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur crashed in the Ukraine near the Hrabovo village at Torez, near Shakhtersk, 25 miles from the Russia border in a location where Ukrainian troops and pro-Russian rebels have been in conflict.

    None of the 285 passengers or 15 crew is reported to have survived. It is being reported that the plane was shot down by a BUK surface-to-air missile but Ukrainian rebels deny involvement. The plane was at 33000 feet when it disappeared from radar.

    The wreckage was seen on the ground at 17.10. The plane involved was Boeing 777-200, registration 9M-MRD.

    Raw Video

    The flight plan has been released:

    (FPL-MAS17-IS
    -B772/H-SDFGHIJ3J5M1RWXY/LB1D1
    -EHAM1000
    -N0490F310 ARNEM UL620 SUVOX UZ713 OSN UL980 MOBSA DCT POVEL DCT SUI L980 UTOLU/N0490F330 L980 LDZ M70 BEMBI L980 PEKIT/N0480F350 L980 TAMAK/N0480F350 A87 TIROM/N0490F350 A87 MAMED B449 RANAH L750 ZB G201 BI DCT MURLI DCT TIGER/N0490F370 L333 KKJ L759 PUT R325 VIH A464 DAKUS DCT
    -WMKK1137 WMSA WMKP
    -EET/EDGG0017 EDWW0023 EDUU0036 EPWW0052 UKLV0135 UKBV0153 UKDV0225 URRV0255 UATT0347 UTAK0411 UTAA0432 UTAV0507 OAKX0518 OPLR0601 OPKR0616 VIDF0631 VABF0725 VECF0747 VYYF0926 VOMF0930 VTBB1013 WMFC1051 REG/9MMRD PBN/A1B1C1D1L1O1S2 SEL/QREJ DOF/140717 RMK/ACASII EQUIPPED)

    A NOTAM is a notification issued to pilots before a flight, advising them of circumstances relating to the state of flying.

    Did Malaysia not have NOTAM, like the FAA NOTAM below?

    B0447/14 (Issued for EISN PART 1 OF 2) – POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS SITUATION UKRAINE AIRSPACE, PARTICULARLY
    OVER
    CRIMEA, THE BLACK SEA, AND THE SEA OF AZOV.

    DUE TO THE POTENTIAL FOR CONFLICTING AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL (ATC)
    INSTRUCTIONS FROM UKRAINIAN AND RUSSIAN AUTHORITIES AND FOR THE
    RELATED POTENTIAL MISIDENTIFICATION OF CIVIL AIRCRAFT, IRISH
    AIRCRAFT OPERATORS ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO AVOID, UNTIL FURTHER
    NOTICE, THE AIRSPACE OVER CRIMEA, THE BLACK SEA, AND THE SEA OF
    AZOV, WITHIN THE FOLLOWING LATERAL LIMITS:
    454500N 0345800E-460900N 0360000E-460000N 0370000E-452700N 0364100E-
    452242N 0364100E-451824N 0363524E-451442N 0363542E-451218N 0363200E-
    450418N 0363418E-445600N 0363700E-443100N 0364000E-424400N 0361600E-
    424700N 0340000E-424800N 0304500E-434100N 0303200E-441500N 0302400E-
    444600N 0300900E-455400N 0322500E-454900N 0324700E-455400N 0330600E-
    455600N 0332700E-455900N 0332900E-THEN ALONG THE CRIMEA BORDER TO
    454500N 0345800E.

    UNILATERAL ACTION TO ESTABLISH A NEW SIMFEROPOL (URFV) FIR THAT
    INCLUDES BOTH UKRAINIAN SOVEREIGN AIRSPACE OVER THE CRIMEAN
    PENINSULA AND INTERNATIONAL HIGH SEAS AIRSPACE MANAGED BY UKRAINE
    CONTRADICTS INTERNATIONAL LAW AND ICAO ANNEX 11 STANDARDS.
    END PART 1 OF 2. 01 JUL 08:45 2014 UNTIL 01 AUG 00:01 2014. CREATED: 01 JUL
    08:56 2014
    B0447/14 (Issued for EISN PART 2 OF 2) – UKRAINE NOTAM A0528/14, PUBLISHED 28 MAR 20:14 2014, REJECTS NOTAM
    A0907/14 PUBLISHED BY THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION. UKRAINE CONTINUES TO
    PROVIDE AIR TRAFFIC SERVICES (ATS) IN THE AIRSPACE DESCRIBED IN THE
    PARAGRAPH ABOVE AND RUSSIA IS ALSO PROVIDING ATS IN THAT AIRSPACE.
    FURTHERMORE, UKRAINE NOTAM A0520/14, PUBLISHED 28 MAR 16:59 2014,
    CREATES A PROHIBITED AREA OVER THE CRIMEAN PENINSULA FOR OPERATIONS
    BELOW FL290, AND UKRAINE NOTAMS A0524/14 AND A0569/14 CLOSE VARIOUS
    ATS ROUTE SEGMENTS. RUSSIAN FEDERATION NOTAM A0912/14 REJECTS AND
    DIRECTLY CONFLICTS WITH UKRAINE NOTAMS A0520/14 AND A0524/14.
    CONSEQUENTLY, THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR CIVIL AIRCRAFT TO RECEIVE
    CONFUSING AND CONFLICTING ATC INSTRUCTIONS WHILE OPERATING IN THE
    DISPUTED AIRSPACE.

    OPERATIONS ARE NORMAL IN ALL OTHER UKRAINE FIRS.
    HOWEVER, IRISH OPERATORS FLYING INTO, OUT OF, OR WITHIN LVOV (UKLV),
    KYIV (UKBV), DNEPTROPETROVSK (UKDV), AND ODESSA (UKOV) FIRS, AS WELL
    AS AIRSPACE IN SIMFEROPOL (UKFV) FIR THAT IS OUTSIDE THE LATERAL
    LIMITS OF THE AIRSPACE OVER CRIMEA, THE BLACK SEA, THE SEA OF AZOV
    DESCRIBED IN THE FIRST PARAGRAPH OF THIS NOTAM, SHOULD REVIEW
    CURRENT SECURITY/THREAT INFORMATION AND NOTAMS.

    THE CONTENT OF THIS NOTAM SAFETY WILL BE RE-EVALUATED BY 30 JUN 2014.
    END PART 2 OF 2. 01 JUL 08:45 2014 UNTIL 01 AUG 00:01 2014. CREATED: 01 JUL
    08:56 2014

    Malaysia Airlines Media Statement:


    Media Statement : MH17 Incident

    Released at 12:30am/18 July 2014

    Malaysia Airlines confirms it received notification from Ukrainian ATC that it had lost contact with flight MH17 at 1415 (GMT) at 30km from Tamak waypoint, approximately 50km from the Russia-Ukraine border.

    Flight MH17 operated on a Boeing 777 departed Amsterdam at 12.15pm (Amsterdam local time) and was estimated to arrive at Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 6.10 am (Malaysia local time) the next day.

    The flight was carrying 280 passengers and 15 crew onboard.

    More details to follow.

    -end-

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    Update on United 777 Diversion to Henderson Field Airport Midway Atoll.

    midwayatoll

    United Airlines revealed what went wrong on Flight 201.

    A problem with the equipment supply cooling fan on board the Boeing 777 caused the problems which required the pilots to divert to Midway to land there in the dark. The passengers waited in a gym until the replacement flight arrived.

    The plane that flew in to Midway to pick up the passengers also brought parts and a repair crew. The plane with the bad fan was fixed, and returned from Midway Island back to San Francisco.

    In fact, it was returned to service.

    Now we’d like to hear about the passengers getting their luggage back.

    Read More

  • | | | | | | | | |

    Air India Emergency Bird Strike in Newark NJ

    duck77An Air India Boeing 777 en route from Newark to Mumbai had 292 passengers and 21 crew aboard when it took off at 4:36 in the afternoon. Witnesses saw flames shooting from the left engine when flight 144 took off.

    Pilots reported problems with the left engine, and twenty-two minutes after taking off, returned to land in Newark.

    The landing must have been pretty hard, because tires were blown. The airport’s New Jersey spokeswoman Erica Dumas described it as a “rough landing.” Also, the left engine problems were attributed to a bird strike.

    Passengers disembarked and were provided hotel accommodations while they rebooked.

    *No ducks were injured in the photoshopping of this B777 windowseat snapshot.

  • | | | | | |

    United 777 Diverts to Remote Pacific Island

    midwayatoll

    On July 11, 2014, United Airlines flight 201, a Boeing 777-222 was four hours on the ground before the flight, with passengers waiting as some technical problem on the plane was worked out. Departure time of this flight is recorded as 18:16 but it is normally around 14:30. Then when the flight was enroute from Honolulu to Guam, the plane developed fire, haze or smoke in the cockpit. Pilots made an emergency landing at Midway Islands after Radar and Radio Comms were lost but the transponder continued working. Passenger luggage is still stuck on the tiny runway at Henderson Field Airport Midway Atoll.

    The incident was unannunciated, which means that it had no alert, and the crew had to sense it (i.e. see/smell) but while underway, a smoke alarm was triggered.

    None of the 335 passengers or 13 crew sustained injury.

    According to flightaware, United Airlines flew in a replacement B777 which landed 5 1/2 hours later, spent an hour on the ground and brought the passengers back to Honolulu.

  • | | |

    S7 Airline Fender Bender cancels flight

    An S7 Airlines Boeing 737 that was scheduled to fly from Moscow to Ekaterinburg, Russia, was on the ground packed with passengers ready to go when a truck collided with the fuselage.

    Thanks to the damage, the flight was cancelled.

    Passengers exited on to the tarmac.

    We caught the image below on twitter.

    BsSEaJWIAAAF5OO

  • | | | | | | |

    Near Miss in Barcelona Captured

    snapshot from video below
    snapshot from video below

    On July 5, 2014, an Aerolineas Argentinas Airbus A340-300 (LV-FPV) headed from Barcelona,SP (Spain) to Buenos Aires,BA (Argentina) was taxiing for departure as a UTAir Boeing 767-300(VQ-BSX) en route from Moscow, Russia to Barcelona was on approach. As the video shows, it looks like a close call. The UTAIR saw the Airbus on the runway, and less than ten seconds from touchdown pulled up and performed a go-around, making a safe landing fifteen minutes later.

    The Airbus took off twenty minutes later. The incident is under investigation, and it has not been determined if this was an Air Traffic Control error or if the Argentinian plane was there without clearance. The airport and ATC say that there was sufficient clearance for landing, and neither Aerolineas Argentinas nor UTAIR filed a safety report.

    On Jul 7th 2014,an investigation was opened into the runway incursion.

    786_293_le_ad_

  • | | |

    British Airways Flight Makes Emergency Landing at London Heathrow

    britishairwaysBritish Airways flight BA 676, on its way to Istanbul, Turkey, had to return and make an emergency landing at Heathrow Airport, London, shortly after it took off at about 11 a.m. on July 3.

    The decision to make an emergency landing was made after the crew reported a ‘burning smell’ in the cockpit of the Boeing 767-300. A hundred eighty-five passengers were aboard.

    Metropolitan Police Service and fire fighters were on alert when the plane landed back at the airport, just 35 minutes after it departed. No one was injured.

    The airline confirmed that the plane experienced a minor technical problem which is being resolved and it will soon return to service.

  • | | |

    NTSB Denies Petition on 1996 Crash of TWA Flight 800


    The National Transportation Safety Board today denied a petition for reconsideration of its findings in the investigation of the 1996 crash of TWA flight 800.

    The petition was filed in June 2013 by a group called The TWA 800 Project. Petitioners claimed a “detonation or high-velocity explosion” caused the crash.

    “Our investigations are never ‘closed’,” said Acting Chairman Christopher A. Hart. “We always remain open to the presentation of new evidence.”

    Before responding to the petition, NTSB staff met with the petitioners’ representatives and listened to an eyewitness who described what he saw on the night of the accident. After a thorough review of all the information provided by the petitioners, the NTSB denied the petition in its entirety because the evidence and analysis presented did not show the original findings were incorrect.

    Black Box

    Part 1

    Black Box

    Part 2

  • | | | |

    UA Flight 1463 Makes Emergency Landing in Wichita

    new-united-logoUnited Airlines flight 1463 en route from Chicago to John Wayne Airport, Los Angeles, made a safe emergency landing at Mid-Continent Airport in Wichita, Kansas, just after 10:30 p.m. on June 29.

    A spokesman with the FAA said that an emergency evacuation slide of the Boeing 737-700 opened up in midair. According to reports, the plane dropped from 38,000 ft. to 11,000 ft. in just 12 minutes due to a loss in cabin pressure.

    The plane landed safely and the United Airlines confirmed that all 96 passengers and 5 crew members aboard remained unhurt.

    Passengers remained seated for about an hour before disembarking. They were taken to their destination on an alternate flight.

    United Airline’s maintenance crew is checking the plane to determine the cause.

  • | | | |

    Two Ryanair Planes Collided at London Stansted Airport

    RyanairTwo Ryanair Boeing 737-800 planes collided in the parking area of the London Stansted Airport, Essex, at around 6:50 a.m. on June 28. One of the planes was about to take off for Warsaw, Poland, while the other had just landed from Frankfurt Hahn, Germany.

    The tail cone of one plane and the wing tip of the other was damaged in the collision. A spokesperson of the Stansted Airport said, “We can confirm two aircraft were involved in a minor collision while on the ground at Stansted this morning. Both planes suffered some damage but there were no reported injuries to passengers or crew.”

    The passengers of the out-going flight had to face a three-hour delay before they were transferred to another plane.

    Robin Kiely, the spokesperson of Ryanair, said, “Our Stansted-based engineering team are currently investigating and will repair both aircraft and return them to service as soon as possible… Ryanair sincerely apologises to the affected passengers for any inconvenience.”

    Essex Police responded on the scene. They conducted routine breath tests on both of the pilots. There were no signs of alcohol. No further police action will be taken.

  • | | | |

    China Airlines Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Japan

    China AirlinesChina Airlines flight number CI-167, en route from Kansai International Airport in Osaka to Kaohsiung International Airport in Taiwan, made an emergency landing at Naha Airport in Okinawa, Japan at around 2:36 p.m. on June 26.

    The decision for emergency landing was made after the pilots noticed fuel levels rapidly dropping in the Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

    The passengers were accommodated in flight CI-123 to Taipei and flight CI-309 to Kaohsiung. China Airlines served dinner to all 154 passengers aboard before they resumed their journey.

    A spokesperson of the airline said that the aircraft is under inspection.

  • | | | |

    Passenger Plane Lands in Emergency at Cork, Ireland

    Air ContractorsA Boeing 737-300, operated by Air Contractors, had to make an emergency landing at Cork Airport, Ireland, due to fuel leak suspicion.

    The plane, carrying 150 passengers and 5 crew members, was on its way from Belfast, Ireland to Reus, Spain, when the pilot noticed the fuel leakage warning. The plane was then diverted to Cork for making an emergency landing.

    Full emergency protocol was deployed at the airport as the plane touched the runway at about 11:45 p.m. on June 24. No one was hurt.

    The initial investigation confirmed that there was no fuel leakage; the suspicion arose due to faulty instrument.

    The passengers were accommodated in hotels for the night. They resumed their journey next day.

  • | | | |

    Ikar Flight Makes Emergency Landing at Haikou Airport, China

    IkarIkar airlines flight IK-2474 had to make an emergency landing at Haikou airport, China on June 18.

    The incident happened when the Boeing-767-300 was en route from Thailand to Yekaterinburg, located in the Russian Urals.

    According to authorities, the decision to make an emergency landing was due to a power generator malfunction. The plane landed safely, with a delay of 3 hours from its scheduled landing time of 1:40 a.m. No one was hurt.

    Gennady Chuprov, the airline’s Deputy Director General for flight safety, said that 231 passengers were accommodated at a Wuhan city hotel.

  • | |

    Air Traffic Controller’s Joke Causes Delta Flight 360 to Circle around Hartsfield-Jackson Airport

    250px-Delta_logo.svgDelta Flight 360 had to circle around the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport, Atlanta, Georgia, for about an hour and a half after the air traffic controller jokingly told the pilot not to land.

    The incident happened on June 11 when the flight 360 was at the 1000 feet and ready to descend. The air traffic controller told the pilot that he could not land and that he should circle around for some time. However, just a few seconds later, he said, “I’m kidding, Delta 630. After you land, I’ve got no one behind you. Expect to exit right. Delta 630 you’re clear to land on (runway) 27-Left.”

    By that time, the pilot had already aborted landing and started ascending the Boeing 777 to 40,000 feet. The plane then had to circle around before it could finally land.

    The FAA is investigating the air traffic controller.

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    Report on Boeing 787 Ground fire Heathrow July 12, 2013

    This Special Bulletin contains information on the progress of the investigation into a ground fire on an unoccupied Boeing 787-8, registration ET-AOP, at London Heathrow Airport on 12 July 2013.

    It follows the publication of Special Bulletin S5/2013 on 18 July 2013. The AAIB are assisted in the investigation by Accredited Representatives from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) (representing the State of Design and Manufacture), the Civil Aviation Authority of Ethiopia (representing the State of Registry and the Operator) and the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) of Canada (representing the State of component manufacture), with technical advisors from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the operator and the aircraft and component manufacturers.

    In Special Bulletin S5/2013, the AAIB reported the existence of extensive heat damage in the upper portion of the aircraft’s rear fuselage, particularly in an area coincident with the location of the Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT). The absence of any other aircraft systems in this area containing stored energy capable of initiating a fire, together with evidence from forensic examination of the ELT, led the investigation to conclude that the fire originated within the ELT battery.

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    Ryanair Plane Rolls Backwards and Crashes into Ciampino Airport Fire Station Building

    RyanairA Ryanair Boeing 737-800, parked at Ciampino Airport, Rome, rolled backwards 40 metres and rammed into an airport fire station on June 5.

    The accident occurred shortly after the aircraft landed and disembarked all the passengers.

    The incident caused a damage worth of £200,000 to the rear stabiliser of the plane. The ‘tail wing’ of the £72m aircraft was torn apart. The garage of the fire station at the airport was also damaged externally.

    According to a spokesman for Ryanair, the airplane was parked but was not properly secured by the ground handling staff of ‘Groundcare’. The airline has demanded an investigation into the incident.

    A spokesman for Ciampino airport said: “We are investigating the cause of the incident and whether proper procedures were followed. We are aware of reports that chocks were not in place and that’s why the police have also been involved and a criminal investigation is also under way. Until that is completed there is nothing else to say.”

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    United Airlines Washington-bound Flight Makes Emergency Landing at Dublin

    new-united-logoUnited Flight UAL101, flying from Manchester to Washington, had to be diverted to Dublin for making an emergency landing on June 1 due to some technical problems related to a generator.

    The Boeing 757-200 aircraft had 155 passengers and nine crew members on board.

    Following the normal procedure for an emergency landing, the Dublin Airport Fire Service and Dublin Fire Brigade were ready at the runway to handle any emergency situation.

    However, a Dublin Airport Authority spokesperson confirmed that the flight landed safely at about 1:17 p.m.

    The passengers were accommodated in hotels. A replacement aircraft was arranged for the passengers, which was to depart next morning.

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    Vensecar Airline’s Cargo Plane Makes Emergency Landing in Trinidad

    Vensecar AirlineA Vensecar Airline’s cargo plane had to return and make an emergency landing in Trinidad at about 8:45 p.m. on May 26, due to hydraulic problems.

    The decision for emergency landing was made shortly after the Boeing 727 cargo aircraft took off from Piarco International Airport and was on its way to Venezuela.

    According to the officials, the pilot declared full emergency at about 8:26 p.m. after he discovered trouble with the plane’s hydraulic system. The Venezuelan-registered plane was then turned back towards Piarco International Airport where it made an uneventful emergency landing.

    Full emergency protocol was deployed at the airport with all the supporting agencies on stand-by.

    The aircraft is being examined by the CAA and the Vensecar Airline crews.

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    Compensation after Fifteen Years

    I know I’ve said before how cases take a long time. Sometimes they drag on in unexpected ways. Take for example the LAPA case. On August 31 1999 Líneas Aéreas Privadas Argentinas scheduled Flight 3142 (LV-WRZ) to fly Buenos Aires–Córdoba with a hundred and one persons aboard. The twenty-nine year old Boeing 737-204C failed to get in the air because the flight crew forgot to put the flaps in the appropriate position for flight. Instead of shooting into the air, the plane sped through the perimeter fence, across a street, struck a car and collided with a median and machinery on the road.

    The accident took sixty-five lives, two of them not even on the plane. Forty aboard were injured, seventeen of them seriously. NTSB records say there were 80 fatalities and 21 minor injuries.

    That’s what is widely known. What many do not know is that after the accident, nine families were given the wrong bodies. Those bodies were exhumed, checked, delivered to the correct families, and reburied at the cost of Argentina’s First Chamber of the House. The financial cost associated with all of this was covered. Not the emotional cost.

    Three of those families affected will be compensated 100 thousand dollars plus interest.

    In my heart of hearts, I do believe no amount of money can ever compensate for the wear and tear on the families due to the mix-up, even if at the time, the hasty mistake was well-meaning (or expedited due to politics.) Can you imagine what the families went through, seeing the resting places disturbed, then having to endure new funerals? It must have been like losing them more than once—refreshing the whole misery of loss a multiple of times. I cannot help but wonder about the families who were not compensated. I wonder if it has been so long that there is no one left to pay.

    This can be of no assurance to the families of Malaysia Airlines flight 370. It is further proof that aviation crash cases do take a long time. Tragedy is tragedy. There is no best case scenario in a tragedy.