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Contact photographer Erezms
What: Elal Boeing 737-800 en route from Tel Aviv Israel to Zurich Switzerland was on approach to Zurich
Where: near Zurich
When: Oct 31st 2011
Why: On approach to Zurich, the right hand engine developed problems. The crew idled the engine, and went on to make a safe landing in Zurich.
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Contact photographer Timo Jäger
What: Sunexpress Boeing 737-800 en route from Antalya to Dusseldorf
Where: Dusseldorf
When: Oct 28th 2011
Why: Coming in to Dusseldorf, the crew discovered a flaps problem on the 737.
They aborted the initial approach and circled while they attempted correction.
They made a fast landing on the second attempt.
The outgoing flight was detained a couple of hours as repairs were performed on the flight.
What: Air Tran Boeing 737 en route from Seattle to Milwaukee
Where: Billings Montana
When: Oct 29, 2011
Who: 124 passengers
Why: The flight took off normally, but over Montana, the windshield cracked.
The crew diverted the flight to Billings Montana where they made a safe landing.
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Contact photographer Robert Burke
What: ArkeFly Boeing 767-304ER (WL) en route from Amsterdam to Colombo.
Where: Goa-Dabolim Airport
When: October 27, 2011
Who: 263 aboard
Why: On takeoff from Goa-Dabolim Airport, the plane ran into a flock of birds. The bird strike ended up with several birds ingested into an engine.
The pilot didn’t have to make an emergency landing, as he had not actually left the runway. He just braked, and the passengers were able to disembark safely.
What: Delta Boeing 757 en route from Atlanta to Seattle
Where: Great Falls International Airport
When: October 23, 2011, 12:30 pm
Who: 177 passengers, 1 emergency
Why: While en route, a passenger aboard flight 129 became unconscious.
The pilots diverted to Great Falls where they made an emergency landing, and delivered the passenger to an ambulance which took her to Benefits Health System, facilitated by the Montana Air National Guard Fire Department.
The flight took off again, promptly.
What: Air India Boeing 777-300 en route from Delhi India to Toronto,ON Canada
Where: Kazakhstan
When: Oct 22nd 2011
Who: 1 baby
Why: While en route, 35-year-old Kulraj Kaur (Kuljeet), a pregnant passenger in her 32nd week was traveling with her husband when she went into labor. A pediatrician and an oncologist were on board to deliver the baby. The eight hour delivery occurred at 31,000 feet and was considered “normal”. The flight continued, and the baby was born while the flight was still in the air.
According to aviation law, an infant born on a flight is granted citizen ship to the country where the plane is registered, regardless of the parents’ citizenship or location of the event.
The pilot Captain Kapil Kohli told Canadian ATC that “We departed with 268 passengers, but will be landing with 269.”
Most airlines allow women to fly up to 35th weeks, after which they require a note from their obstetrician.
Congratulations to the family.
What: Lion Air Boeing 737-900 en route from Tarakan to Balikpapan (Indonesia)
Where: Balikpapan
When: Oct 23rd 2011
Who: 198 passengers and 7 crew
Why: On landing in wet weather, the Lion Air Boeing 737-900 skidded off the wet runway off the paved area. There was heavy wind and rain, at the time of the landing. There were no injuries in the runway excursion.
What: Sky King/Direct Air Boeing 737-200 en route from Lakeland,FL to Niagara Falls,NY
Where: Lakeland
When: Oct 15th 2011
Why: The charter flight took off once and returned to the Lakeland with cabin pressure problems, then took off again, again with cabin pressure problems.
The passengers were booked on alternative flights.
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Contact photographer Gary Claridge-king
What: British Airways Boeing 777-200 en route from Santa Maria Azores Islands (Portugal) to London Heathrow
Where: Atlantic
When: Oct 19th 2011
Why: While en route to Portugal, one of the plane’s four engines (right engine) had to be shut down after experiencing a problem with the oil pressure. The flight diverted to Lisbon, and made a safe landing.
The same plane had had a similar problem on October 16th, and had diverted at that point to Santa Maria.
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Contact photographer Rodolfo García López
What: US Airways Boeing 767-200 en route from Philadelphia, to Frankfurt Germany
Where: Providence
When: Oct 19th 2011
Who: One injury
Why: While while en route over west Providence over Rhode Island, an encounter with turbulence resulted in a serious injury to a passenger’s ankle. The flight returned to Philadelphia due to the medical emergency. Departure was delayed. The flight did land in Frankfurt about four hours late.
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Contact photographer Aleksey Lisitsyn
What: Iran Air Boeing 727-200 en route from Moscow Sheremetyevo (Russia) to Tehran Imam Khomeini
Where: Tehran
When: Oct 18th 2011
Who: 94 passengers and 19 crew
Why: On approach to Imam Khomeini Airport, the crew aborted the approach due to a landing gear issue. The crew diverted the flight to Mehrabad Airport (also in Tehran).
The fly by at Mehrabad indicated the nose gear issue was actual, and not an indicator problem.
The crew landed without the nose gear on the main gear, and the runway had been foamed. There were no reported injuries.
What: Virgin Australia/Pacific Blue Boeing 737-800 en route from Brisbane,QL to Denpasar Bali
Where: Brisbane
When: Oct 14th 2011
Who: 1st officer
Why: The plane was in its parking bay as the first officer was inspecting the plane prior to departure, when the exhaust of a departing Qantas jet blew the mobile stairs, including the first officer, over. Both stairs and pilot ended up on the tarmac, the first officer ending up with a broken arm and leg. The plane was in its parking bay. The pilot departed for the hospital, presumably by ambulance, and the plane departed for Bali, with only a 90 minute delay.
I don’t think I’ve ever heard of this happening!
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Contact photographer Szabolcs Kelemen
What: Sky Airlines Boeing 737-400 en route from Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden (Germany) to Antalya (Turkey)
Where: Antalya on
When: Oct 10th 2011
Who: 156 passengers and 6 crew
Why: After a normal flight, on landing in Turkey, the plane’s right main gear collapsed when a right tire burst.
One cause for a burst tire is a hard or fast landing, or the state of the runway. The cause has not yet been determined.
In the accident photos (according to AV gossip), the logo has been painted out with white paint.
Japan airways registration JA623J. The incident occurred on JA624A
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Contact photographer ciel
What: ANA All Nippon Airways Boeing 767-300 en route from Singapore to Tokyo
Where: South China Sea
When: Oct 9th 2011
Who: 176 passengers and 10 crew
Why: During breakfast, the flight encountered turbulence which injured five aboard. Those injured included three of the crew.
Wake turbulence has been suggested. If so, details will show up in the investigation.
The flight made a safe landing in Tokyo.
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Contact photographer Martin Djupenstrom
What: Norwegian Air Shuttle Boeing 737-800 en route from Helsinki to Rovaniemi
Where: Helsinki Finland
When: Oct 5th 2011
Why: The flight took off normally from Helsinki but incurred a bird strike.
After leveling off, the crew decided to return to Helsinki where they made a safe landing. The weather in Rovaniemi was foggy, with limited visibility, contributing to their decision.
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Contact photographer Nathan Bartlett
What: Qantaslink Boeing 717-200 en route from Newman,WA to Perth,WA
Where: Newman Australia
When: Oct 4th 2011
Who: 75 passengers and 5 crew
Why: The plane had taken off normally from Newman, but while still ascending, the engine popped. That is, it made a loud noise which was reported later by local media as a compressor stall. Inside, the cabin, passengers heard the explosion, the lights dimmed and the plane shuddered. Outside, witnesses saw a puff of smoke. Inside, passengers say it went “dead silent” for five minutes, before anyone made announcements. (No one is complaining. They’re all happy they survived.) When the captain did speak, he was calm and reassuring. No doubt he was busy at the time.
The landing hit hard and was described as being all over the runway. Passengers did joke about needing a drink afterwards, and Newman not having a bar; it was mentioned that the replacement flight should have all given them free drinks before they ran out of food.
The plane made a safe (emergency) landing in Newman fifteen minutes after takeoff.
See video below:
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Contact photographer Yunjin Lee – Korea Aero Photo
What: United/Continental 767-400 en route from Honolulu to Guam
Where: Guam International Airport
When: Oct 2, 2011
Who: 247 passengers
Why: Would you believe it? On approach to Guam (again) there was a problem with a United/Continental flight.(We’ve reported three or four of them in the past couple of weeks.) This approach to Guam International Airport was aborted because the plane indicated a problem with the landing gear. Pilots circled, as they dealt with the issue. A flyby resolved the question of if the landing gear was down (it was visibly engaged);
The pilots were able to land safely, fortunately with an indicator malfunction rather than a gear malfunction.
The official report is out, concluding that because it was dark, passengers were unaware that the plane was flying upside down.
Excuse me? Are we to believe that passengers were unawere the plane was flying UPSIDE DOWN?
I don’t think so. If they were upside down they had to FEEL it, dark or not. Or else they weren’t upside down.
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Contact photographer Andrew Bowden
What: All Nippon Airways Boeing 737-700 en route from Okinawa to Tokyo Haneda
Where: Hamamatsu
When: Sep 6th 2011
Who: 2 crew injured
Why: While en route, the co-pilot accidentally activated the rudder trim switch instead of the door mechanism.
The plane descended 6000 feet and rolled, injuring a couple of flight attendants. The first officer—2400 hours— leveled off, and was able to admit the captain who was stuck outside the cockpit, waiting to get in.
The flight continued without incident
What: PIA Pakistan International Airlines Boeing 737-300 en route from Islamabad to Karachi
Where: Multan Pakistan
When: Sep 27th 2011
Who: 118 passengers
Why: While en route, the one working generator failed. The captain announced to the passengers that they were having technical problems.
The crew diverted to Multan and made a safe landing; the flight landed with subdued lighting. One main generator was completely non-operational.
Passengers were rebooked on an alternative flight.
I would have to say that this Nordavia (Russia to Turkey) flight had good reason to turn back. I’d be just as alarmed as the flight crew was. From the sound of it, the passengers were lucky if nothing else fell off this plane. I would say that this is one Boeing which was, as they said in the old West, “rode hard and put up wet.” I hope the leaky door seal was the least of their worries.
MAINTENANCE!
Air France-KLM Group selected the 787 Dreamliner as part of its long-haul fleet renewal, with an intent of purchasing 25 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, with options for 25 more.
“We’re proud to be a major part of the fleet renewal plan being undertaken by Air France-KLM ,” said Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “The 787 Dreamliner will bring outstanding value to the two airlines and will be a great complement to their large fleets of Boeing widebody airplanes. We’re looking forward to finalizing our agreement.”
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is an all-new commercial jetliner that brings new efficiencies to airlines and delivers superior comfort to passengers. The airplane features the industry’s largest windows, a lower cabin altitude and cleaner air. These features combine to allow passengers to arrive at their destinations more refreshed.
The 787 Dreamliner is the fastest-selling twin-aisle airplane in aviation history, with more than 800 orders from 56 customers around the world. The Air France-KLM announcement is not included in this total.
Nine French companies partner with Boeing on the 787 Dreamliner. They include Dassault Systèmes (software solutions), Labinal (wiring), Latécoère (passenger doors), Messier-Bugatti (electric brakes), Messier-Dowty (main and nose landing gear), Michelin (aftermarket tyres), Radiall (connectors), Thales (electric power conversion system, flight display, in-flight entertainment system), and Zodiac (emergency slides, primary electrical distribution and various equipments).
The Air France-KLM Group is a long-time and valued customer with a large Boeing fleet of 188 airplanes in operation.
But Air France isn’t getting the first one off the line.
After three years worth of delays, after the August 26(finally!) certification by the FAA and Easa, the first 737 is going to Japan’s All Nippon Airways on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2011. Finally tested and found to be in compliance with all federal regulations, after it’s first Nov 11 flight with Nippon Airways, the route will be Tokyo to Okayama-Hiroshima and (in January) Tokyo to Frankfurt.
United Continental will be flying the 787 from Houston to New Zealand, and Houston to Lagos, Nigeria. (Let’s hope not to Guam.)
What: Continental Airlines Boeing 757-200 en route from Newark,NJ to London
Where: Newark
When: Sep 19th 2011
Why: While en route, a cabin sidewall overheated. The crew shut down the local electricity but not before a passenger was burned by the heater. The passenger was treated for minor injuries.
The incident occurred over Charlottetown in Canada. The flight crew returned to Newark and made a safe landing. A replacement Boeing completed the flight fourteen hours later.
So, now I wonder why back in Newark, maintenance deactivated the heater instead of repairing the problem. If it was there in the first place to counter a cold spot, did it not need to be repaired? I am hoping this was just deferred until the plane reached the appropriate hub.
What: Mahan Air en route from Phuket to Tehran
Where: Kolkata airport
When: September 21, 2011
Who: 305 passengers (plus another 176 passengers from another flight)
Why: Mahan Air ran out of gas in the wrong place and the wrong time. The IOC allows the airline a certain amount of credit, when they pay a security deposit, but they were a month overdue.
The flight landed in Kolkata, the crew expecting to be able to refuel, and they were grounded. (Indian Oil Corporation.) So the airport lounge filled up with passengers from one…no, make that two Mahan Air flights when a second Mahan flight showed up. There was only room for 280, and the passengers were stuck until morning. Some sources say all 305 were stuck in the airplane, not in an overcrowded lounge for thirteen hours. Anyway, was this the experience they bought when they paid for their ticket? Apparently.
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Contact photographer Joe Buvid
What: Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 en route from Seattle to Oakland
Where: Oakland
When: Sept 19, 2011
Who: 126 passengers, 6 crew
Why: While passengers were winging it from Seattle, a handwritten bomb threat note threatening the Oakland flight was found in an airport bookstore in San Francisco International Airport.
The flight landed at Oakland as planned—twenty minutes early, due to some background aviation networking. The fake crisis brought in some real FBI agents and real bomb sniffing dogs who got everyone out of the plane (and screened); and the plane was sent to an isolated location to (fortunately, not) blow up. No bomb was found.
A false report or threat of a bomb or harmful device is punishable by up to four years in prison, a $2,000 fine plus reimbursement of costs to government.
Sent from 37 thousand feet headed to NY
What: Biman Bangladesh Airlines en route from Dubai to London
Where: Amman Jordan
When: Sep 18th 2011
Who: 193 passengers
Why: Before this flight, the plane had been delayed in Dhaka Bangladesh with an undesignated problem with an engine that delayed the prior flight for three hours.
Then, after taking off from Dubai, the plane developed engine problems.
The pilot diverted the flight to Amman Jordan, where there was a layover as the problem was handled.
What: Biman Bangladesh Airlines DC10 en route to Jeddha and Riyadh
Where: Amman Jordan
When: Sep 18th 2011
What: Since Thursday, 314 passengers on two DC10 had to wait 40 hours after the (two) Biman Bangladesh Airlines DC10s developed undisclosed problems. After being cleared by immigration,they were held in the airport without food since Saturday. The airlines has been plagued with scheduling issues snowballing after one flight was grounded for hydraulic leaks and another for engine problems. Currently three Biman Bangladesh Airlines are grounded, including a DC-10, a Fokker, and a Boeing 737.
An unsubstantiated rumor is being circulated that within the airlines “a vested group…may have a hand behind [the flight delays] to realize some personal gains.”
