Aircraft

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    Wal Mart Lear Jet Tire Fire in Boeing Field


    Pictured: A Walmart Lear Jet
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Jeff Rodeback

    What: Wal-Mart Lear 45 executive jet en route to Anchorage
    Where: Boeing Field in Seattle
    When: August 26, 2009
    Who: six passengers on board
    Why: When the pilot was unable to retract the landing gear, he returned to Boeing field; On landing, the front landing gear (still locked up) caught fire. The tire fire was put out with foam. There were no injuries reported.

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    HWY 101 Emergency Landing

    What: Piper PA-24 Comanche en route to Santa Barbara Airport
    Where: southbound side of U.S. Highway 101 NE of Santa Barbara
    When: Sunday 10:30 a.m
    Who: pilot Kris Sean Michel and wife
    Why: When the plane ran out of fuel, the pilot landed on US. Highway 101. Although several cars (Chevrolet Suburban Honda Accord driven by Sanjay Mitter, Volkswagen driven by Marlene Tutogi) struck or were struck by the plane and nine people were involved, no one was killed.

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    Airbus Emergency Light Error in Macao


    Pictured: Air Asia Airbus A320
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer T.Laurent

    What: Air Asia Airbus A320 en route from Kuala Lumpur to Macao
    Where: Macao International Airport
    When: 2009 08 24
    Who: 148 passengers
    Why: While en route, a warning light signaled that the emergency door was open

    The plane made a safe landing. Apparently the warning message went off in error on a securely locked door.

    George’s Point of View

    The issue here is not simply a warning light. It is the fact that warning lights on aircraft are crucial, life-saving equipment and cannot afford to fail. A warning that goes off for no reason may cause the “boy who cried wolf” syndrome (i.e. let’s ignore it because that warning always goes off;) or it can indicate some mechanical underpining that is faulty (loose wire, blown gasket); or a miniscule software error that could range in significance from mundane to catastrophic.

    So let’s hope that maintenance looks at that door until they determine exactly what did happen to cause the warning to go off. Because the only way to prevent problems in the future is to pin down every issue now, before it escalates into another Airbus disaster.

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    Cessna Crashes in Callas France

    What: small tourist Cessna en route from Cannes-Mandelieu Airport
    Where: Callas — north east of Draguignan near the Riviera
    When: SUNDAY 23 AUGUST 2009 10:00 am (0800 GMT)
    Who: Five passengers killed: the pilot, a friend of the pilot and a lady and two children
    Why: The plane crashed in a wooded park near residences and burst into flames. Residents who witnessed the crash heard nothing as the plane seemed to be gliding, then there was a lound explosion as the plane hit the ground and burst into flame. The accident was close enough to the neighborhood that neighbors turned their garden hoses on the flames, but no one survived the crash.

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    Four Die in Italian Helicopter Crash

    What: dell’eliambulanza medical emergency service helicopter
    Where: Mount Cristallo/ Mount Faloria near Cortina d’Ampezzo Ski Resort
    When: Saturday, 22nd August 2009
    Who: 4 people on board: two engineers (co-pilot Marco Zago and Stefano da Forno), a doctor (Spaziani Fabrizio) and the pilot (Dario De Felipe)
    Why: The helicopter appeared to have hit a high voltage cable while flying in bad weather. The helicopter was in the process of responding to landslide near Rio Gere, towards Passo Tre Croci. Continued bad weather hampered recovery efforts.

    This would have been Zago’s last mission before transferring to another job.

    The remains have been recovered, however, and were taken to the hospitap mortuary in Cortina Codivilla. This hazardous area frequently requires mountain rescue services.

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    Homebuilt Crashes Football Game; Two Fatalities


    Pictured: A Skybolt
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Dubravko Sertovic

    What: Fixed Wing Single-Engine Steen Skybolt (Cooper Skybolt) bi-plane en route from West Harrison Airport (Cincinnati West)
    Where: McNicholas High School in Harrison Ohio
    When: Aug 21, 2009 8:08 p.m.
    Who: pilot and a female passenger
    Why: Witnesses watching a football scrimmage between Harrison and McNicholas High School say that while en route, the plane climbed, pitched left, seemed to struggle, then took a nosedive, crashing near the high school and killing 47 year old pilot Raymond Robben of Guilford, Indiana, and passenger 52 year old Belinda Roy of Lawrenceburg, Indiana. The pilot and his girlfriend were on a pleasure ride when the plane failed, crashing a quarter of a mile from the end of the runway.

    Robben was a corporate pilot for the JTM Food Group.

    FAA registration lists the biplane as being manufactured in 1996, classified an amateur built experimental aircraft and Robben is listed as as a certified commercial pilot and flight instructor.

    George’s Point of View

    As with all tragic flights, we express condolences to the families.

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    Air India Airbus Lands with Flat


    Pictured: An Air India Airbus A320-231
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Rajesh Changela

    What: Air India Airbus A320-200 en route from Singapore Changi Airport to Chennai India
    Where: Meenambakkam airport
    When: Aug 22nd 2009
    Who: 132 passengers
    Why: After extending the gear, one main gear tire was observed to be flat–not a surprise because debris was found at the airport of origin.

    All precautions were engaged during landing and the flight landed safely with no injuries reported. The plane was towed off the runway to a maintenance bay.

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    Teterboro: Pilot and Co-pilot survive Fiery NJ Crash

    What: Twin-engine Beechcraft Baron hired by Quest Diagnostics en route from Reading, Pa. to Teterboro (where the where the plane in the recent Hudson crash originated.)
    Where: adjacent to Teterboro Airport,
    When: Friday, Aug. 21, 2009
    Who: Pilot and copilot
    Why: The flight was delivering blood specimens for Quest Diagnostics. Halfway down the runway, the pilot aborted the first attempt at landing, and hit a tree and broke in half on the next go-around, then crashing and burning in a nearby warehouse parking lot.

    Rescuers rushed to the scene to search for the pilot and co-pilot, and reportedly heard someone saying ‘We’re here, We’re here,”

    Rescuers came back with ‘I know you are, but I’m looking for the guys on the plane.’ And they replied, ‘We are the guys from the plane.’

    Both men are in serious condition.

    The pilot George Maddox, 54, of Sinking Springs, Pa. and copilot Co-pilot Sanil Gopinath, 42, of Laurel, Md survived and were checked in to St. Barnabas Medical Center.

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    Alitalia Ferry Flight Decompresses over Minsk


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Dave Chapman

    What: Alitalia Airbus A321-100 en route from Moscow to Rome
    Where: Minsk
    When: Aug 20th 2009
    Who: 0 passengers, 6 crew
    Why: While en route to Rome, the flight lost cabin pressure. The flight descended to a safe level and landed safely at Minsk.

    George’s Point of View

    I suppose that ferry flights are an unavoidable reality of aviation; but in these days of conservation and high fuel prices, one wonders at the reasoning behind flying 1475 miles in an Airbus with 6 crew. If they’re flying in for repairs, isn’t there a danger for the crew? Is this the best possible management of vehicle, fuel, and manpower?

    No wonder Alitalia reported a $385 million loss so far this year.

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    Engine Fire over Launceston Australia Instigates Emergency Landing


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Torin Wilson

    What: Virgin Blue Boeing 737-800 en route from Launceston to Sydney
    Where: Launceston
    When: Aug 20th 2009
    Who: 151 passengers
    Why: Shortly after takeoff, passengers heard a “bang” and flames were seen from an engine. The plane circled Launceston for thirty minutes before being cleared to land, which it did, safely. The problem was described as an “engine surge.” Passengers debarked and were provided an alternative plane to take them to Launceston.

    George’s Point of View

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    Primera Air Emergency Landing in Dublin


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Trevor Mulkerrins

    What: Primera Air Boeing 737-700 en route from Greece to Dublin
    Where: Dublin
    When: Aug 14th 2009
    Who: 148 passengers and 6 crew
    Why: High fuel consumption observed during the flight appeared to point to a fuel leak, leading to an emergency landing in Dublin. The “minor” leak that was discovered in the left engine was repaired.

    George’s Point of View

    Maintenance saves the day, again…

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    JAC Commuter Hydraulics Malfunction


    PICTURED: A JAC De Havilland jet landing at Osaka
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Javier Guerrero

    What: Japan Air Commuter Bombardier DHC-8-402 en route from Osaka to Miyazaki
    (Also reported as a Havilland Dash 8-400)
    Where: Osaka International Airport
    When: Thursday Aug 20
    Who: 22 passengers and four flight crew members
    Why: Breitbart reports that while en route, the Bombardier’s hydraulic system indicator light reported a hydraulics malfunction. The plane landed safely with no reported injuries and was towed off the runway. It is not clear if the hydraulics or the indicator was at the source of the problem, but JAC is investigating.

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    What Gets Naked on the Way to Vegas Gets Jailed in Oakland


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Baires Aviation Photography

    What: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 en route from Oakland,CA to Vegas
    Where: Oakland International Airport
    When: Thursday August 20
    Who: male passenger
    Why: While en route to Vegas, a male passenger apparently accosted a female passenger. He exposed himself, and hit a female passenger, at which time flight attendants became involved. By the time the passenger was arrested, he was naked. The male passenger was taken by Oakland police; the female passenger was taken to an Oakland hospital.

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    ExpressJet Customer Service Update: Plot thickens…


    An Expressjet/Continental Flight landing at Rochester
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Jonathan Icasas

    What: ExpressJet/Continental Airlines Embraer RJ145 en route from Houston to Minneapolis/St. Paul
    Where: diverted to Rochester
    When: August 9
    Who: 47 passengers
    Why: The flight was diverted by storms to Rochester and landed safely which is certainly a good thing. But the terminal locked out the passengers until 6 a m…

    George’s Point of View

    It’s amazing what a little investigation turns up. The pilot of Continental Express Flight 2816 pleaded for passengers to be allowed to enter the Rochester terminal.

    But no one was at the terminal except for representatives of Mesaba Airlines who said that because Transportation Security Administration was gone, passengers couldn’t be allowed inside.

    It looks like Mesaba Airlines is responsible for that hellish night that Continental/Expressjet passengers spent inside the plane. Did Mesaba Airlines even have the authority to lock them out?

    I hope that Mesaba Airlines person who is on the record for saying no has unemployment insurance. They’re going to need it.


    Expressjet/Continental Out of the Storm Into the Frying Pan

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    EasyJet Airbus Diverts to France over Undisclosed Smoke


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Matt Duna

    What: Easyjet Airbus A320-200 en route from London Gatwick to Faro, Portugal
    Where: La Rochelle France
    When: Aug 19th 2009, 09:30 BST
    Who: 165 passengers and 6 crew
    Why: Over the Bay of Biscay, the flight crew detected the smell of something burning and declared an emergency. They diverted to La Rochelle France, where they landed safely. No injuries were reported. Passengers were provided an alternative Airbus six hours later although firefighters with heat sensitive cameras did not find a source for the smell. The Easyjet spokesman called it a ” a small electrical problem .”

    George’s Point of View

    Considering that the flight was an Airbus flying over the ocean, passengers were lucky.

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    Washington State: De Havilland Dash 8-400 Runway Overrun


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Richard Austen

    What: Horizon Air de Havilland Dash 8-400 (Alaska Airlines) en route from Seattle Bellingham
    Where: Bellingham
    When: Aug 16th 2009 11:50PM PDT (arrival)
    Who: 76 passengers and 4 crew
    Why: There were no reported problems during the 32 minute flight; however, while landing at Bellingham, the plane overran the runway. No injuries were reported and the plane was towed to the terminal after a delay of 6-8 hours.

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    Frontier Airlines: 2 emergency landings in one day


    Pictured: A Frontier Airlines-Lynx Airlines De Havilland Dash flying out of Denver
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer John E. Jauchler

    What: Lynx Aviation de Havilland Dash 8-400 (Frontier Airlines) flight en route from Fargo to Denver
    Where: Fargo Hector International Airport
    When: Aug 16th 2009
    Who: 74 passengers 5 crew
    Why: After a bird strike on take-off, the Frontier Airlines plane was cleared to return to the Fargo airport and repaired; but on the subsequent flight, the plane’s landing gear doors did not close after the gears were retracted on the initial climb, sending it back to maintenance.

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    American Airlines Emergency Landing in Panama


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Javier Cáceres

    What: American Airlines Boeing 757-200 en route from Panama to Miami
    Where: Tocumen
    When: Aug 16, 2009
    Who: 190 passengers
    Why: Forty minutes into the flight, the pilot detected smoke in the cabin. An emergency was declared, and the plane returned to Toccumen airport for a safe landing. The cause of the smoke has not yet been determined.

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    Vim Avia Engine Fire Causes Diversion in Italy


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Kiskockas

    What: VIM Avia Boeing 757 en route from Alicante Spain to Moscow Russia
    Where: Rimini Italy
    When: Aug 15th 2009
    Who: 250 passengers (also reported as 225)
    Why: While en route from Spain to Russia, the right engine indicated fire, causing the crew to declare an emergency while still over Italy. The engine was shut down and the flight diverted to Rimini where it landed safely. Passengers had to wait for the replacement flight, as immediate alternatives were not available.

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    Miniliner sans Radio Escorted to France


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Carl Hendriks

    What: Miniliner Fokker 27-500 (Dutch Air Cargo) en route from Madrid to Liege
    Where: near Troyes France
    When: Aug 13th 2009
    Who: 2 crew
    Why: While en route, the flight lost radio and transponder. The French Air Force provided two two Mirage F1 jets and a patrol reconnaissance to escort the plane to land safely in Chalons France.

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    Horizon Jet Emergency Landing in Medford Oregon


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Thomas Piskol

    What: Horizon Airlines CRJ700 Bombardier en route from Portland to Los Angeles
    Where: Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport
    When: August 14, 2009 9:30 AM (Departing at 11:05 AM)
    Who: 60 passengers, 4 crew
    Why: The official report said that the flight crew declared an emergency because of smoke in the cabin. Horizon Air says that cabin temperatures were too high and smoke never appeared in the cabin–that the plane landed for the comfort of the passengers, who debarked from the plane into the terminal as the plane was being worked on.

    No explanation has been offered regarding the discrepancy of the explanations: (smoke vs no smoke.) With no further information, one can speculate that the incident may be akin to a home fire alarm going off due to the alarm alerting to ions in the air when the dryer is running.

    The customer service, of course, contrasts with the recent Continental plane grounded overnight at a closed airport, where the passengers were held in the plane until the terminal opened at 6: 30 am.

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    Cracked Airbus Glass Delays Brussels Flight


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Tommy Desmet

    What: Thomas Cook Airlines Airbus A320-200 en route from Brussels Belgium to Tenerife
    Where: over Bay of Biscay
    When: Aug 14th 2009
    Why: While on the way to Tenerife, the windshield of the airbus cracked. The crew declared an emergency and returned to Brussels for repairs that delayed takeoff for about 7 hours.

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    NY: Hudson River Crash Update


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Tom Turner

    What: Piper PA-32 registered to LCA Partnership in Fort Washington, Pa flying out of Teteboro Airport to Ocean City and a Liberty Helicopter Sightseeing Tour Eurocopter AS 350
    Where: over the Hudson River between New York and Hoboken, New Jersey near West 14th Street
    When: Sat Aug 8 2009
    Who: Helicopter: 5 Italian tourists and a pilot;
    plane: pilot and 2 passengers (including a child)
    Why: The airplane flew into the helicopter. The impact (or rotors) severed off the plane’s wing. Both aircrafts are in the river. The helicopter is reported to have “dropped like a rock” when the aircrafts “clipped.”

    All bodies have been recovered.

    Though not necessarily considered directly responsible, two FAA employees (the plane’s air traffic controller and the ATC supervisor) have been put on administrative leave in connection with this crash. The ATC was engaged in inappropriate conversation, and the supervisor was not in the room as required.