Carrier

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    Lion Air Compensation

    Lion Air is compensating the passengers of the plane that crashed in Bali on April 13. The 101 passenger (we don’t know if the 7 crew are included) is handing out $5600 to each passenger.

    Lion Air is working with Jasa Raharja, an Indonesian insurance company to cover the medical bills for five injured passengers. The insurance company is paying up to IDR 25 million ($2500) and the airline is covering anything in excess of that.

    Unofficial reports state the plane was flying low.

    Twenty-five people have yet to receive their compensation.

    The alcohol and drug tests of the crew, cockpit voice recorder, and the flight data recorder are still in process. No conclusions have been public on the cause of the accident.

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    Singapore Airlines Emergency Landing

    The Singapore Airlines Airbus A330-300 en route from Singapore Dhaka with 105 passengers and 12 crew aboard diverted to Bangkok when they got an internal flight warning. There were no injuries.

    In spite of the cargo fire suppression system, there was a burning smell and a fire.

    The plane made a safe landing in Bangkok. The plane taxied to the gate, and passengers disembarked and were provided hotel accommodations, meals and transferred to another airline.

    An investigation is underway.

    Singapore Airlines’ spokesman, Nicholas Ionides said that “Flight SQ446 operating between Singapore and Dhaka diverted to Bangkok as a result of indications of smoke from the aircraft’s rear cargo hold.”

    When Thai authorities clear the Airbus, it will be flown back to Singapore.

    In George’s Point of View


    It has been well documented that Airbus and Boeing are taking different paths regarding their approach on batteries.

    But still, it is one of my least favorite things to read (especially while I’m halfway to Singapore) that there has been yet another cargo fire at all, regardless of what kind of plane it is on.

    At least I had time to jot down some thoughts.

    I hope that the media shines as bright a light on this airbus cargo fire as it has recently on the Dreamliner battery situation. Sure, the Dreamliner is developing new technology and Boeing is responsible for going the distance to keep new developments safe. The Dreamliner battery issue is new. But the fact that Boeing is developing new technologies and new solutions does not provide Airbus and an established plane like a A330-300 a free ticket when it comes to combustion.

    Hopefully Airbus is paying attention to all problems and not getting too cocky. It should remember and respect that a plane is still an air-filled bubble hundreds of feet in the air. Until people develop their own wings, random combustion situations like cargo fires on an Airbus A330 are just as potentially hazardous situation–if not more so–than any battery incident that actually occurred on the ground.

    Let us please see a fix for this problem.

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    Sport Plane Crashes in Germany

    On April 26, 2013, four people died in a crash in Germany after taking off from Rendsburg-Schachtholm en route to Rotenburg/Wümme Airport.

    The plane crashed and burned on approach to Rotenburg less than 2 kilometers short of the runway in an open field.

    The names of the victims have not been released.

    An investigation is underway.

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    Helicopter Crash in Schoemanskloof Kills Lion Sands Game Resort CEO


    A privately owned Robinson R-44 with four aboard crashed in the vicinity of Schoemanskloof outside Nelspruit in South Africa. The flight had taken off from Johannesburg and was en route to White river when it crashed in heavy mist. No one aboard survived. The fatalities were listed as Nick More, Pierre de Villiers, Lance Cooper and Elmarie Martens.

    Remains of the victims will be handled at the state mortuary in Pretoria.

    The South African Civil Aviation Authority will be investigating the crash site, Zondagskraal farm, four kilometers from the N4 highway.

    Pilot Mr Nick More, owned the helicopter and was CEO of Lion Sands Game Resort.

    Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport indicated that the flight plan listed that More departed from Nelspruit Airfield at 06:30, collected passengers at Casterbridge. The destination was listed as Grand Central Airport in Gauteng.

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    Plane Hits Airbridge

    On April 22, 2013 at 10:30am, a Los Angeles-Sydney-Melbourne flight damaged its wing while on the ground.

    The United Airlines Boeing 747-400 was pulling into an air bay when it struck the airbridge of a parking bay at the airport in Melbourne.

    Passengers disembarked by stairs. There were no injuries but the plane required repairs.

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    Kit plane crash kills pilot

    A RV-4 kit plane crashed en route to crashed Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport.

    The plane with the deceased pilot was discovered at 7:20 on April 20, 2013.

    The FAA collected the plane at 2:15 p.m.

    No flight plan was filed.

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    Plane Crash in Dam

    The Vans RV-9A (a single-engine experimental aircraft) was being flown from Americana city by its owner with a female passenger aboard when it struck power lines and crashed by Ester Mill Dam in Cosmópolis in São Paulo, Brazil.

    Both people aboard died at the scene.

    The plane crashed in a remote area with difficult access in the dam. The fire department and the military are investigating but (Center for Research and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents) are not.

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    Anniversary of Bhoja Air Crash

    The anniversary of a plane crash is always a sad day;

    It is a day few people recall if they didn’t lose someone;

    It is a day remembered by children as the moment they found themselves orphaned–and mothers and fathers who found themselves without a child; and husbands and wives who found themselves widowed.

    It is a day with consequences that reverberate through the lives of those affected like ripples in a pond–except that ripples in a pond eventually come to rest, and the victims of a crash will be victims forever.

    We remember the day Bhoja Air crashed. It was en route from Karachi to Islamabad, with 121 passengers and 6 crew.

    The owner of Bhoja Air remembers too, and the FIA is not likely to let him forget:

    FIA Sindh Director Muazzam Jah Ansari said Bhoja Air owner Farooq Bhoja was taken into custody for questioning during the Bhoja Air plane crash and was released on Sunday after initial investigation.

    Farooq Bhoja was not arrested. His office was raided and the FIA seized official documents.

    Press Release Below:

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    Emergency Sun Country Diversion to Detroit

    On April 18, 2013, on landing in Lansing Michigan, a Boeing 737 owned by SUN COUNTRY suffered an incident. Almost landing, actually. We presume gusty conditions.

    On approach, a wing struck the runway.

    The crew aborted the landing, and diverted to Detroit where they made a safe landing.

    There were no injuries reported and the degree of damage to the wing and the rest of the plane has not been released.

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    Minister of Aviation Summoned to Lagos Hearing on Dana Air crash

    The Lagos State coroner is summoning Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah and a pathologist, Professor Adekunbi Banjo to give testimony in the inquest into the June 3 2012 Dana plane crash. The minister is summoned to appear to observe the coroner in action.
    Banjois a consultant with the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB).

    170 people died during the crash, including 153 passengers and residents of Iju-Ishaga.

    Banjo is expected to refute claims made Professor John Obafunwa, Lagos Chief Medical Examiner.

    Counsel for the Lagos State government, Mr Akinjide Bakare, however, insisted that Banjo ought to have voluntarily made herself available to the inquest, noting that seeking to call her at this late stage was a ploy to delay the conclusion of proceedings.

    Dana Air was suspended, then was allowed to start flying again in September.

    Then it was recently suspended again Saturday over “safety issues”. On Monday Nigeria’s Aviation Ministry reversed the Saturday decision and Dana Air is air bound again.

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    New Lion Air Boeing Carcass Cut in Two for Removal


    The Lion Air jet that crashed short of the runway in Bali is going to be cut into pieces for removal since the plane is too heavy to tow.

    The wreckage is sitting on top of a reef, rocking with the waves.

    The cockpit voice recorder was recovered by navy divers.

    None of the 101 passengers or seven crew were injured when the crew opted for a water landing. The pilot and co-pilot tested negative for drugs and alcohol

    Lion Air AKA PT Lion Mentari Airlines is banned from flying in Europe because of its safety record.

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    Air Europa Airbus Runs over Debris.

    On April 16, 2013, an Air Europa Airbus A330-202 #EC-JPF was en route from Madrid-Barajas Airport to Caracas-Simón Bolívar International Airport in Venezuela.

    However, the flight took off after an Aéromexico tail strike, and ran over fuselage debris which punctured a nose gear tire.

    Pilots circled the airport, and returned to Barajas where they made a safe landing at 19:30 with emergency services on standby.

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    Trainer Flight Crashes in Modimola Dam, South Africa

    On April 16, 2013, a Pearl Coral-owned de Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth with two aboard crashed in Modimola Dam in Mmabatho in South Africa.

    The training flight crashed into the water witnessed by a cattle herder near the dam.

    When boats arrived to search, it was dark, and too late to search.

    Initially, the occupants were assumed to be the pilot and an assistant; and it is assumed this was a trainer from Mafikeng Airport. The cause of the crash is unknown.

    Police divers found the instructor in the water. The student pilot’s body was trapped inside the plane which was submerged in water with only its tail visible.

    The Civil Aviation Authority is investigating.


    Update
    The fatalities were named by police as instructor Marthinus Steyn, 54, and student pilot Narco van Straaten, 23.

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    Smoke in Korean Air Boeing 787

    Korean Air Boeing 787 en route from Seoul to Los Angeles developed smoke in the cockpit and diverted to Tokyo where they made a safe landing

    There was also smoke in the galley.

    288 people disembarked, and took a bus to the gate. Emergency services were on the scene.

    Passengers were provided an alternate flight the next day.

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    NTSB Assisting in Lion Air Boeing Investigation

    In George’s Point of View


    As I stand here on the balcony of my Cancun suite snapping a video of a gathering far below on the beach, the force of the wind off the ocean nearly knocks me off my feet.

    Yes, my Air Crash Consultant mind is at work, even when I’m relaxing on a vacation.

    I can’t help but think of the Lion Air Boeing that came down on approach to Ngurah Rai Airport and cracked in two on impact with the ocean. It didn’t fall far in terms of being a plane. I have heard it was flying 100 feet below where it should have been, which makes me wonder if the same winds that are knocking me over contributed to the crash. Trust the investigation to uncover the truth of what made this brand new plane to be a write off. It’s still a miracle of engineering that there were no fatalities, and only 45 injuries, and of those, only five still hospitalized one day later.

    The NTSB is joining the investigation, important enough news that it is announced on a Sunday.


    The NTSB is sending a team of investigators to assist the government of Indonesia on its accident investigation of a Lion Air Boeing 737-800.

    On April 13, 2013 at about 3:15 p.m. local time, the airplane crashed on approach to Ngurah Rai Airport, due to unknown circumstances. There were no fatalities reported.

    As the U.S. is the state of design and manufacture of the Boeing 737, NTSB Chairman Deborah Hersman has appointed Senior Air Safety Investigator Dennis Jones as the traveling U.S. accredited representative. Dennis Jones is leading a team of investigators specializing in airplane structures, systems, and survival factors, as well as advisers from the Federal Aviation Administration and Boeing.

    The investigation is being conducted by the Indonesia National Transportation Safety Committee which will release all information.

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    Guntersville Plane Crash


    A plane crashed in Guntersville Alabama. The pilot was the only person aboard when the engine stalled, and he ditched in a lake near Lake Guntersville Marina and Guntersville Sailing Club.

    The pilot extricated himself from the plane and was rescued by fisherman. Alabama Marine Police and Marshall County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the scene and will be securing the site until the NTSB investigation.

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    Fatal Crash in Loreto


    On April 7, 2013, a Helicópteros del Pacífico (Helipac) Mil Mi-8PS with 13 aboard crashed near Perenco Oil in Peru.

    There were four crew and nine passengers aboard—all Peruvian— when the flight crashed in the Napo River. Hernán Cervantes Paiva, Trider Pasmiño and Máximo Rolando Cuello have been identified.

    The helicopter failed at 11:00 a.m.

    Perenco Peru made a public announcement regarding the crash:

    “Perenco Peru regrets to announce an accident involving a MI-8 (P 1916 OB) helicopter operated by HELIPAC. The helicopter came down with 13 passengers on board during a routine flight from Iquitos to Block 67. Those on the flight, all Peruvian nationals, comprised nine passengers and four crew members. The passengers included one Perenco employee and representatives of three contractors.

    The Peruvian Army is at the scene and two additional helicopters are supporting the rescue efforts. At this stage, no survivors have been found.

    The company is working closely with the relevant authorities and is providing what support it can to the families of those involved. “

    Block 67 is a 630-square-mile (1,020-square-kilometer) block of more than 300 million barrels.

    The Peruvian Air Force activated the System Search and Rescue (SistemaSAR), which mobilized National Search and Rescue Twin Otter aircraft to land in the water in Curaray with the rescue team.

    Video Below

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    British Airways Diverts to Orlando with Drunken Englishman

    BA2202 flight passenger Sean Jude Kelly was drunk aboard his flight from Cancun Mexico. Normally, he is a moneybroker from Kent. But after a week in Cancun drinking, he became a hooligan.

    On the flight home, he started threatening (278) passengers.

    Three hours after taking off from Cancun, the British Airways captain detoured to Orlando Florida, where Kelly was arrested (before or after?) attacking a female Orlando police officer. Kelly is now being held in jail.

    Flight attendants said Kelly spat at them, and fought other passengers. He drank half a 750ml bottle of Stolichnaya Vodka aboard the plane, and prior to boarding had taken anti-anxiety meds.

    Speaking from my fantastic hotel in Cancun…
    There’s plenty of rest and relaxation to be had in Cancun without spending the week in a bottle…

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    Boarding Bridge Collapses in Hong Kong

    A Cathay Pacific Airbus A330-300 in Hong Kong China with 262 aboard was scheduled to fly from Hong Kong to Nagoya.

    After all the passengers had boarded, the rear boarding bridge collapsed, ripping the door off the A330. Passengers were able to exit via the first class bridge.

    Passengers had to take another flight.

    All rear bridges used at the airport are suspended pending inspection. The incident is under investigation.

    One technician was injured.

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    Hawaiian Airlines Oil Light Cuts Flight Short

    If you’re one of those drivers who ignores that oil light on your car’s dashboard when it goes off, then be glad you’re not a pilot. Pilots have the same light, and it can’t be ignored.

    It’s a good thing you’re not a pilot, then.

    258 passengers aboard a 10:30 a.m. Hawaiian Airlines A330 to Los Angeles were relieved to be back on the ground after the plane they were on developed engine problems and had to return to Honolulu.

    Fifteen minutes into the flight, the oil light went on. Pilots shut down the affected engine.

    Passengers caught the alternative flight at 11:15 a.m.

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    100 Dana ground victims demand compensation

    More than 100 ground victims are currently demanding compensation for property damage from the Dana plane crash last June. Claims running into billions of naira.

    At one point, they were told that the Lagos government planned to take the land to build a memorial to the crash victims. Owners have to provide valid certificates of occupancy to begin the process.

    News agencies report that N2.2bn is the total sum to be paid to the relations of the 153 that died in the Dana aircraft but payment information is unverified, and many say their claims have not been satisfied. Likewise unconfirmed is the statement that insurance companies have paid an initial settlement of N418.94m to relations of 85 victims.

    Only two relatives have reported they received their “full” settlement.

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    Mayaguana Medical Evacuation Crash Kills 3 in Vehicle


    On April 4, 2013 about 12:30 am, a Leair Charter Service Limited Cessna 402C was landing in the process of a medical evacuation and collided with a parked truck being used to illuminate the runway.

    The pilot and passenger in the plane survived.

    The vehicle caught on fire, killing three occupants. The fatalities are named in the video.

    Additionally, the video calls for the need for lights on the runway.

    Official statement:
    Tragic aviation accident in Mayaguana
    The Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin
    Minister of Transport and Aviation
    In the early hours of this morning I was informed of an aviation accident in Mayaguana resulting in the tragic death of 3 people. I am advised that all 3 persons are residents of the island of Mayaguana. A preliminary report from the Department of Civil Aviation says that on 4th April, 2013 at approximately 12:30 a.m. a Cessna C402 owned by Leair Charter Service Limited with a crew of 2 on board was making a landing at night for an emergency evacuation flight with two vehicles strategically placed to outline the useable portion of the runway. It is reported that the aircraft made contact with one of the vehicles resulting in the deaths of the 3 passengers in that vehicle.

    An investigative team comprising the Royal Bahamas Police Force and the Air Accident Investigation and Prevention Unit of the Department of Civil Aviation will fly into Mayaguana at 5 a.m. this morning.

    I wish to assure that a full investigation will be carried out by the Department of Civil Aviation into the causes and circumstances surrounding this terrible event. I will report further as information permits. Out of respect for the families, the names of the persons killed will not be disclosed until an official release is made by the Royal Bahamas Police Force.

    I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of these beloved persons and to the wider community of Mayaguana who share in this loss.


    Video Below

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    Beech Crashes in Big Bear Lake


    The Beech A36 Bonanza crashed in Big Bear Lake had been cleared for landing when it crashed in Big Bear lake.

    The four people aboard were slightly injured.

    The plane lost power, and the pilot told ATC that the plane was not going to make it to the airport.

    The NTSB is investigating.

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    Aero Bravo 700 Agrícola Crashes in Perolândia, Goiás Brazil


    On April 5, 2013, an Aero Bravo 700 Agrícola spraying insecticide near the city of Perolândia crashed near GO-050 highway. The company was Planeta Viação Agrícolas. The fatal flight was to be the last run of the day.

    The plane had been spraying a cornfield when it crashed and caught on fire. Farm workers put out the fire, but not in time to save the young pilot, who suffered broken bones and severe burns.

    The cropduster was demolished.

    The Jataí Fire Department lieutenant Lourivaldo Ribeiro da Silva said the pilot had not been identified yet; and his body was taken to the Jataí Medical Legal Institute.

    The pilot has since been recognized as 25 year old Rivelino Rocha.

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    Air France Flight 447


    Air France 447 went down over the Atlantic in 2009.

    The fly-by-wire A330 incorporates technology that prevents the airplane from entering a stall, but during a complete loss of airspeed information, however, the system reverted to manual control.

    The final report said said the pilots were “completely surprised” by technical problems experienced at high altitude and engaged in increasingly de-structured actions until suffering “the total loss of cognitive control of the situation.”

    CEO of the Flight Safety Foundation has been recorded said pilots generally manually manipulating the controls for only three minutes:one minute and 30 seconds each for take-off and landing.

    “We are moving towards automated operations where the pilot isn’t even permitted to fly. That means the first time in your career you will ever feel what an aircraft feels like at 35,000 feet is when it’s handed to you broken.”

    See a video examination of the Air France 447 flight