Carrier

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    Virgin Airbus Emergency Landing in London


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Mark McGrath

    What: Virgin Atlantic Airbus A330-300 from London to Orlando,FL
    Where: London
    When: Apr 16th 2012
    Who: 299 passengers and 13 crew
    Why: The flight had taken off from Gatwick when the crew reported an indication of a cargo fire. Pilots returned to the airport, and made a safe landing on flat tires. (Flat tires can result from a heavy or fast landing.)

    Passengers were evacuated by slide from the plane directly on the runway, at which time some scrapes and bruises occurred.

    No heat or fire was found in the plane. It is not uncommon for de-icing fluid burning off an engine may set off an alarm.

    In George’s Point of View


    Better safe than sorry! A safe landing is a good landing. Good job by the pilots.

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    Southwest Emergency Seattle-Saint Louis Diversion to Omaha


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Klaus Ecker

    What: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-300 en route from Seattle to Saint Louis
    Where: Omaha
    When: Apr 14th 2012
    Who: 11 injured
    Why: While en route, the plane lost cabin pressure, oxygen masks deployed, and pilots decided to divert to Omaha where they made a safe landing. However on arrival, eleven passengers needed medical attention. Nine of them were treated at the airport with minor injuries, but continued the flight.

    A replacement Southwest jet completed the last leg on Saturday.

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    London-bound Boeing Suffers Lightning Strike


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Tiago Palla

    What: United Boeing 777-200 en route from San Francisco to London
    Where: San Francisco
    When: Apr 12th 2012
    Who: 195 passengers aboard
    Why: After taking off from San Francisco, the left side of the United Boeing 777 was struck by lightning. Passengers described the flash of light and the big bank. Oxygen masks deployed. No one was injured. Weather suspended other flights taking off from that airport until the storm blew through.

    Pilots informed ATC, and dumped fuel before returning to land safely. The plane remained on the runway as officials inspected the aircraft. Passengers were put up in local hotels and scheduled to take an alternate flight Friday afternoon.

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    Air Lingus Attempts and Attempts and Attempts to Land in Barcelona Before Running Out of Fuel


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Jens Breuer

    What: Aer Lingus Airbus A320-200 en route from Cork to Barcelona
    Where: Barcelona
    When: Mar 14th 2012
    Who: 56 passengers, 6 crew
    Why: Pilots on approach to Barcelona aborted their approach at 10,000 feet due to the poor visibility. Barcelona ATC refused the pilots requests for a Category III landing forcing pilots on a holding pattern for thirty minutes, then on flight on a wild goose chase looking for somewhere else to land, until the pilots eventually were about to run out of fuel.

    After pilots declared an emergency, Barcelona ATC cleared the landing. Spanish authorities are investigating.

    (The wild goose chase? First the denial and holding pattern, then off to Valencia, but before arriving, Barcelona said visibility had cleared, so back to Barcelona, but no, visibility hadn’t cleared. Pilots diverted to Girona, but Girona was congested, so back to Barcelona, which was finally cleared to land on declaring emergency.)

    LEBL 142030Z 00000KT 0200 R25R/0300N R25L/0300V0550D FG BKN005 12/12 Q1027 NOSIG
    LEBL 141930Z 00000KT 0200 R25R/0325N FG BKN005 12/12 Q1027 NOSIG

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    Ural Airlines Flight Diverts to Home Base For Tech Repairs


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer

    What: Ural Airlines Airbus A320-200 from Nizhniy to Prague
    Where: Nizhniy Novgorod
    When: Apr 14th 2012
    Who: 100+ passengers
    Why: The plane had taken off when systems indicated a technical problem.

    Radio Vesti FM said that pilots diverted to Ekaterinburg where they made a safe landing. The departure from Ekaterinburg occurred seven hours later.

    http://www.audit-center.biz/incidents.html

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    Another New Air India Plan

    Air India owes around Rs.2,000 crore to oil retailers, and faces accumulated losses worth Rs.22,000 crore but is looking at a financial overhaul. Lenders including State Bank of India and 18 other banks will be repaid Rs.10,500 crore in 10-15 years, or through government-guaranteed bonds. The restructured debt is only one part of the improvement; the airline is also being given time to improve operational efficiency. Operational efficiency is expected to rise from 71 percent to 90 percent within two years.

    Twenty seven Dreamliners will be inducted into the Air India fleet and 7,000 Air India staff will be transferred to its maintenance, repair and overhaul divisions. 12,000 staff be transferred to transportation services.

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    Airport Locator Being Doctored

    This weekend, Aspen-Pitkin County Airport experienced failure in its localizer device, the equipment that guides planes making instrument landings, and as a result a number of American Eagle planes were diverted to other airports.

    The problem which was detected by the guidance system’s self-diagnostic tests, was described as an “electronic glitch” in the localizer. It is located at the south end of the runway. Skywest and Frontier Airlines also diverted on Sunday, but because of high winds, not because of the localizer.

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    Bomb Threat Diverts Korean Air to Airbase with F-15 Escort

    What: Korean Airlines Boeing 777 en route from Vancouver to Seoul
    Where: Comox air base
    When: April 10, 2012 5:30 p.m
    Who: 149 passengers, 12 crew members
    Why: After a bomb threat was made in a telephone call to the Korean Airlines Los Angeles office, the flight was diverted to Canada’s Comox air base, which is 70 miles outside Vancouver.

    The flight was escorted by U.S. Air Force F-15 fighter jets. Three hours after the flight took off, it landed in Comex safely.

    Officers checked passengers and luggage, Royal Canadian Mounted Police were investigating. Police, fire trucks and B.C. Ambulance paramedics were also on the scene.

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    Orlando: Allegiant Bird strike

    What: Allegiant McDonnell Douglas MD-83 en route from Orlando Sanford,FL to Huntingdon,WV
    Where: Orlando
    When: Apr 15th 2012
    Why: On takeoff from Orlando, the jet encountered a bird.

    After the bird strike, pilots elected to return to Sanford International Airpor where they made a safe landing.

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    Student Group aboard D.C. United Plane During Flat Tire Landing

    What: United Airlines Boeing 737-700 en route from Houston,TX to Washington DC
    Where: Washington
    When: Apr 9th 2012 11:15 am
    Who: 122 passengers and 5 crew
    Why: On landing in Washington, the plane suffered two blown rear tires.

    The plane was towed to the terminal.

    No injuries were reported.

    Fourteen students and chaperones from Mt. Carmel Louisiana were aboard, and were interviewed by a TV station after the rough landing in Washington DC. They said the landing was rough, and praised the pilot for being so calm.

    Another group of fourteen joining them flew in on a different plane from Atlanta. They will all be returning to Lafayette on Friday, and they say none of them have developed a fear of flying.

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    Airborne Medical Emergencies Abound


    I doubt that April is any worse a month for medical emergencies, but just to give you a snapshot at how common it is—at least this past week—

    • April 5 American Airlines New York to Buenos Aires Diverted to Caracas Venezuela with a sick man-
    • April 6 (April 5-6) Cathay Pacific Chicago-Hong Kong An undisclosed medical emergency occurred; flight diverted to Anchorage for the medical emergency. (The flight had a second diversion, probably for a crew change before arriving at their destination.)
    • April 7 Air New Zealand London to LAX A diabetic ten year old boy received assistance from crew as pilots diverted to Minneapolis. The boy was hospitalized in Minneapolis.
    • April 8 Egyptair Cairo to Nigeria Infant became ill; crew returned to Cairo and made a safe landing. The infant was hospitalized.
    • April 9 Delta Japan- Honolulu passenger suffered an attack 2 hours outside of Honolulu; cabin crew and nurse/passenger attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation but pronounced DOA.
    • April 10 LAN Airlines Santiago to Arica male passenger suffered a stroke. A doctor provided first aid; Flight diverted to Copiapo where the passenger was hospitalized.

    In George’s Point of View

    These medical incidents really don’t differ from how many we usually see–maybe its just spring fever, but I’m just sayin’…make sure you’re a-ok before you set foot on board!

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    Two Lost in Ultralight in Brazilian Rice Field


    What: Starflight Fox V6 Super #PU-ANG
    Where: Araranguá, southern Santa Catarina Brazil
    When: April 8 2012
    Who: 2 fatalities
    Why: The ultralight was in Araranguá between the towns of Marazion and in Santa Catarina when it crashed in a rice paddy that backs up to highway BR-101. Both the pilot and passenger, Pereira de Souza, 45, and Antonio Carlos Bernardino, 30, died at the scene. Bernardino owned the ultralight and the two regularly flew together. Both victims were residents of Araranguá and in an Araranguá flying club. They were taken to Instituto Médico Legal (Forensic Institute).

    Witnesses say the plane just fell from the sky into the rice field. The incident occurred at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday.

    The accident is under investigations; preliminary findings are due within thirty days.

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    Miracle and Tragedy for Two UT Air Ivanyuta and Peil Families


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Alexej

    What: UT Air -ATR 72 en route from Tyumen to Surgut
    Where: Siberia
    When: April 2, 2012
    Who: 1 delayed identification
    Why: Today Russia’s Ministry of Transport suspended UTAir at Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport for permitting 4 ATR-72s to depart without de-icing and anti-icing in weather conditions conducive to icing; and suspended UTAir’s ATR-72s pending the investigation.

    Only three of the twelve survivors of the UT Air crash are out of intensive care.

    The UT Air crash is a story of 31 tragedies. Amidst these terrible stories, a mistaken identification has come to light. There were four bodies in the crash which could not be identified.

    Konstantin Peil died on April 2.

    One of the passengers reported as missing, Dima Ivanyuta, had been mis-identified as Konstantin Peil. Ivanuyuta’s family was hopeful. When they went to the hospital, they found their miracle. Dima was recognized by his sister Anastasiya. His identity has been verified by DNA testing.

    It is a sad thing for Peil’s family, and a roller coaster for Ivanyuta’s family. While Peil’s family held a funeral for him Monday, Ivanyuta’s family is now praying for Ivanyuta’s recovery. Doctors expect him to recover.

    In George’s Point of View

    For the family that lost their Konstantin, I can only offer condolences.

    For the family who has found their Dmitry, we offer our congratulations. It is said he is conscious and aware and in possession of his memory so we can only wonder what shape Dima must have been in for the mistake to be perpetuated. It may be that in the critical hospital ward where he is located, no one was speaking to him by name. For the family who suddenly has their son back, no one needs to underline what a miracle it must feel. Like going from death to life. That doesn’t happen–nothing is more final. And yet you have your son back, and the possibility of hope and a future. We wish you well. The prayers of the world go with you.

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    Air Tanzania Runway Overrun


    Contact photographer Ammann Martin

    What: Air Tanzania de Havilland Canada DHC-8-311Q en route from Kigoma to Dar es Salaam via Tabora
    Where: Kigoma
    When: Apr 9th 2012
    Who: 35 passengers and 4 crew
    Why: Air Tanzania was taking off from Kigoma when it suffered an engine failure. Two passengers were hospitalized with shock but there were no other injuries reported.

    Pilots rejected takeoff.

    The jet overran the runway. Local news reported that the pilots “hit a pothole” which prevented the takeoff. It is not unusual for us to end up with conflicting reasons behind accidents. We do not know if the runway was soft after recent rains. It is up to the official investigation to reveal what happened. We are just delighted that the pilots landed the plane with no loss of life or serious injury.

    The right engine separated, and the right wing incurred some damage; the nose gear collapsed. The plane has been written off with substantial damage. Unless Air Tanzania tells us otherwise, we believe this is the last de Havilland Canada DHC-8 in the fleet.

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    Forty Apartments Damaged, No Fatalities Reported, Virginia Beach Hornet

    What: US Navy – VFA-106 $29 million McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D Hornet twin-engine supersonic fighter plane en route from Naval Air Station Oceana
    Where: Virginia Beach
    When: April 6 2012, 12:00 pm
    Who: 40 apartments damaged, no fatalities, 5 injures
    Why: Going 170 mph, a student pilot was in the front seat of the two-seat Hornet and the experienced instructor was in the rear when the plane experienced a “catastrophic mechanical malfunction.” Pilots dumped fuel just before it dived into a Virginia Beach apartment complex in the Hampton Roads area (Birdneck Road, Virginia Beach, near NAS Oceana). No residents of the Mayfair Mews complex were killed in the crash, and the pilots ejected before impact. The plane experienced “catastrophic engine system failure” right after takeoff. The crash site is two miles from the base and a mile from the ocean.

    The fuel and the carbon fibers from the burning composite were a special toxic concern for first responders.

    There were seven injuries on the ground in addition to the two pilots, but no fatalities have been reported. Witnesses on the scene saw smoke billowing from the building. Bystanders found the young pilot still in his parachute, and cut him free before escorting him farther from the fire. Six buildings were damaged, but now the residents, mostly elderly, are homeless.

    The trainee in the front had at least 1 1/2 years of intensive training before boarding the F/A-18D, which is used in training and in combat. The jet was not carrying live ordnance,

    Within 24 hours of the crash, sources confirm no one was killed in the crash. The mayor, and the us fleet forces commander agree that it is miraculous that there were no fatalities.

    A fund has been established for those made homeless by the fire.

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    After Pressure Loss, Mayday, Diversion to Frankfurt


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer

    What: Ryanair Boeing 737-800 en route from Milan, Italy to East Midlands
    Where: Frankfurt
    When: Apr 4th 2012
    Who: 134 passengers
    Why: Fifteen minutes after takeoff, while over Lugano Switzerland, the cabin lost pressure, deploying oxygen masks. Pilots made a Mayday announcement heard by passengers on the public address system, and descended to 9000 feet. Passengers were alarmed as they watched the alps approach at a rapid rate. In five minutes, they descended four miles. They diverted to Frankfurt Germany where they made a safe landing at at 12:00 local time.

    A replacement jet was provided.

    Three passengers were injured and hospitalized with ear problems. A news report said there were ten passengers with minor injuries. Some passengers told reporters they were panicking, but no one was screaming.

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    Friction Grinds Emirates Airbus Tire to a Nub in Hong Kong Landing


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Steve Brimley

    What: Emirates Airlines Airbus A380-800 en route from Bangkok to Hong Kong
    Where: Hong Kong
    When: Apr 7th 2012,
    Why: Passengers on the Emirates flight disembarked on to the runway after a fast landing where two main tires burst.

    Passengers smelled the burning rubber and reported that they saw sparks.

    On landing, the brakes locked up, which pretty eliminated the tires and part of the wheel (termed an anti-skid failure.) As you can see in the snapshot, the wheels were ground flat by the friction.

    The friction just pours off the pavement in the youtube clip. No injuries were reported.

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    Colgan Main Gear Landing in Houston


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer A. Kwanten

    What: United/Colgan de Havilland Dash 8-400 en route from Little Rock,AR to Houston
    Where: Houston
    When: Apr 7th 2012
    Who: 31 passengers, 4 crew
    Why: While on approach to Houston, the gear did not come down. The crew performed a fly by, and ATC confirmed that the main gear were down but not the front (nose) landing gear.

    The pilots made a second approach which concluded landing on the main gear. The pilots kept the nose up as long as possible.

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    5 Injured in Kit Plane Crash through Publix Roof


    What: Seawind 3000 kit plane built by Larry E. Sapp
    Where: Northgate Shopping Center in DeLand Florida
    When: April 2, 2012, 7:20 pm
    Who: 2 aboard, 5 injured
    Why: Taking off from Deland Municipal-Sidney H. Taylor Field Airport, the small kit plane developed engine problems and crashed into a Publix market in the Northgate Shopping Center on International Speedway Boulevard on Monday. The pilot and passenger are in critical condition. Brendan Beitler, a Stetson University student is in stable condition. Cordova and Morris Beitler were also injured.

    A fire occurred when the fuel tanks burst. Three individuals in the store were injured. The store has been closed, and 175 employees are working at other Publix. The city has issued a demolition permit.

    The plane is made of composite material and was amateur-built in 2002.

    The pilot was Kim Presbrey, an attorney from Chicago who is in the intensive care unit at Orlando Regional Medical Center. Presbry is managing partner of Presbrey & Associates Thomas Rhoades from Illinois was the passenger.

    What remains of the melted aircraft has been loaded on a flatbed trailer.

    Video shot by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office above the North DeLand Publix supermarket shortly after the kit plane crashed into the supermarket roof.

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    Octogenarian Lands Plane Beside Unconscious Pilot/Spouse

    What: C And S Manufacturing Corp Cessna 414A en route from Marco Island, Collier County, Florida to Cherryland Airport in Sturgeon Bay Wisconsin
    Where: Wisconsin
    When: April 2,2012
    Who: 2 aboard
    Why: After her husband John passed out at the controls of their Cessna, eighty-one year old Helen Collins took some quick lessons “on the fly” and managed to land the plane, with minor damage.

    Air Traffic Control talked to her until pilot instructor Robert Vuksanovic took his plane up to fly by her as he coached her down. The distress call came at 5:05 pm. after Collins was three hours in flight from Marco Island, Florida. On landing, Helen and her husband John were hospitalized; John was declared dead at 6:38 p.m. Helen had back pain, minor bumps and bruises and a broken rib, but her son Richard Collins did not lose both of his parents that day.

    A heroic effort from ATC, Collins and flight instructor Robert Vuksanovic.

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    Turbulence Injures UA Passengers, Crew



    Large view
    Contact photographer Paul Spijkers
    What: United Airlines Boeing 737 en route from Tampa to Houston
    Where: Louisiana
    When: April 4, 2012
    Who: 146 passengers and six crew, seven injuries
    Why: From seven to twelve people aboard United Airlines flight were injured when the plane ran into severe turbulence flying over Lake Charles Louisiana and the same cell that caused the tornadoes sweeping through Texas.

    (The number of injured reported varies. Earlier reports indicated seven injuries, three going to the hospital.) Pilots declared emergency in order to have a priority landing in Houston. From three to twelve people were hospitalized on arrival at 8:00 a.m.

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    Hard Landing in Denver

    What: United/Expressjet Embraer ERJ-145 en route from Peoria,IL to Denver,CO
    Where: Denver
    When: Apr 3rd 2012
    Who: 22 aboard
    Why: The pilot made what is described as a “hard short landing” and informed ATC that he struck the lights. To exacerbate matters, smoke was reported in the cockpit. A firefighter reported hot spots on the control panel.We haven’t heard verification if he actually hit the lights, but apparently one passenger was injured and the plane was reported as being “disabled” on the runway for two hours.

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    Grounded Planes but 31 Passengers will be IN the ground


    After Monday’s ATR crash when the pilots of the UTAir flight were returning to the airport and crashed in a snowy field, with much of the world not flying on ATR 72-200 planes, you can not believe how many people today mentioned to me their opinion that these planes should just be grounded, period. Frankly, I agree.

    There have been questions about this kind of plane since 1994, when American Eagle Flight 4181 crashed, and killed 68 people. Though the “Anti Ice” boots were “improved” this model has a known problem with ice. A TransAsia Airways crashed due to icing in 2002. Since ice is a known problem of these planes, any failure to deal with icing is surely negligence. But of course it is too soon to tell.

    There are plenty of rumors flying. (They seem to have better lift than the planes.) A Reuters article claims the black boxes indicate all engines were functioning, but there are also indications that this plane may not have been correctly or properly de-iced before takeoff, and that smoke was spotted from the engine. Not that Russian skies are particularly safe, given there were fifteen Russian crashes last year alone.

    Russia is not particularly known for keen government supervision of the Russian sky or some of their crumbling airports either, for that matter, but grounding ATR 72-200 aircraft is a step in the right direction. Let’s just see if they pull aging aircraft, look at crew training or start considering safety over profits.

    Even if they do, it won’t bring back the decedents.

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    UT Air Crashes in Siberia, 43 aboard, Casualties Climbing


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Alexej

    What: UT Air -ATR 72 en route from Tyumen to Surgut
    Where: Siberia
    When: April 2, 2012
    Who: 39 passengers aboard, 4 crew, casualty numbers pending.
    Why: ATC lost communication with the plane not long after it was underway. It went down not long after takeoff, about thirty kilometers from Tyumen.

    The plane was en route when it crashed near Tyumen, Siberia, Gorkovka Village. The pilots were attempting to make an emergency landing. Witnesses in Gorkovka said that the plane broke into three parts and caught fire. Most of the injured are suffering burns. The ministries of Emergency sent three planes with medical equipment, doctors and personnel.

    Initial reports are that there were 17 survivors flown by chopper to medical facilities in Tyumen. Some reports say everyone aboard died. Many of the victims are children.

    The plane caught fire after the impact. Two hundred emergency service personnel and rescuers are on the scene, and 43 emergency vehicles.

    The phone number for relatives is 8-800-775-17-17

    Emergency Situations Ministry spokeswoman Irina Andrianova announced that a dozen people were rescued and sixteen bodies recovered. One more of the rescued died, bringing survivors to 11. One man died in the helicopter on the way to the hospital.

    Investigators are on the scene. Before anyone arrived, there was already speculation of pilot error and “technical difficulties.” The flight data recorders have already been recovered.