Carrier

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    Unstable Portuguese Passenger Alarms Toronto-bound Passengers

    What: WESTJET en route from Vancouver to Toronto
    Where: Thunder Bay, Ontario
    When: December 3, 2011 5 pm
    Who: 118 passengers
    Why: A Westjet Boeing 737 was en route when a Portuguese passenger made what seemed to be bomb threats.

    The flight diverted to Thunder bay. The passengers disembarked, and the disturbed passenger, a former mental patient, was taken into custody and hospitalized.

    The plane was examined and no explosives were found. Passengers were able to resume their flight on December 4.

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    Emergency Diversion to Shamshabad


    What: Qatar Airways en route from Doha to Bangalore
    Where: Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamshabad
    When: December 2, 2011
    Who: 240 passengers
    Why: While en route, the pilots received information of bad weather in Bangalore.

    They decided to divert to Hyderabad, and made a 5 a.m. emergency landing.

    Passengers were provided alternate transportation to Bangalore.

    Last week, an Emirates flight from Bangkok to Dubai diverted to Rajiv Gandhi International Airport to make an emergency landing due to what was reported as a “technical snag” which may have been hydraulics, or 3 generators off line depending on which rumor you wish to believe.

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    Maldives Emergency Landing


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

    What: Emirates Boeing 777-300 en route from Colombo Sri Lanka to Male, Maldives
    Where: Male
    When: Dec 2nd 2011
    Why: On landing in Male, the plane’s tires burst.

    Passengers disembarked on the runway, as the plane was disabled. No explanation was given regarding the tires. (We assume a too fast landing, but one should never assume.)

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    Crew Injured in Turbulent Approach to Oakland


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer DJ Reed – OPShots Photo Team

    What: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 en route from Albuquerque,NM to Oakland,CA
    Where: Oakland
    When: Dec 1st 2011
    Who: 95 passengers and 5 crew
    Why: On approach to Oakland, the plane flew through ten seconds of turbulence that injured the cabin crew.

    The pilots made a safe landing half an hour later, after which two members of the crew were hospitalized.

    In George’s Point of View


    Given the time and place, we might be able to chalk this one up to the Santa Ana Winds.

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    Turkish Harpist Fatma Ceren Necipoglu Returns Home


    Another victim is laid to rest in the ongoing saga of Air France Flight 447. This victim is neither Brazilian nor French. Among those whose remains were recently recovered and identified, Harpist Fatma Ceren Necipoglu was returned to Turkey on November 22, 2011, nearly two and a half years after the June 2009 crash of Air France Flight 447.

    When she went to the Rio Harp Festival to perform two recitals, she never expected to be returning as a memory.

    After a ceremony at Sisli’s Tesvikiye Mosque, Necipoglu was laid to rest. She was a 1999 graduate of the Department of Harp in Louisiana State University’s School of Music and piano and harp lecturer at the Anadolu University.

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    Flight Cancelled, Under Investigation

    What: Caribbean Airlines flight BW 62 en route from the Bahamas
    Where: Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, St. James.
    When: Dec 1, 2011
    Who: 79 passengers
    Why: The flight took off normally but had to divert back to the airport after developing problems. Some passengers were provided hotel accommodations. The connecting sector of flight BW 62 to Kingston was cancelled.

    The official statement was posted here.

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    One Fatality in Single Engine Crash, Oswego County NY

    What: Wittman W-10 Tailwind (Built by John R. Wing) practicing touch and go
    Where: Fulton, 1 mile SW of Oswego County Apt.- KFZY, NY
    When: Dec 1, 2011, 2:30 pm
    Who: pilot
    Why: After practicing touch and go the pilot crashed in a wooded area called Old Incinerator Hill, off Whitaker Road, near the line between Fulton and Volney, a mile sW of Oswego County Airport.

    Witnesses heard the engine sputtering before it went down in a heavily wooded area. Part of the wreckage was found fifteen feet up, in a tree.

    flight registration #N865JT

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    Singapore Flight Runway Excursion


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

    What: Singapore Airlines Boeing 747-400 freighter en route from Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, to Singapore
    Where: Singapore
    When: Dec 2nd 2011
    Why: The freighter flight was landing on runway two, but drove off the runway.

    The excursion caused the runway closure for more than an hour, although the plane did not require towing. There were no injuries.

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    United Airlines Emergency Landing in Wisconsin

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    What: United Airlines Michigan to Chicago
    Where: Green Bay
    When: Dec 1 2011
    Who: 21 passengers
    Why: After takeoff, the flight developed problems with the landing gear. Pilots diverted to Green Bay where they made a safe landing at Austin Straubel International Airport.

    Passengers were provided alternate flights from Green Bay.

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    Wizzair Wizzes off without the Engine Access Panel


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

    What: Wizzair Airbus A320-200 en route from Bucharest Romania to Milan Italy
    Where: Bucharest
    When: Nov 30th 2011
    Who: 157 passengers
    Why: We haven’t heard about falling parts in a while.

    The airbus was en route over Bucharest when an engine access panel fell off.

    Oops.

    The pilots returned to the airport within twenty minutes. I wonder where the access panel ended up. Who forgot to fasten it? Inquiring minds want to know these things. There’s more to this story than what we’ve seen.

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    American Airlines Emergency Landing (and Bankruptcy)

    What: American Airlines Boeing 767-200 flight from New York City to San Francisco
    Where: Buffalo Niagara International Airport
    When: Nov 27, 2011
    Who: 713 passengers
    Why: After having taken off from JFK, the flight developed smoke in the cockpit.

    Pilots diverted to Buffalo, where they made a safe landing. No injuries were reported.

    American Airlines routed another plane in to pick up the passengers. In the meantime, passengers were put up overnight in a hotel.

    On an unrelated note, the CEO of American Airlines, CEO Gerard Arpey, stepped down. After a meeting in NY on Monday, the company is filing Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Operations of the airline will continue as usual, and frequent fliers will not be affected. However, some jobs will be cut. American Eagle also filed for bankruptcy, delaying its spin off from American.

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    Flybe Emergency Landing in Pori, Finland


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

    What: Flybe Avion de Transport Regional ATR 72-500 en route from Vaasa Finland to Tallinn Estonia
    Where: Pori Airport, Finland
    When: Nov 28, 2011
    Who: 11 passengers
    Why: The Flybe flight was en route when the pilots discovered smoke in the cockpit.

    Pilots made an emergency landing. A replacement jet was sent to the town Pori.

    The source of the smoke was a faulty printer in the cockpit.

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    Gear Up Landing in Vegas

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    What: Cessna 230
    Where: Henderson Executive Airport, Nevada
    When: Nov 26, 2011
    Who: 2 aboard
    Why: The pilot of a Cessna 230 returned to the airport and made an emergency landing at Henderson Executive Airport when his landing gears did not come down. There were no injuries.

    Henderson Fire Department responded.

    In George’s Point of View

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    Cirrus Wreck Kills 4 in Rural Illinois

    What: Marion Flying Club Cirrus SR-20 en route from Marion Municipal Airport
    Where: CRYSTAL LAKE, Ill
    When: Nov 26, 2011 10:30am
    Who: 4 fatalities
    Why: The one-engine Cirrus SR-20 was flying in rainy, overcast conditions when it crashed in a soybean field on a farm unincorporated McHenry County, killing the four aboard the plane. Marion businessman Ray Harris and his daughters Ramie and Shey were killed in the crash, along with one of the girl’s boyfriends. On impact, the plane shattered into debris which was spread over 100 yards. The plane carries a parachute, which had been deployed but it was tangled in a tree, which may have contributed to the wreck.

    The pilot, Harris, had been flying one of his daughters back to Wheaton College.

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    Burning Odor Cancels American Airlines LAX to NY


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

    What: American Airlines Boeing 767-200 en route from Los Angeles,CA to New York JFK,NY
    Where: Los Angeles
    When: Nov 23rd 2011
    Who: 164 aboard
    Why: The LA to New York flight took off as usual but once in the air, passengers and crew smelled something burning.

    The pilots returned to LAX and made a safe landing.

    The incident is under investigation. No details as of yet.

    [nokia-maps template=”nokia.blue.place” sizes=”{‘width’: ‘auto’,’height’: ‘370’,’label’: ‘Auto’}” placeId=”8409q5c1-b748b4cd9f7f4e20aa8b2dc757e4644f” ]

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    Inebriated Passenger Attempts Exit During Afrika-Netherlands Flight

    What: KLM Boeing 777-200, registration PH-BQB en route from Johannesburg to Amsterdam
    Where: Amsterdam
    When: Nov 25th 2011
    Who: one passenger
    Why: While en route, a thirty-one year old male passenger believed to be under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol became unruly. After harassing other passengers, the passenger ignored warnings of the crew, attempted to open the plane’s emergency exit and cockpit. He was subdued, and on landing in Amsterdam, was handed over to military police.


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    Denver to Toronto Returns after “pop” and smoke


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Je89 W.

    What: United Airlines/Shuttle America Embraer ERJ-170 en route from Denver,CO to Toronto
    Where: Denver
    When: Nov 23rd 2011
    Who: 68 passenger
    Why: While climbing out of Denver, passengers and crew smelled smoke in the cabin.

    A newscast said that passengers heard a “pop” before the pilots turned around and returned to the Denver airport.

    They made a safe landing. Passengers disembarked on the runway and were provided an alternative flight.

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    Indian Pilots: One bad seed


    What: Air India Express en route from Cochin-Salalah
    Where: Salalah
    When: Nov 3, 2011 9:45
    Who: 87 passengers

    In George’s Point of View


    India has made noises in the press about cleaning house regarding some of the bad pilots that skated through a flawed and corrupt school and accrediting system.

    In this event, the pilot of an Air India Express COK-Salalah (Oman) flight, made three attempts to land. A cumulation of numerous small errors threatened passenger safety and defied standard operating procedures and included mis-entering data into the system.

    The pilot forced the B737 to land using “autoland” in high cross-winds.

    Wind speed on the ground was 25 knot (46 kmph) gusting to 35 knot (65 kmph.) Operating procedure allows landing when winds are no higher than 25 knots. The Boeing FCOM lists 35 knots as the max permissible crosswind landing component on a 45m wide. The pilot would have been correct to divert to another airport. There was adequate fuel to do so (if he had realized the numbers entered into the system were incorrect). Ground conditions were at the top of what Boeing allows and would be a challenge. Instead of diverting to Abu Dhabi, the pilot landed in defiance of safety norms.

    The pilot attempted to land twice, and then decided to divert. Having been entered with incorrect data, the FMC (Flight Management Computer) incorrectly concluded there was only six minutes of flight time left. This was incorrect, as the plane had 4.7 tons of fuel, more than enough to reach Abu Dhabi, 75 minutes away.

    On the pilot’s third attempt, the pilot autolanded (without having trained for autolanding.) It was a safe, if hard landing, and one that damaged the plane and nearly went off the runway. Two tires burst, and the landing gear was damaged.

    Maybe this pilot is a fool, or maybe just careless. The plane did land with no loss of life. You know they always say “the devil is in the details.” I don’t know verifiable particulars. We don’t have available first hand data to analyze, but Air India and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation does.

    But when we see evidence of problems like this, we wonder if India has gone far enough in raising the bar.

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    Indian Civil Aviation Official Meets with Mangalore Crash victims

    Vayalar Ravi, Indian Civil Aviation Minister met or called (on the 18th) victims of the Mangalore crash to discuss their compensation claims. A meeting on the 19th included representatives from the airline, the government and the insurance company.,

    The crash occurred in May of 2010, when the Dubai-Mangalore Air India Express jet overshot the runway, killing 158 people aboard.

    However other business was also being handled during the meetings.

    The outcome of the meetings has not yet been released.

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    American Airlines Lands over Fuel Pump Issues


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

    What: American Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-83 en route from Dallas Ft. Worth,TX to Pittsburgh,PA
    Where: near Dallas
    When: Nov 19th 2011
    Why: Just after take-off, the pilot switched the fuel supply from center fuel tank to main wing tanks and the right engine flamed out.

    Pilots returned to the airport and made a safe landing.

    Maintenance is investigating why operating pumps were working, yet failing to provide fuel to the right engine.

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    Flight School Cessna and Military Piper Collision In Argentina

    What: (Fuerza Aérea Argentina) Argentine Air Force Piper PA-A28-236 Dakota light aircraft
    Where: Mercedes Airport, Argentina
    When: 21-NOV-2011 09:45 LT
    Who: 2 fatalities
    Why: On approach to Mercedes Airport, an Argentine Air Force Piper PA-A28-236 Dakota collided with an aviation school Cessna 152.

    Both the flight school crew members in the Cessna 150 were killed in the crash. The Piper PA-28 landed safely. The two military personnel aboard the Piper survived.

    According to witness Boloni Eduardo, the Air Force plane cut the back of the Cessna with its propeller, causing it to fall

    Firefighters, police, ambulance, Air Force, and Civil Aviation Accident Investigation Board were on the scene. Mercedes is a public air field with no control tower.

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    Bird Strike over Panama


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

    What: Continental Airlines Boeing 737-900 en route from Panama City (Panama) to Newark,NJ
    Where: Panama City
    When: November 18, 2011
    Who: 176 aboard
    Why: After takeoff, while climbing out of Panama City, the Continental flight suffered a bird strike. After ingesting the bird, the left engine surged, and caught on fire. Pilots shut down the engine, and returned to Tocumen Airport where they made a safe landing.

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    No Terrorist but Chautauqua Pilot Kidnapped by Lav Door

    What: Chautauqua Embraer ERJ-145/Delta Airlines en route from Asheville,NC to New York
    Where: La Guardia airport, New York
    When: Nov 16th 2011
    Why: By now, everyone has probably heard about this:

    A captain who was locked in the airplane’s bathroom gave a passenger a security code to inform the co-pilot.

    But when the co-pilot heard the passenger’s heavy accent, he told ATC “the captain has disappeared in the back and I have someone with a big foreign accent trying to access the cockpit.” ATC urged him to land ASAP.

    The situation was resolved before the plane landed, and fortunately before the fighter jets were deployed.

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    Cirrus Crashes in Poland

    What: Cirrus
    Where: Katowice International Airport southern Poland
    When: Nov 13, 2011
    Who: 2 men and 2 women were aboard
    Why: After takeoff, the plane disappeared 4.3 miles from the airport.

    The wreckage was found in Zyglinie Forest at 8:20 pm. The four passengers all in their late forties and early fifties, died in the crash.

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    Poconé Crash Kills Brazilian Farmer Minutes from Airport

    What: Cessna 210
    Where: Poconé Municipal Airport, Brazil
    When: Nov 12 2011
    Who: 4 aboard, 4 fatalities
    Why: Twelve miles from the airport, the pilot apparently lost control and crashed. The plane took off at 5:12 pm, and crashed 12 km later in the Pantanal region of Mato Grosso.

    Martin Wagner, his son James, two mechanics named Dede and Alcindo died in the crash.

    Wagner, who is a local cattle farmer, was reported missing by his family, after which a search plane was sent out and did not locate them. The charred wreckage of the plane was located the next day after sunrise, only minutes from the airport. The owner of the plane died in the crash.