What: VivaAerobus Boeing 737-300 en route from San Jose Cabo to Monterrey
Where: San Jose Cabo
When: Aug 21st 2011
Why: On takeoff, flight systems indicated there was a cargo fire.
The flight returned to San Jose Cabo where it made a safe landing. Examination proved there was no fire, and the flight was delayed, but continued on to Monterrey.
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Contact photographer Vik S
What: American Eagle Canadair CRJ-700 en route from Washington National to Chicago
Where: Washington
When: Aug 22nd 2011
Why: After takeoff, smoke was observed coming from the right engine, and a fuel leak was observed from the right wing.
The crew diverted to Washington International and made a safe landing.
What: Sayanian Cedar Antonov 2 en route fron Petropavlovka to Toora-Kem
Where: Tuva, Russia
When: August 22, 2011
Who: 9 aboard, 1 fatality
Why: The Antonov 2 owned by a logging company made a hard landing in the Todzhi district of Tuva. The plane was on the way to Toora-Kem when it ended up on the island near the Choigan-Hol Lake.
Passengers were reported to be fishermen en route to fishing sites. One passenger was killed in the crash. A Mi-8 chopper with a 3-person rescue crew was sent to the area.
The injured were transported to area hospitals.
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Contact photographer Gilbert Hechema
What: First Air Boeing 737-210C en route from Yellow Knife to Resolute
Where: near Resolute Airport, Nunavut, Canada
When: August 20, 2011
Who: 4 crew, 11 passengers, 12 fatalities
Why: On approach to Resolute Bay Airport, the plane impacted the hillside. The wreckage was found five miles from the airport.
Three survivors were recovered. There were twelve fatalities, including the entire crew. Two survivors (a seven year old and a 48 year old) were taken to Ottawa hospital, and the third (a 23 year old woman) is reported to be stable at Qikiqtani General Hospital in Iqaluit where all of the survivors were originally taken. Two forensic teams are on the scene (one to identify the bodies, and one for accident investigation), and the black boxes have been recovered.
The weather at the time of the crash was he weather was rainy with a low cloud ceiling, and reported to be patchy fog. A mock rescue military exercise was going on with 700 military personnel when the crash was reported. They responded to the crash with helicopters and medical personnel. Eleven RCMP personnel were also part of the rescue unit. The senior administrative officer, Ralph Alexander, said it wasn’t foggy enough in Resolute at the time of the crash to have caused the accident, and that planes landed there in worse visibility. However there have been reports of locals hearing the impact but not seeing anything because of dense fog. The charred wreckage is in three parts with smaller plane parts and remains scattered.
The crash site is less than two kilometres west of Resolute, a small tight-knit community with many individuals directly affected by the twelve fatalities.
The passenger manifest has not yet been made public but the owner of South Camp Inn, Aziz (Ozzie) Kheraj, reportedly lost a granddaughter on the crash, and one survived.
First Air held a news conference at in Kanata, Ontario on Sunday at 11 a.m. ET.
Transport Canada issued the following release:
At approximately 12:30 EST, First Air Flight 6560 from Yellowknife to Resolute Bay crashed on approach to Resolute Bay. There were 15 passengers on board. At this time, 12 people are thought to be dead and three injured. Our thoughts go out to those affected by this tragic accident.
Transport Canada has appointed a Minister’s Observer, who will keep TC informed of the investigation’s progress. We will cooperate fully with the Transportation Safety Board who is currently on site investigating this accident.
The Canadian Armed Forces are in Resolute Bay for Exercise Operation Nanook 2011 and are responding in support of emergency operations to the situation.
Contacts:
Media Relations
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055
First Air published this:
On Sunday August 21, 2011, First Air Vice President of Marketing and Sales, Chris Ferris, made the following statement to the media from the First Air Head Office in Kanata:
As you are aware, yesterday at 12:40pm First Air experienced a tragic loss of
charter flight 6560. We are deeply saddened by this tragedy and offer our sincere condolences to the families.
The details we have at this time are as follows: a First Air Boeing 737-200 combi travelling from Yellowknife to Resolute Bay, went down 5 miles from the airport. The flight was carrying 11 passengers and four crew. There were 12 fatalities including all four crew members.
Our first priority has been contacting and looking after the families of passengers and crew. Out of respect for the passengers, our crew, and their families, we are not releasing any names or passenger details.
The three injured passengers were Medivac’d to Iqaluit for further treatment last evening. Two of the three passengers have since been moved to Ottawa, while the third remains in Iqaluit in stable condition.
At this time the cause of the accident is unknown. The Transportation Safety Board is conducting their investigation and First Air is cooperating fully.
Our thoughts and focus are with the families and friends of the passengers and crew; and the community of Resolute Bay. Field teams including counsellors, have been deployed to provide support in Resolute Bay, Yellowknife and other main stations in our network.
We would like to thank the Canadian Military whose on-site presence and immediate response was instrumental in the rescue efforts.
We will be providing further updates as they become available.
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Contact photographer Sebastian Lukasiewicz
What: Onur Air Airbus A321-200 en route from Manchester to Cyprus
Where: Germany
When: Aug 20 2011
Why: The airbus was a source of concern when it lost communication for a quarter of an hour while over Germany, during which time a sonic boom was heard.
The two fighter jet “escorts” were the probable source of the sonic boom which disturbed residents’ peace of mind.
Communications were restored and the flight continued to Cyprus as scheduled.
What: US Airways en route from New York
Where: Charlotte-Douglas International Airport
When: Aug 18, 2011
Who: 183 passengers, 5 crew
Why: While en route, the crew declared an emergency.
Passengers and crew were affected by fumes that spread from the cabin to the cockpit. The fumes aboard the flight seemed to be worse in the back of the plane. In addition to the odor, passengers felt confused and dizzy, and some had chest pains, and had to use on board oxygen masks. It was described as “a very unpleasant odor.”
The flight diverted to Charlotte and made a safe landing. Maintenance inspected the plane, the third such incident in Charlotte in two weeks.
Five people aboard the flight were hospitalized.
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Contact photographer Fred Seggie
What: Thomson Boeing 767-300, en route from Manchester to to Punta Cana Dominican Republic
Where: Bermuda
When: Occurred:Nov 5th 2010
Sentenced: Aug 19th 2011
Who: 45 year old British Citizen
Why: While Charity worker Carol Close’s flight had been delayed for 30 hours in Manchester with technical problems, the depressed woman passed the time by drinking beer and two mixed drinks. Probably not a good idea.
Six hours into the November 5, 2010 flight, the woman attacked her husband and other individuals aboard the flight. Her husband moved to another seat to get away from her, and Close then bit and kicked a flight attendant (or two) who attempted to restrain her. Then she started yelling.
The captain diverted to Bermuda where Carol Close was arrested.
On Aug 19th 2011, Close pleaded guilty to “two charges of assault and one of affray.”
British Court sentenced her to a suspended 6-months jail term, £2700 British Pounds. (£200 compensation to cabin crew, plus £2,476 to Bermuda Police)
AHM (Airplane Health Management) is Boeing’s software system that monitors, collects and analyses aircraft data for maintenance. Japan Airlines has ordered AHM in 35 787 Boeings ordered. The system will also be running on its 777s.
The system transmits in-flight info to ground services for diagnosis and operational decisions.
Airplane Health Management prognostics uses real-time airplane data to provide enhanced fault forwarding, troubleshooting and historical fix information to reduce schedule interruptions and increase maintenance and operational efficiency. It delivers valuable information when and where it’s needed. When an airplane arrives at the gate, maintenance crews can be ready with the parts and information to quickly make any necessary repairs. AHM also enables operators to identify recurring faults and trends, allowing airlines to proactively plan future maintenance. The primary benefit provided by AHM is the opportunity to substantially reduce schedule interruption costs such as delays, cancellations, air turnbacks, and diversions.
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Contact Pise – Roma Spotters Club
What: Windjet Airbus A320-200 en route from Catania to Milan Italy
Where: Catania
When: Aug 16 2011
Who: 164 passengers
Why: While en route, the crew discovered the plane was unresponsive to certain controls.
The crew returned to the airport and made a safe landing.
A replacement jet was provided for the passengers.
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Contact photographer André Du-pont
What: VivaAerobus Boeing 737-300 en route from Monterrey to Las Vegas, NV
Where: Las Vegas
When: Aug 17 2011
Why: More than half an hour prior to landing, the left engine began banging and vibrating.
The crew shut down the engine, and continued on to land in Las Vegas minus the engine.
The crew made a safe landing. No indication was made if the flight ingested a bird or if there was an other mechanical problem.
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Contact photographer Andrew Compolo
What: Continental Airlines Boeing 737-800 en route from Port of Spain ,Trinidad/Tobago to Houston,TX
Where: Port of Spain
When: Aug 16 2011
Who: 155 passengers and 6 crew
Why: After takeoff, the crew noted an indication that a door was open.
The flight crew elected to return to the airport where they made a safe landing.
The door was closed, and the flight took off again and continued normally, arriving several hours late, but safely.
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Contact photographer Makila
What: Changhe CA109 (Agusta A109) Police helicopter
Where: Beijing China
When: August 17, 2011
Who: 4 aboard missing, 1 rescued
Why: In Beijing, five crew members were in a police helicopter returning from a drill when it crashed into a reservoir. One crew member was rescued.
The drill occurred in a mountainous region of Miyun County that ended at 9:12 a m.
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Contact photographer Jonathan Rankin
What: Eagle Air/Air New Zealand Beech 1900D en route from Wellington to Palmerston North
Where: New Zealand
When: Aug 15th 2011
Who: 16 passengers and 2 crew
Why: While en route, the plane was struck by lightning.
The right winglet began smoldering after being struck. The flight crew returned to Wellington where they made a safe landing.
Russi Mody who ran Air India in 1993 resigned because his grand plan for Air India was strangled by red-tape and government intervention. Mody’s famous last words condemn Air India’s “lack of talent and the complete absence of an incentive and accountability culture. There is no punishment, no reward, no participation and the horse and the donkey are treated alike.”
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
It looks like the Air India tradition is continuing. Air India has booted out Chairman and Managing Director Arvind Jadhav, and booted in Rohit Nandan. Jadhav had only been there since May 2009, his tenure lasting a year before and after the May 22 Air India Express Flight 812 crash in Mangalore, where the plane touched down 300 feet past the touch down zone on a “tabletop” runway which demands a very precise approach. One might say that Air India Express Flight 812 did not make a precise approach.
Hopefully Rohit Nandan will be able to assist Air India to straighten out its troubled finances, with debt over 42570 crore, and losses of 22,000 crore. They say he’s there for damage control, because the damage has already happened.
Air India paid its April and May wages on June 28 and incentive pay has yet to be paid. The Indian government is infusing money into the airline (currently a 5,000 bailout with more to come.)
Nandan is hoping to turn around the airline and make it profitable, with the government’s help.
We’re skeptical, but we hope he can fix things, because we’re concerned for the victims of the Mangalore crash back in May 22 2010.
The Kerala High Court upheld the rules of the Montreal Convention, and directed Air India to pay 75 lakhs as compensation to the families victim of that crash, but the airline has not abided by the directive and is considering a fight in court.
I know that no one has gotten anything yet; but families should know that in most cases the value of the case is much higher than 75 lakhs, pursuant to Tier II of the Montreal Treaty. I’m not a lawyer but I know how it works from experience over the many years I have been working with wrongful death cases, and based on the experience my aviation experts have graciously passed on to me. If you can prove provable damages then Tier II (referred to in Article 21(2) of the Montreal Convention) Air India Express is liable to families/passengers for all personal injury or wrongful death damages exceeding 100,000 Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), unless the carrier(s) can prove that the injuries or deaths were not due to the negligence or other wrongful act or omission of the carrier or it servants or agents. OR the injuries or deaths were solely due to the negligence or other wrongful act or omission of a third party.
My guess is that the carrier will never prove this and the burden of proof is on them. If I am correct, and know the experts who have taught me, are correct…
Air India Express is liable to the victims families for all damages under the applicable law, including but not limited to, pain & suffering of your loved one prior to death.
They are liable for pain and suffering of the survivors and heirs of the victims.
Air India Express is liable for the loss of support, i.e., money.
Air India is liable for the loss and enjoyment of life of the victim.
I could go on but I will stop here, and caution the families to please be very careful. Don’t give up all that you may have coming in return for even a payment of the 75 lakhs that at this point, the company is appealing. If they actually get around to offering it to you, to get it, it means you have to give up all your rights to future claims.
This is not a cold corporate issue. These are families involved, the struggling families of the 158 people killed aboard the death-bound Mangalore Air India Express Flight. Families struggling now to make ends meet, and dealing with the loss of fathers, mothers, children. Let us hope these once broken homes are not twice made victims by being taken advantage of, instead of getting the support that anyone with a heart knows they deserve.
Air India’s lack of talent lost a whole lot more than money. It lost 158 lives, and seems to be doing its best to destroy the families, first with the crash, now by neglect, and maybe soon by legislation. The families are now floundering for a year in grief, wrestling to keep their head above water, while corporate heads are pinching pennies, playing corporate musical chairs, and playing a blame game over disastrous policies. They deserve better.
What: Webjet Boeing 737 en route from Belo Horizonte to Sao Paulo
Where: Belo Horizonte
When: Aug 10, 2011
Who: 108 passengers
Why: After takeoff, the pilots received indications of problems with the right engine.
Passengers reported hearing noise from the engine, which jarred the plane.
Pilots shut down the engine and diverted back to Belo Horizonte where they made a safe landing. There is no indication if it was a bird strike or some other type of mechanical problem.
What: Batavia Boeing 737-400 en route from Jakarta to Pekanbaru
Where: Pekanbaru Airport
When: Aug 15 2011
Why: On landing at Pekanbaru, the plane blew out its tires.
Hard landing? Fast landing? We do not know. We do know the plane had to be towed off the runway. Injuries were not reported.
What: Pia flight en route from Multan to Islamabad
Where: Rawalpindi airport in Pakistan
When: August 12, 2011
Who: Eight injured, 300+ aboard
Why: While en route from Multan to Islamabad, the flight encountered bad weather, and made an emergency landing in Rawalpindi.
One person was seriously injured.
We will update with further details.
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Contact photographer Mauricio Rocco Silva Sato
What: AeroSur Boeing 737-400 en route from Santa Cruz to La Paz Bolivia
Where: La Paz
When: Aug 10th 2011
Who: 147 passengers, 6 crew
Why: On landing in La Paz, the right main gear tire blew out.
Emergency services responded to the disabled plane stranded on the runway. Damage included a hydraulic leak. The plane was towed to the gate.
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Contact photographer Pieter-Jan Van De Vijver
What: Lufthansa Airbus A319-100 en route from Frankfurt/Main to Hamburg
Where: Frankfurt
When: Aug 10th 2011
Why: After takeoff from Frankfort, the right engine made an explosive noise.
The flight crew shut down the engine and diverted back to Frankfurt where they made a safe landing. No indication if fuel was dumped or emergency crew on standby. The problem has been initially attributed to either a fuel or air intake issue.
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Contact photographer Stefan Sonnenberg
What: Delta Airlines Douglas DC-9-50 en route from Atlanta to Pittsburgh
Where: Atlanta o
When: Aug 6th 2011
Why: On takeoff approach, the right engine made a banging noise, leading the pilots to reject takeoff, and stop on the runway, with locked up brakes and an uncontained engine failure (holes in the casing) and a disengaged fan blade. Passengers disembarked on to the runway and were ported to the terminal.
What: American Airlines Boeing 737-800 en route from Miami to Washington
Where: Charleston SC
When: August 9, 2011
Who: 152 passengers, six injuries
Why: After encountering turbulence over Florida, the pilots diverted to Charleston. Two flight attendants and one passenger were injured by turbulence, plus several others were hospitalized.
Diversion delayed the flight as mechanics examined the problems aboard the plane.
Pictured: A KNAAPO Antonov An-12BP like the one that crashed
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Contact photographer Vala
What: Avis Amur AN12 AN-12 en route from Magadan to Keperveyem
Where: Magadan
When: Aug 9th 2011
Who: 11 crew
Why: While en route, the plane developed an engine fire and radioed that they would be returning to Magadan. The fire is being attributed to a fuel leak. The flight crashed on the way back, disappearing from radar. Fog and adverse weather prevented rescue teams from being able to fly in. The 9 crew and 2 attendants have been reported missing. The plane was carrying 16 tons of food.
The cargo plane was being leased from KnAAPO. Rescuers took a ground route to the area of the crash. The emergency beacon went off 10 kilometers from the Omsukchan village. No survivors were found.
Avis-Amur is being investigated for a maintenance of safety violations, and there may be criminal charges pending.
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Contact photographer Pavel Azernikov
What: PT Nyaman Air Bell 412 Chopper chartered by PT Nusa Halmahera Minerals en route from Manado Sulawesi Island in Indonesia to the Gosowong Mine
Where: Manado, Bitung, North Sulawesi
When: August 2, 2011, 2:30
Who: 10 aboard, (8 employees and 2 flight crew)
Why: The helicopter PK-FUG flown by pilot Edi Purnomo crashed into Mount Dua Saudara while en route. Nine aboard died in the crash, including two Australians, two South Africans and four Indonesians were passengers on the flight. The crew were Indonesian.
The flight was missing initially. Foggy weather hampered the search until it was finally found at 2 a m August 3, with one survivor, who died en route to the hospital. Work has been suspended at Newcrest’s Gosowong gold mine in North Sulawesi, Indonesia.
The chopper took off at 4:26 a.m. and lost contact with ATC shortly after takeoff.
The chipper was a joint venture between Australia’s Newcrest Mining and Indonesian company Aneka Tambang.
Contact information for the families:
Callers from Australia – 1800 267 616 Callers from PNG – 0008 661 164 Callers from Indonesia
o Landline – +62 21 7884 6956 ext 4005
o Mobile – +62 816 237002 Callers from other countries
o Landline – +61 3 9522 5562 o Mobile – +61 419 654 092
So basically, the families have waited a year for the Air Blue Interim report, on the July 28 flight from Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport to Benazir Bhutto International Airport and still have no satisfactory answers.
What: IrAero Antonov An-24RV en route from Chita to Blagoveshchensk
Where: Blagoveshchensk Airport, Russia
When: August 08, 2011
Who: 35 passengers, 5 crew, 10+ injuries
Why: On approach to Blagoveshchensk airport, the plane encountered rough weather and overshot the runway.
The plane encountered wind shear on approach, injuring ten passengers. The plane lost a wing in the landing, and the fuselage was damaged, coming to rest 200 meters from the runway. Three children were aboard.
A passenger said (loosely quoted) “We were sitting closer to the wing. As soon as the plane touched the ground, it started to shake. Panic among the passengers, nobody knew what was happening. I heard children crying. When the plane finally stopped, I breathed a sigh of relief. Thank God, still alive!”
