Carrier

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    Smokey Airbus A300 Makes Safe Landing in Kuwait


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Pise – Roma Spotters Club

    What: Kuwait Airways Airbus A300-600 en route from Kuwait City (Kuwait) to Dhaka (Bangladesh)
    Where: Kuwait
    When: Nov 10th 2010
    Who: 226 passengers and 12 crew
    Why: Just after takeoff, smoke was reported in the cabin. The plane returned to the airport and made a safe landing.

    Passengers evacuated using emergency slides. Several passengers and a crew member were injured during evacuation.

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    Jetlite Diverts due to Engine trouble.


    Pictured: An eleven year old JetLite Boeing 737-81Q
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Vinish DSouza

    What: Jetlite Boeing 737-800 en route from Port Blair to Delhi
    Where: NSC Bose international airport in Kolkata
    When: 2.55 pm
    Who: 187 passengers
    Why: While en route, the Jetlite plane developed problems with its right engine, and diverted to the NSC Bose International Airport. The plane made a safe landing.

    Jetlite defined the problem as “technical trouble” and said that the plane was being repaired in a parking bay.

    * Kolkata was a scheduled stop. Passengers who were planning to continue on to Delhi were booked on other planes.

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    MD-88 Flight aborted in Hartford


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

    What: Delta Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-88 en route from Hartford,CT to Atlanta,GA
    Where: Bradley International Airport, Hartford
    When: Nov 10 2010, 8:00 am
    Why: The Delta flight was on the runway and aborted the takeoff. While on the runway, the plane experienced problems with the left engine and was able to taxi to the terminal under its own steam.

    Passengers were rebooked.

    The specific problem with the engine has not been made public.

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    Cayman Airways Bird Strike


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

    What: Cayman Airways Boeing 737-300 en route from Tampa,FL to Grand Cayman Island
    Where: Tampa
    When: Nov 8th 2010, 3 pm
    Who: Cayman Airways Captain Perry Panton, and Captain Leon Missick
    Why: Taking off from Tampa, the plane suffered a bird strike in the right engine. The crew returned to Tampa and made a safe landing. The plane suffered minor damage, and was taken out of service. Passengers were rerouted.

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    Bird Strike over Dodger Stadium


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

    What: Horizon Air de Havilland Dash 8-400/Alaska Airlines en route from Redding CA to Los Angeles CA
    Where: Los Angeles
    When: Nov 8th 2010
    Who: 73 passengers
    (Another report alleges there were 39 passengers.)
    Why: On approach to LA, crew members reported that a bird struck the right wing.

    The plane landed safely at the airport at about 2 pm Monday. Damage assessment on the fuel tank and the right wing is forthcoming, but initially, it appears to be substantial.

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    Southwest Airlines and AirTran Holdings Each Receive Antitrust Second Request

    DALLAS, Tex. and ORLANDO, Fla., Nov. 9, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ —
    Southwest Airlines Co. and AirTran Holdings, Inc. announced today that each received a request yesterday for additional information from the Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) in connection with Southwest’s previously announced proposed acquisition of AirTran. This action, often referred to as a “second request,” is a common part of the regulatory approval process under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act. Both parties are in the process of gathering information to respond to the second request and will continue to work cooperatively with the DOJ as it reviews the transaction. Completion of the transaction remains subject to the approval of AirTran stockholders, receipt of DOJ and any other necessary clearances, and fulfillment of customary closing conditions. While a definitive closing date cannot yet be determined, Southwest and AirTran maintain their expectation that the transaction will close in the first half of 2011.

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    Jazz Air Reschedules Flight

    What: Jazz Air/Air Canada CRJ en route from Washington to Montreal
    Where: Reagan National Airport, Washington
    When: Nov 9 2010, 10:45 am
    Who: 12 passengers, 3 crew
    Why: After takeoff, an odor developed in the rear cabin. The crew returned the plane to Washington as a precautionary measure. It seems a light and air vent unit was the source of the odor.

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    Drunk Delta Pilot Heads to UK Court

    What: Delta Boeing 737 London to Detroit
    Where: London
    When: Nov 1
    Who: 213 passengers plus pilot George LaPerle
    Why: Scotland Yard took Delta pilot George LaPerle from his plane.

    He was so drunk…(how drunk was he? Five times the pilots legal limit, that’s how drunk.) He was so drunk, he thought his Detroit flight was bound for New York. With him at the controls, he wouldn’t have gotten out of Heathrow much less across the Atlantic.

    LaPerle is suspended by Delta and will be going to court in the UK on Nov 16. Let’s hope for his sake he shows up sober, and already on his ten step plan.

    Filing this one under “pilot error.”

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    UPS/Pilots Sign Agreements on Safety and Security

    LOUISVILLE, Ky., Nov. 4, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — United Parcel Service and the Independent Pilots Association, the collective bargaining unit for its 2,800 pilots, today signed a memorandum of understanding that establishes joint UPS/IPA Safety and Security Task Forces. Both will be made up of six members, three named by each party.
    “This agreement reaffirms our common objective of efficiently and effectively operating the UPS airline with safety and security as our twin priorities and guiding principles. We appreciate the company efforts in reaching this agreement,” said IPA President Captain Robert Thrush.

    The Safety Task Force will address the following issues: Emergency Vision Assurance System (EVAS); full face oxygen masks; comprehensive fire mitigation and suppression systems; checklists procedures for smoke and fire; and the carriage of lithium batteries and other fire/smoke hazards.

    “UPS and IPA acknowledge that the air cargo/express package industry faces unique threats in the era of global terrorism. We also recognize the key role our pilots can play in the mitigation and management of these threats both from the flight deck and by working together to improve cargo security and screening,” said Captain Thrush.

    The Security Task Force will address the following issues: communication and coordination within/between UPS, affected crewmembers, and the IPA; air cargo security procedures; threat procedures; improved access to security directives; perimeter security; and background checks for those who have access to UPS aircraft.

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    Smoke Diverts AirTran Flight


    Pictured: An AirTran Boeing 717 en route out of Memphis
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Hartsfield Photography

    What: AirTran Airways Boeing 717 en route from New Orleans to Milwaukee
    Where: Memphis Tennessee
    When: Nov 6, 2010
    Who65 passengers
    Why: While en route, the plane developed smoke in the cabin. The flight diverted to Memphis where passengers were provided an alternative flight.

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    Ural Airbus Overruns Iced Runway


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

    What: Ural Airlines Airbus A321-200 en route from Dubai (United Arab Emirates) to Ekaterinburg (Russia)
    Where: Ekaterinburg
    When: Nov 6 2010 at 4:25
    Who: 143 passengers and 8 crew
    Why: While landing at Ekaterinburg while the runway was covered in ice, and although ATC informed the “that the runway condition was good and permitted a safe landing,” the plane did not respond to proper braking and overran the runway.

    Russian investigators are investigating.

    George’s Point of View

    Apparently Russian airport crews don’t bother to salt, plow or otherwise make their runways more safe. Or maybe this was just a particularly lazy crew.

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    Qantas Flight Suffers Rolls Royce Engine Rupture


    video capture of damaged Rolls Royce engine

    What: Qantas Airbus A380-842 en route from Singapore (Singapore) to Sydney,NS
    Where: Singapore
    When: Nov 4th 2010
    Who: 440 passengers and 26 crew
    Why: After taking off from Singapore, over Batam the engine exploded and began emitting smoke. The airplane took off at 9:57L, about 4 minutes later abnormal engine #2 indications occurred and the engine shut down at 10:01L. Debris fell in a district called Dutamas, including the Qantas logo, and a turbine falling through a house. The pilot dumped fuel and returned to make a safe landing in Singapore.

    The Trent 900 engine has been subject to an EASA Airworthiness Directive. Maintenance determined that “the intermediate pressure turbine disk of engine #2 failed” and are checking for the directive’s warning (intermediate pressure shaft coupling splines requiring inspection for excessive wear) but they believe the engine failure is unrelated to the Directive.

    The parts that fell in Batam have been quarantined. Australian accident investigators have downloaded the CVR and FDR. The Australian Transportation Safety Board preliminary report deadline is Dec 3 2010.

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    On Qantas 90th Anniversary, Grounds Planes Pending investigation

    What: Qantas Airways Ltd. Boeing 747 plane with Rolls-Royce Group PLC engines Friday made an emergency landing at Singapore’s Changi airport with flames and sparks flying out of the engine. 412 passengers 3 flight crew and 16 cabin crew

    What: Qantas Airbus A380, bound for Sydney, had to return to Singapore after one of its four Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engine 2 suffered a midair explosion, caught fire , causing damage to the aircraft’s wing and leaving a debris trail.

    Two Qantas engines failing. One Boeing. One Airbus. BOTH Rolls Royce engines.

    Qantas published this press release:

    Major Disruptions
    Latest Update on Qantas Operations
    Information last updated on 6 November 2010 at 3.30pm AEDT.
    Qantas has made updates to its scheduled services on Saturday 6 November and Sunday 7 November due to the grounding of its Airbus A380 fleet.
    Qantas services are scheduled as follows:
    Today’s QF31 service (Sydney-Singapore), normally operated by an A380, will operate on an alternative aircraft, departing Sydney at 5:30pm local time. QF31 Singapore-London will operate on a British Airways aircraft.

    QF11 (Sydney-Los Angeles) will now depart at 10:15pm on November 6.

    QF8006 (Singapore-Sydney) will now depart at 7:00am local time on 7 November.

    QF5 (Sydney-Singapore-Frankfurt) scheduled to depart on 6 November will now depart at 8:25am local time on 7 November.

    QF21 (Sydney-Tokyo) scheduled to depart on 6 November will now depart at 9:30am local time on 7 November.
    Qantas is contacting customers regarding these flight changes and regular updates will be made available on qantas.com.

    Qantas has done everything possible to assist customers in Singapore who have been provided with overnight accommodation and meals.

    Customers in Los Angeles affected by Qantas’ suspension of A380 operations have also been accommodated, while arrangements are made to get them on flights to Australia as soon as possible.

    Qantas continues to work closely with Rolls-Royce and Airbus to carry out maintenance checks on its fleet.

    Qantas, the second-largest buyer of the giant plane, has grounded its fleet of six A380s until checks are completed on their Rolls-Royce made Trent 900 engines. Qantas has Rolls-Royce RB211-524G-T engines on its Boeing 747.

    The engineering union accuses Qantas of sending maintenance off-shore leading to a drop in quality.

    Qantas blames the design of Rolls-Royce engines, not maintenance. 92 % of the maintenance of their planes is performed in Australia, with 5,500 engineers.

    A passenger aboard the flight filmed smoke pouring out of the engine-

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    Belly Landing in Puerto Vallarta


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

    What: Global Air Boeing 737-200 en route from from Mexico City to Puerto Vallarta
    Where: Puerto Vallarta
    When: Nov 4th 2010 1 p.m.
    Who: 99 passengers and 5 crew
    Why: While on approach to Puerto Vallarta, the plane’s nose gear would not extend, in spite of several flybys where the tower verified the nose gear was not extended.

    The plane eventually made a belly landing on foam with emergency services on standby. Pilot Jorge Luz Campos landed the plane with no injuries.

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    Emergency landing in India


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

    What: Delta Airlines Airbus A330-200, en route from Amsterdam to Mumbai
    Where: Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport
    When: Nov 4 2010
    Who: 244 passengers
    Why: There are two versions: a call alerted authorities, or a suspicious object was found on the flight. Whatever happened, in any case, the plane made an emergency landing. Passengers were evacuated and a bomb squad searched the plane. Passengers luggage was also searched.

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    Cuban Flight Crashes; All aboard are Lost


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

    What: Aerocaribbean ATR-72-500 en route from Santiago to Havana
    Where: Guasimal, Sancti Spiritus Cuba
    When: Nov 4 2010
    Who: with 61 passengers and 7 crew
    Why: The last flight to leave Santiago before the airport closed due to tropical storm Tomas disappeared from radio contact at 5:42 pm while over Guasimal not far from the Zaza Reservoir. The crew made an emergency call at 5:42. 40 cubans were aboard and 28 non-cubans (9 Argentinian, 7 Mexican, 3 Dutch, 1 French, 2 German, 2 Austrian, 1 Italian, 1 Spanish, 1 Venezuelan, and 1 Japanese).

    A hospital worker said “The plane made several abrupt movements before crashing to the ground.” Rescuers hiked in through thick vegetation (using bulldozers to get through the vegetation to find the plane shattered and in flames and no survivors.

    Tropical storm Tomas developed into a hurricane. Cuba declared a state of alert.

    The ongoing investigation has not ruled that weather is the definitive factor because the storm had not reached Cuba at the time of the crash.

    Cuban state airline Cubana de Aviacion owns Aerocaribbean. The flight normally flies twice a week from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, to Santiago de Cuba to Havana

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    Jetstar Airbus A330-200 Autopilot Fails


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

    What: Jetstar Airways Airbus A330-200 en route from Phuket (Thailand) to Sydney,NS
    Where: Changi Airport, Singapore
    When: Nov 1 2010
    Who: 288 passengers
    Why: While en route, the autopilot failed. The pilots diverted to Singapore where they made a safe landing with emergency services on standby.

    Alternative arrangements have been made for the affected passengers, who were booked onto other flights and offered accommodation in Singapore.

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    Lionair Overrun in Indonesia


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

    What: Lionair Boeing 737-400 en route from Jakarta to Pontianak
    Where: West Kalimantan, Indonesia
    When: Nov 2 2010
    Who: 167 passengers, 7 crew
    Why: While landing at Pontianak’s Supadio Airport during a heavy rain, the plane overran the end of the runway. Its nose and main undercarriage collapsed and it stopped mired in a field beyond the end of the runway. There were no injuries.

    A passenger reported that the plane shook (or vibrated) about a quarter of an hour before landing; and no announcements were made by the pilot or crew during the vibration, or during the landing. The airline said no announcement was made because the seatbelt light was on.

    Passengers panicked and evacuated through an emergency exit. Military personnel at the airport assisted.

    Where were the crew while terrified passengers were jumping off the plane?

    They are saying the plane’s inability to stop was not due to weather, a wet runway, that the plane was well maintained and that it was a normal landing. So. If this is all true, why did it overrun?

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    Zurich Bird Strike


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

    What: Swiss International Airlines Airbus A321 en route from Zurich to London
    Where: Zurich
    When: Oct 31st 2010
    Who: 194 passengers
    Why: After takeoff, the plane suffered a bird strike.

    The pilot returned to Zurich where they made a safe landing. The plane was taken out of service to be inspected for damage, and passengers were provided alternative transportation. No description of the amount of damage or the unfortunate bird has been provided.

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    Delta Africa Flight Cut Short in NY


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

    What: Delta Airlines Boeing 767-300 en route from New York JFK,NY to Accra
    Where: over the Atlantic
    When: Oct 29 2010
    Why: While en route 300 miles out of New York, the plane developed an internal leak in the right engine, and smoke collected in the cabin.

    The pilot descended to a lower altitude and made a safe landing at JFK with rescue services on standby. Passengers did not disembark for nearly two hours.

    Maintenance determined that the oil leak or smoke from an oil leak got into the air conditioning.

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    Turkey: Galley Smokes Cabin


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

    What: Azerbaijan Airlines Boeing 757-200 en route from Istanbul Turkey to Baku Azerbaijan
    Where: Istanbul
    When: October 30
    Who: 221 aboard
    Why: After takeoff, the cabin filled with smoke coming from a galley oven.

    The plane returned to the Istanbul airport and made a safe landing. No replacement was provided. The plane received maintenance, and continued some hours later.

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    Suspicious Packages on UPS and Fed Ex Cargo Flights

    What: UPS flight
    Where: East Midlands
    When: Oct 29 2010
    Why: A suspicious package on a UPS cargo flight (a toner cartridge with wires attached and a white powder) has raised the US Transportation Security Administration to order UPS flights searched for suspicious cargo. Officials indicate that tests on the device came back negative for explosives.

    Fed Ex Statement
    Yemen Shipment Embargo
    In cooperation with the FBI, local authorities have confiscated a suspicious package at the FedEx facility in Dubai. The shipment originated in Yemen and as an additional safety measure, FedEx has embargoed all shipments originating from Yemen. The Company is cooperating fully with the authorities on this matter; any additional information regarding this matter must come from the FBI.

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    Kochi: Air Arabia Bird Strike


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

    What: Air Arabia Airbus A320-200 en route from Kochi to Sharjah
    Where: Cochin International Airport
    When: October 29, 2010 8:15 pm
    Who: 154 passengers, 6 crew
    Why: After takeoff, the flight suffered a problem, and according to officials a bird strike “was not ruled out”. It took fifteen minutes to return to the airport to make a safe landing after the bird strike.

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    Turkish Airlines: Hard landing in Brussels


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

      What: Turkish Airlines Airbus A340-300 en from Istanbul Turkey to Brussels Belgium
      Where: Brussels
      When: Oct 24 2010
      Why: The flight had a hard landing in Brussels, when the nose gear failed to make ground contact and the right wing lifted enough that the left engine scraped the runway. The plane was removed from service for repairs due to damage.