Carrier

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    Shandong Airlines Emergency Landing


    Pictured: A Shandong Airlines – SDA Boeing 737-8AL in Kunming – Wujiaba (KMG / ZPPP) China, June 30, 2010
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer AnHz

    What: Shandong Airlines flight SC4981 en route from Xiamen in Fujian Province to Jinan in Shandong Province
    Where: Linyi Airport
    When: July 19 2010
    Who: 163 passengers and 10 crew
    Why: During a violent thunder and lightening storm, pilots noticed cracks in the outer pane of the cockpit windshield and diverted to Linyi airport. Passengers disembarked safely, and the airport provided hot water and VIP waiting room services until they were able to transfer to another plane at 10.

    A passenger claimed the plane’s window was damaged by a lightning strike, which is denied by airport officials. The cockpit window was replaced although the cause of breakage was unclear. Cabin pressure was not affected.

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    China Southern 737 Loses Air Pressure

    What: China Southern Boeing 737-300 en route from Kunming to Zhengzhou
    Where: en route
    When: Jul 17th 2010
    Who: 130 passengers
    Why: After takeoff and reaching cruise level, cabin pressure was lost. Oxygen masks were deployed, and the flight returned to Kunming where it made a safe landing. Twenty passengers were hospitalized with ear pain.

    A replacement flight was provided six hours later.

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    All Nippon Airways Fuel Leak

    What: ANA All Nippon Airways Boeing 777-300 en route from London to Tokyo
    Where: en route (halfway)
    When: Jul 20th 2010
    Who: 249 passengers and 17 crew
    Why: While en route, about halfway to their destination, the pilot detected one engine burning fuel faster. The crew d to continued on to Tokyo, eventually shutting down the left engine prior to making a safe landing.

    Maintenance did discover a fuel pipe leak.

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    Air Canada Fire Discovered AFTER Flight


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

    What: Air Canada Jazz de Havilland Dash 8-300 en route from Kelowna,BC to Vancouver,BC
    Where: Vancouver
    When: Jul 19th 2010
    Who: 52 people aboard
    Why: After making a safe landing at Vancouver, the Vancouver ground crew discovered evidence of a small fire and a fluid leak. Maintenance discovered a fuel line perforation, where the wiring harness abraded it, causing arcing and a small fire and a loose, leaking oil line fitting.

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    Air India cataloguing yellow metal/gold of Mangalore crash victims

    July 15, 2010
    The Angels of Air India have handed over identified personal items of the victims to the families as provided by M/s. Kenyon International, the agency appointed by Air India to identify the personal effects recovered from the crash site.

    The unassociated / unidentified items including yellow metal/gold recovered from the crash site by the police have been handed over to Air India. The catalogue for the same is under preparation by M/s Kenyon International. Once the catalogue is ready, the families of the victims will be contacted and requested to provide the details of yellow metal/gold items so that they can be matched with the catalogue. After proper identification, the same will be handed over to the families concerned in the presence of the police and Custom authorities. Air India would also request members of the Mangalore Air Crash Victims Families Association to help in identification of the yellow metal/gold items.

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    Turkish Airlines Drops Parts on Runway


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

    What: Turkish Airlines Boeing 737-800 en route from Istanbul Ataturk to Vienna
    Where: Turkey
    When: Jul 18th 2010
    Why: The Turkish Airlines Boeing took off successfully, but a subsequent plane lining up for takeoff reported parts on the runway.

    The parts turned out to be the engine cowling around the thrust reverser from the Turkish Airlines Boeing. The Boeing returned to Istanbul and made a safe landing. An alternative (Airbus) is being flown in as a replacement.

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    Turkish Airlines Birdstrike at JFK


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

    What: Turkish Airlines Boeing 777-300 en route from Istanbul to New York
    Where: New York
    When: Jul 14th 2010
    Why: On approach to JFK, the Turkish Airlines Boeing encountered a bird. The flight made a safe landing although it incurred slat damage that will cause a delay in the return flight.

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    Turkish Airline Cautionary Landing in Istanbul


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

    What: Turkish Airlines Boeing 737-800 en route from Istanbul to Birmingham England
    Where: Sliven Bulgaria
    When: July 18 2010
    Who: 83 passengers
    Why: This Turkish Airlines flight developed a problem with the plane’s right engine, and had to divert to Istanbul. Passengers disembarked after a safe landing, and were provided an alternative flight on another Boeing that was flown in especially to replace the disabled plane.

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    Airbus Engine Failure in Sumatra


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

    What: Batavia Airbus A320-200 en route from Pekanbaru to Jakarta Indonesia
    Where: Pekanbaru, Sumatra
    When: Jul 15th 2010
    Who: 179 passengers and 7 crew
    Why: While en route, the left engine emitted several big bangs. The engine was shut down and the crew returned to Pekanbaru Sumatra where they circled to burn off fuel before making a safe landing. 42 passengers returned their tickets, and the rest, held over because of a “night curfew”, were provided hotel accommodations and flew out on an alternative flight the next day.

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    GoAir Birdstrike


    Pictured: A GoAir Airbus A320-214
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Nisarg Vyas

    What: Go Air Airbus A320-200 en route from Indore to New Delhi
    Where: en route
    When: Jul 17th 2010
    Who: 134 passengers and 6 crew
    Why: While en route, the Go Air Airbus encountered a bird. The plane returned to Indore and made a safe landing. Mechanical damage occurred to the plane, although it is not noted exactly where, or if the bird was ingested in the engine.

    The flight was cancelled and passengers were rebooked.

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    Aardvark Strike


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

    What: South African Express Airways de Havilland Dash 8-300 en route from Johannesburg to Kimberly (South Africa),
    Where: Kimberly (South Africa)
    When: Jul 16th 2010
    Why: On landing, the nose gear of the plane struck an aardvark on the runway, damaging the nose gear. There’s no indication of the aardvark’s condition.

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    Flight Attendant Injured in Clear Air Turbulence.

    What: Delta Airlines Boeing 767-300 en route from Guam to Tokyo
    Where: Tokyo
    When: Jul 15th 2010
    Who: 192 passengers and 10 crew
    Why: While en route, the plane encountered turbulence over the Atlantic.
    A flight attendant was injured between Guam and Tokyo, about 100 minutes before landing in Tokyo. The plane made a safe landing in Tokyo


    Satellite photo of area annotated by A.H.

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    Air India Express compliance in key areas reviewed by DGCA

    Air India Express compliance in key areas viz. Operations, Maintenance, Safety, Security and Commercial were reviewed in a meeting convened by the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in Delhi, recently. Dr. Nasim Zaidi, DGCA, Mr. Arvind Jadhav, Chairman & Managing Director, Air India Express and officials from DGCA and Air India Express attended the meeting.

    DGCA highlighted certain issues relating to positioning of officers in Operations, Safety and Training areas, Pilots on the regular roll of Air India Express, Flight dispatch, Crew rostering and monitoring of their Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL), Internal auditors, pre-flight medical, requirement of more mechanics etc. during the meeting.

    Air India Express has already acted upon these issues viz. issuance of office order for appointment of the Chief of Operations, order to have the pilots deputed to Air India Express to continue for a period of five years, deployment of the trainee pilots, under training now, on Boeing 737s, Computerization and automation of the Crew rostering system & FDTL monitoring, ensuring implementation of regulations with regard to Pre-flight medical, recruitment of additional mechanics from Defence etc.

    Memorandum of Understanding already exists between NACIL and Air India Express regarding Flight Dispatch, Ramp and Traffic Handling.

    The Chief Operating Officer, NACIL will soon issue Standard Operating Procedures including strict compliance with training schedule on monsoon and ALAR tool kit, regulations on special precautions during take-offs and landings, 100% FOQA, Crew Resource Management & optimal use of First Officers, strict implementation of regulations on simulation of unsafe situation during training, strict adherence to approach parameters and Voluntary safety reporting system.

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    China Flight Bomb Scare

    What: China Southern Airlines en route from Urumqi to Guangzhou
    Where: Zhongchuan Airport
    When: July 14, 2010
    Who: 93 passengers and 18 crew
    Why: While en route, the crew received a warning that there was a bomb aboard. The flight diverted to Zhongchuan Airport where the passengers disembarked. No bomb was found.

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    American Airlines Precautionary Landing in Amarillo a False Alarm

    What: American Airlines Boeing 777 cargo plane en route from Alaska to Dallas
    Where: Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport.
    When: July 13 2010 7 pm
    Who: 21 crew
    Why: While en route, the plane’s fire indication light indicated there was a cargo fire. The pilot landed at the closest airport (Amarillo.) The crew disembarked on landing. After inspection by firefighters, the fire was deemed a false alarm, and the flight continued on to Dallas.

    Earlier this week another American Airlines flight (N777AN) had a cargo fire indication during a demanding transcontinental flight; however, that plane was configured and operating as a passenger plane.

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    Air North Boeing Loses Electrics Over CA


    Pictured: An Air North Boeing 737-2X6C/Adv
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Todd Martin

    What: Air North Boeing 737-200 en route from from Vancouver to Whitehorse
    Where: over Canada
    When: Jul 12th 2010
    Why: About 200 miles N of Vancouver, the plane lost electrical power, although maintaining radio contact. The pilot returned to Vancouver where the plane made a safe landing after burning off fuel.

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    Gulf Air Encounters Turbulence


    Pictured: A Gulf Air Airbus A330-243 over London
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Michael eaton

    What: Gulf Air Airbus 330 en route from Bahrain to the Philippines
    Where: en route over Vietnam
    When: July 12, 2010
    Who: ten injured: seven passengers and three cabin crew
    Why: While en route, the plane encountered what the crew described as “air pockets,” resulting in turbulence that jolted the plane. Some individuals were tossed out of their seats; others suffered contusions. Those injured were hospitalized on landing in the Philippines.

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    American Airlines Cautionary Landing in Wyoming


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

    What: American Airlines Boeing 767-300 en route from San Francisco to New York
    Where: Casper Wyoming
    When: Jul 12th 2010
    Who: 193 passengers, 9 crew
    Why: While en route, the flight developed a smokey odor in the cockpit. The pilot decided to divert to Casper Wyoming. In Casper, when American Airlines found the source of the fumes to be a computer screen, maintenance dealt with the problem, and the plane was allowed to continue with its passengers to the destination.

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    Cargo Fire on American Airlines flight diverts to remote air station


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

    What: American Airlines Boeing 777-200 en route from Dallas to Tokyo
    Where: Bering Sea
    When: Jul 11th 201
    Who: 211 aboard
    Why: While en route, the plane received an indicator of a cargo fire. The pilot diverted to Shemya Island where they made a safe landing on Eareckson Air Station in the Alaskan Aleutian Islands.


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    Air France Bomb Threat on Rio/Paris Flight


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

    What: Air France Boeing 747-400 en route from Rio de Janeiro to Paris
    Where: Atlantic
    When: July 10, 2010
    Who: 405 passengers and 18 crew
    Why: While en route, the crew was radioed that a woman had called Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport with information about a bomb aboard the flight. The flight diverted to Recife Brazil and made an emergency landing. Passengers immediately disembarked and were searched. The plane and baggage were inspected for bombs and explosives. Nothing was found.

    The airline reports that they will provide hotel accommodations for passengers. When (if) the plane is cleared, it will be allowed to continue.

    The Air France Flight 447 designation has been suspended since the Air France Airbus crashed on June 1 2009. This flight was designated AF 443.

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    Alitalia Falling Parts in Mineola


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

    What: Alitalia Boeing 767-300 en route from Rome to New York
    Where: New York
    When: Jul 3rd 2010
    Why: While on an otherwise uneventful flight, the plane’s (1′ X 2′) access door disengaged and fell around 4 pm at the Nassau County Courthouse in Mineola,NY.

    Individuals at Nassau County Courthouse retrieved the access door after witnessing it strike the ground. Alitalia discovered the door missing after landing in NY.

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    Early Stowaway Gets Free Ride to Hospital


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

    What: Lufthansa Airbus A340-600 en route from Frankfurt/Main to Denver
    Where: Winnipeg
    When: Jul 5 2010
    Who: 1 baby 7 weeks early
    Why: While en route from Frankfurt to Denver, one of the passengers decided to arrive ahead of schedule. The flight diverted to Winnipeg, but not before Denver resident Heather Randle of Denver delivered on board. Thankfully three doctors and a nurse were also aboard and able to attend. Mother and child were taken to Winnipeg hospital. The infant, Trudence Sophia Randle, is being held in a neonatal intensive care. The father was traveling separately.

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    Burning Electrics Odor causes Alaska Airlines Diversion


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

    What: Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-800 en route from Las Vegas to Portland
    Where: Klamath Falls
    When: Jul 8 2010
    Who: 136 passengers
    Why: While en route, the passenger cabin developed a burning smell. The flight diverted to Klamath Falls where they made a safe landing. A replacement jet was provided for the passengers.

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    Technical Difficulty: Specific Answers imprisoned in “the vague”


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

    What: Cityjet Avro RJ-85/Air France en route from Edinburgh to Paris
    Where: Birmingham UK
    When: Jul 8th 2010
    Why: While en route, the Air France flight developed “technical problems” and diverted to Birmingham where it made a safe landing. Passengers were provided alternative flights.

    Avro (1963) was taken over by Hawker Siddely, and later merged with British Aircraft Corp and Scottish Aviation (1977) , which was succeeded by British Aerospace( 1999) , and then succeeded by BAE Systems.

    George’s Point of View

    Technical issues? In this day and time, it seems to me that “technical issues” is an inadequate description of a problem. These have all been lumped at one time under “technical issues”:

    • Polish air force Tupolev 154 that crashed during an attempted landing in Smolensk, Russia, on April 10, 2010. 96 killed
    • Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 that took off in Beirut, caught fire and crashed into the Mediterranean on Jan. 25, 2010. 90 killed
    • Yemenia Airways Airbus A310 that crashed into the Indian Ocean on approach to Moroni, on June 30, 2009. 152 killed
    • Air France Airbus A330 en route from Rio de Janeiro to Paris that crashed into the Atlantic Ocean on June 1, 2009. 228 killed
    • Turkish Airlines Boeing 737 that crashed shy of Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport runway on Feb. 25, 2009 9 killed (135 aboard)

    A cursory announcement of a problem should be specific.

    Was it a problem with an indicator? an alarm system? a physical problem? a communication problem? loss of control? overheating? leaks? maintenance?

    The only way design issues can be caught ahead of the disaster is if full disclosure of the exact problem is noted publicly, and cross-checked with all other incidents and problem reports. If Air France or Cityjet Avro wants to present details, I would be delighted to present them in this forum here.

    Air France—like all carriers—needs to practice full disclosure. If the cause is unknown, then it is multiplicatively more important to disclose the exact issue so that the problem can recorded, cross checked, and be tracked down. Maybe if there were less secrecy and more open communication in the field of aviation safety, the 575 lost in recent crashes would still be here.