Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact Photographer Petr Popelar
What: Air India A319-100 en route from Mumbai to Kolkata
Where: near Aurangabad
When: Jul 11th 2009 7:08 pm
Who: 88 passengers 6 crew
Why: After takeoff, one engine failed, and the crew decided to return to Mumbai rather than fly without a backup engine. After three hours, the passengers were provided a replacement plane.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact Photographer Jacques Lienard
What: Air France Airbus A320-200 en route from Rome Fiumicino (Italy) to Paris
Where: en route
When: Jul 13th 2009
Who: n/a
Why: While en route, the Airbus A320 flew for a minute without speed indications;in fact, all data related indications, autopilot and autothrust systems went offline simultaneously. The Airbus had updated Thales pitot tubes, and was experiencing a “weather” situation. Thales tubes were the brand of pitot tube on Air France Flight 447, albeit an updated model.
George’s Point of View
More questions: is it the tubes alone which are faulty, or is it also the software? Why is there not a setting to automatically shift to Analog systems if digital fails?
Pictured: an American Eagle Jet
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact Photographer Jonathan Morgan
What: American Eagle Embraer ERJ-145 en route from Dallas to Dayton Ohio
Where: Dallas
When: Jul 11th 2009
Who: 43 passengers
Why: Just after takeoff, the flight experienced issues with hydraulics. The landing gear failed to extend. Nearly an hour after leaving, the flight landed safely at the airport of origin, although “alternate gear extension” implementation was required.
American Eagle is affiliated with American Airlines.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact Photographer Darren Wilson
What: Air Malta Airbus A320-200 en route from Malta to Amsterdam
Where: Malta
When: Jul 6th 2009
Who: 167 passengers
Why: The Air Malta Airbus A320-200 was en route when it experienced a problem with the nosegear and had to return to Malta where it did a flyby for air traffic control to get a look at the nosegear.
George’s Point of View
Not another Airbus…
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact Photographer Karl Nixon
What: Thomas Cook Airlines Airbus A330-200 en route from Belfast to Orlando
Where: Norfolk
When: Jul 10th 2009
Who: 265
Why: En route, an engine started vibrating and had to be shut down. The crew decided to divert to Norfolk,VA
George’s Point of View
Another Airbus.
Shutting down the engine is standard operating procedure, and at the same time, it is a near fatality because the pilot had to shut down that vibrating engine while the plane was still over the Atlantic Ocean, 60 miles from land. Can you imagine what was going through this Airbus pilot’s head as he made the decision to shut down that engine? No doubt he was thinking about last month’s two latest Airbus tragedies: Air France flight 447, or perhaps the Yemenia Airlines Airbus.
I know how overdramatic this sounds. Pilots shut down engines all of the time. it’s the very reason they fly with more than one. Just in case. Pilot training covers how to fly on the remaining engines. But this is just July 2009. Even the most well -trained Airbus pilot has last month’s story of Air France flight 447 in his mind, especially when he’s flying something that fails over the ocean.
This Thomas Cook Flight wasn’t experiencing a subtle problem. It wasn’t some subtle, quiet control panel error that could be handled as passengers flew along blissfully unaware and uninformed. In interviews of passengers, they are quoted as describing the engine as “vibrating” or “clackity.” No doubt there were 530 sweaty palms on that plane.
This was one of at least 5 airbus events we heard about today–and it is not in fact, even a complete listing. Hopefully at least the pilot gets serious credit for getting these people safely on the ground.
Who in the world is going to intercede and demand that Airbuses (every model) get checked from A-Z BEFORE they take off ‘in every part of the globe’? Vero?
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact Photographer Sean Mowatt
What: Turkish Airlines Airbus A340-300 en route from Istanbul Turkey to Casablanca, Morocco
Where: Ataturk Airport (Istanbul)
When: Jul 9th 2009
Who: 223 passengers
Why: The plane had an undisclosed problem and returned to the airport where it landed safely.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact Photographer Bill Shull
What: Jetblue A320 en route from New York to Fort Myers
Where: Fort Myers
When: Jul 10th 2009
Who: 153 occupants
Why: On approach to Fort Myers, the flight experienced turbulence that injured four passengers including a spinal fracture and broken ribs.
What: Northwest Flight Airbus 330 en route from San Francisco to Tokyo
Where: SFO
When: Thursday, 09 July 2009
Who: 194 passengers
Why: The flight took off without issues but developed a problem in one of its engines When the engine compressor failed, the flow of air to the engine was disrupted, and the flight had to return to the airport for a safe landing.
George’s Point of View
What a surprise, it’s another Airbus. An A330.
Thank God, the ending is a happy one.
Yemenia Air Airbus 310 flight 626 en route from Yemen’s capital Sanaa to the Comoros Islands crashed on the second pass to land at the ill-equipped airport during heavy weather.
Westlake Village, California (Press Release) July 8, 2009 — A lawyer has contacted George Hatcher to dispatch a team of his consultant staff to work on the Yemenia Air crash. The latest development in this recent aviation disaster is that the thirteen bodies found by fishermen 500 miles away from the Comoros Islands may be victims who have drifted from the Yemenia Airbus crash. On its second pass at attempting a landing at the airport during a fearsome storm off the Comoros, the Yemenia Airlines Airbus flew into the ocean, killing 141 passengers and 11 crew members. This is the second Airbus lost at sea in a single month, and the crash points to an ominous trend toward a lessening of safety in aviation. Bahia’s survival and thirteen hour ordeal clutching at floating debris while suffering a broken collarbone, and too weak to climb into the rescue boat is one that clutches at our heartstrings, especially when we find out that her mother died in the crash. Bahia was flown back to her family in Marseilles. But that is not the end of the story.
Almost half of the dead were French citizens; and French citizens are up in arms over Yemenia Air. Having failed required criteria, the Airbus involved in the incident was under scrutiny, and not allowed to fly in French airspace; but the plane was allowed to regularly fly to Comoros, a poor island society with an ill-equipped airport. There is culpability to be assigned here, though it is all speculation until the black boxes are found. A 40 year veteran of litigation investigation and evaluation (including aviation,) George Hatcher explains that he was contacted by a lawyer working, “on behalf of some families, and we have dispatched a team there to assist.”
The thirteen bodies that were just found washed ashore on “Mafia Island,” some 500 miles from the site of the crash. A wing with “Airbus” scribed on it, and a plane seat were found in close proximity to the bodies. However, the black boxes have NOT been found yet; and the vast distance that the wreckage traveled bodes ill for the prospects of finding them.
There is already a group organized to protest the substandard plane accommodations. Spokesperson Farid Solihi of the protest group “SOS voyage aux Comores” has been an outspoken detractor of intolerable conditions aboard flights to and from Comoros. Hopefully the Hatcher team will be able to make contact with Solihi or some other “SOS voyage aux Comores” member.
About George Hatcher
George Hatcher is an independent generalist, a consultant dedicated to the support of the victims of aviation incidents or accidents. Known internationally, Hatcher works with well known lawyers, and develops crack teams to help support litigation, communication, and safety initiatives. To read further about the company, visit http://aircrashconsultants.com
Contact: george@georgehatcher.com
Aviation Consultants
What: Saudi Arabian Airlines Airbus A300-600 en route from Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) to Khartoum
Where: Khartoum
When: Jul 7th 2009
Who: 310 passengers and 16 crew
Why: On approach, the crew reported problems with the braking system. The plane swerved while landing but no injuries or damage was reported.
What: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-300 en route from Baltimore to Providence
Where: BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport
When: Jul 7th 2009
Who: 135 on board
Why: On takeoff, the plane flew into a flock of birds. About 40 small birds were found on the runway after the incident. The plane landed shortly after the bird strike. The plane was sent to be examined; and another plane was provided about 5 hours later to resume the flight.
George’s Point of View
The birds are at it again.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact Photographer Alasdair Mulhern
What: Qantas Airbus A380-800 en route from Singapore to London
Where: London Heathrow
When: Jul 4th 2009
Why: The first approach was aborted due to a nose gear issue. After landing, nose gear steering failed, and the plane was towed. However, repairs were made so that on the return flight, the delay was only about two hours.
Pictured: A Kingfisher Airlines Airbus
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact Photographer Steve Brimley
What: Guwahati- Kolkata Kingfisher Airbus A320-200 en route from Guwahati to Kolkata
Where: NSC Bose International Airport (Kolkata Airport is also known as Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport)
When: Jul 7th 2009
Who: 117 passengers (alternately reported as 170)
Why: 125 km from landing at Kolkata, smoke was reported in the cabin coming from a galley. The plane landed safely and passengers debarked normally.
A newspaper report claims there was a false alarm from a cockpit indicator reporting a fire in the cargo belly. No plane registration number was given for either report, though, so it conceivably could have been sloppy reportage of two separate KingFisher Airbuses at the same airport.
Pictured: American Airlines MD-80
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact Photographer Andy P. Jung
What: American Airlines MD-80 Flight 1243 en route from Ft. Lauderdale to Dallas
Where: Lafayette’s Regional Airport
When: 11:35 a.m. Monday
Who: 151 on board
Why: In the cabin, passengers experienced smoke and fumes en route; the pilot diverted to Lafayette because of a suspected electrical problem.
Passengers were provided three options: ticket-exchange, rent a car for the rest of their trip or wait for the replacement MD-80.
Now that the beacons have been heard, French Navy Divers at Comoros have begun following up the search. On the 12th, their search will be assisted by underwater robotic technology.
Only one survivor was found, 12 year old Bahia Bakari; and she has gone back to France to her father. Her mother was killed in the crash, and Bahia sustained a broken collarbone.
The entire island is in mourning; plus there is some local disquiet because the plane that crash had been considered unfit to fly in French and European airspace, but was still allowed to fly to Comoros. (Even though the average income is $300 a year, they are not second class citizens.)
Pictured: Lufthansa A330
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact Photographer Gerhard F. Schmidt
What: Lufthansa A 330 en route from Frankfurt to Addis Ababa
Where: Frankfurt International Airport
When: Friday July 3
Who: not available
Why: After some technical fault was experienced, the plane made an emergency landing at Frankfurt; however on landing, the plane’s nose gear tires burst and caught on fire.
The incident was reported by News Yemen and since we only have one reference on this event, we are awaiting corroboration to verify that the incident is not being confused with the (July 3) Monarch Airlines Airbus A320-200 that was diverted to Munich after smoke was detected in the cabin, or the (July 2) Air One Airbus A320-200, flight AZ-2970 from Milan to Palermo that returned to Milan when smoke filled the cabin or the (July 2) Air Arabia Airbus A320-200 flight from Bangladesh to the United Arab Emirates that diverted to Kolkata with engine failure.
Pictured: Airbus similar to the one in the incident
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact Photographer Ruud Brinks
What: Air France Airbus A320-200 en route from Paris Orly to Toulouse
Where: Paris
When: Jul 3rd 2009
Who: not available
Why: Prior to takeoff, during engine acceleration, the left engine failed. The flight was cancelled, and a replacement aircraft was required.
No more details were available.
George’s Point of View
At least THIS one wasn’t the Pitot tubes.
View from an airbus similar to the one in the incident
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact Photographer Nitin Sarin
What: Air India Airbus A321-200 en route from Kochi to New Delhi
Where: Nagpur
When: Jul 3rd 2009
Who: 151 passengers and 6 crew
Why: When the engine shut down amid-flight, the plane diverted to Nagpur where it made an emergency landing without any known injuries. Technical details regarding the engine problem have not been released.
What: Aerolineas Argentinas Boeing 737-500 en route from Buenos Aires to Santa Cruz Bolivia
Where: Rosario Argentina
When: June 29
Who: 108 on board
Why: When the cabin filled with smoke, the plane was diverted to Argentina where it landed safely. Passengers debarked without further event.
What: An Air India Airbus A-320 en route from Delhi to Hyderabad to Tirupati
Where: Delhi
When: Jun 29th 2009 1141 hours
Who: 68 passengers, 6 crew
Why: Thirty minutes into the flight, the control panel indicated a hydraulic problem. The pilot requested to return to Delhi, where passengers debarked safely. Passengers were provided an alternate plane to complete their flight.
No further details were available about the hydraulic problem.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact Photographer Roger Oldfield
What: PIA Pakistan International Airlines Airbus A310-300 en route from Quetta to Karachi
Where: Pakistan
When: Jun 28th 2009 2:15 pm
Who: 166 passengers 12 crew
Why: While still over Quetta, the cockpit filled with smoke. One source reports the fire apparently reportedly began in the AC system. (again.) Another says an electrical problem sparked a small fire in the cockpit.
In any case, the crew requested an emergency landing, and landed safely. No injuries were reported. The passengers resumed their flight 3 hours later.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact Photographer Kyle Donagher
What: Scandinavian Airlines Airbus A330-300 en route from Newark to Copenhagen (Denmark), diverted to Bangor Maine
Where: Bangor Maine
When: Jun 27th 2009
Why: Less than an hour after takeoff, the Scandinavian Airbus filled with smoke and the crew was forced to request an emergency landing. The flight landed safely in Maine. No cause could be determined for the smoke, and three hours later, while in preparation for the rescheduled flight, the smoke reappeared, and the plane was grounded again.
update:After getting input from a passenger, we would like to note the following: “The cabin DID NOT fill with smoke… a circuit breaker blew out on one of the air circulation systems and it smelled like something might be burning.
Many thanks to shartkopf for the valuable input. Read the comments below for the full story.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact Photographer Sushank Gupta- Indian Aviation Photographers
What: Kingfisher Airbus A320-200 en route from Bagdogra to New Delhi (India)
Where: Baghdogra Airport
When: Jun 27th 2009 4:35pm
Who: 178 passengers and 6 crew (This number varies on different accounts of the incident)
Why: While taxing for takeoff, the Airbus was making a half turn when one wing stuck what is described as a “military bunker.” Damage to the wing caused the flight to be cancelled but there was no fuel leakage. The plane was taxied and passengers debarked.
Last year, a tractor hit a Kingfisher plane just prior to takeoff from Mumbai Airport.
George’s Point of View
Two words: Driving lessons.
Or an alternative two words: Traffic control.
It’s always refreshing to see an accident on the ground where no one is hurt.
However, one does wonder if this points to some underlying problem, either with training or airport design. (Camouflaged military bunker ON the runway? Excuse me? Whose idea was THAT? )
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact Photographer Ronald J Stella
What: US Airways Boeing 737-400 en route from Philadelphia to Tampa
Where: Tampa
When: Jun 27th 2009
Who: 138 passengers and 5 crew
Why: After a normal flight, on landing, both nose gear tires blew. Nose gear wheels and strut were damaged.
Passengers disembarked via roll-up stairs thru the back of the plane. No injuries were reported. It took 8 hours to clear the runway after the incident. Mechanics are looking at a landing gear problem as the cause of the incident.
Billy Mays was interviewed after debarking.
George’s Point of View
Maintenance, Maintenance, Maintenance! Or was it a fast landing?
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact Photographer Tommy Desmet
What: British Airways Airbus A319-100 en route from London Heathrow UK to Oslo Norway
Where: en route
When: Jun 27th 2009
Who: 70 passengers, 6 crew
Why: 40 minutes from London, the flight experienced a loss of cabin pressure, so they turned back and made a safe landing. British Airways rebooked the passengers for a flight Sunday and provided hotel accommodations.
