Cause

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    American Airlines Medical Emergency Diversion to Iqaluit

    What: American Airlines Boeing 777 en route from London to Los Angeles
    Where: Iqaluit
    When: Sept 4, 2012
    Who: 1 medical emergency
    Why: The flight was en route when one passenger developed a medical emergency. The flight made a safe landing and the passenger was taken to Qikiqtani General Hospital.

    After spending 4 hours on the tarmac with the passengers all aboard, the 777 had to be inspected (for the overweight landing) before it continued to Los Angeles

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    Piper Emergency Landing in Martha’s Vineyard

    What: Fly The Whale (Charter) twin-engine Piper Chieftain en route from Nantucket Memorial Airport to White Plains, New York airport
    Where: Martha’s Vineyard
    When: September 3, 2012 8:00 pm
    Who: 9 passengers
    Why: The flight was en route when a (possibly electrical) smell pervaded the cabin. The pilot made a precautionary landing at Martha’s vineyard. Passengers transferred to another Fly The Whale flight and continued on to New York.

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    Air New Zealand Makes Emergency Landing

    What: Air New Zealand Boeing 767 en route from Honolulu to Auckland
    Where: Auckland
    When: August 5, 2012
    Who: 230 passengers
    Why: When the landing gear light (which should indicate landing gear are in place) did not come on during approach, the pilot told Auckland ATC, and performed a flyby confirming the gear were down. The pilot went on to make a safe landing.

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    Firefighting Helicopter Crashes in Portugal

    What: Empresa de meios aereos Kamov Ka-32A11BC
    Where: Lagoa de Vale de Figueiras, Portugal
    When: Sept 3, 2012
    Who: 2 aboard
    Why: While filling a bucket during a firefighting expedition, a Air Media Company (EMA) chopper in Lagoa de Vale de Figueiras, Portugal went down.

    The two aboard were injured. There were no fatalities. The two firefighters have been hospitalized.

    The helicopter had been engaged in fighting the fire in Ourém which has been raging for 24 yours.

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    American Airlines Backs Miami Dolphins Charter Into a Parked MD80

    What: American Airlines Boeing B767 en route from Dallas to Miami.
    Where: Dallas TX
    When: August 30, 2012
    Who: no injuries
    Why: According to the FAA report, during Push-back for departure, the plane hit a parked MD80.

    Oops.

    No injuries were reported. THe plane involved happened to be the Miami Dolphins charter plane scheduled to return the Dophins to Miami. The team was provided a replacement jet and they returned to Miami at 7:30 a.m. the next morning.

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    Pia Emergency Landing


    What: Pakistan International Airlines ATR-42-500 en route from Islamabad to Lahore
    Where: Lahore
    When: August 31, 2012
    Who: 46 aboard
    Why: While landing in Lahore in heavy rain, the plane’s right main gear collapsed, and the plane ran off the runway.

    There were no injuries but the plane was damaged. Pia reported that the main gear collapsed and denied earlier reports of injury. No one was hospitalized.

    Passengers disembarked via stairs on the runway shoulder and were provided transportation to the gate.

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    Photographer and Pilots Lost on Mountain in East Taiwan


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Sung-Yang Tong

    What: Dapeng Airlines Britten-Norman BN-2B-26 Islander en route from Taipei to Taitung
    Where: Missing en route
    When: August 30, 2012
    Who: 3 aboard
    Why: After departing from Songshan Airport at 7:25, the plane with two pilots and a photographer (pilot Hsuey Chen-hao, co-pilot Chang Ming-chin and aerial photographer Chien Yu-hsin) was on an aerial photography flight conducting a survey. At 7:44 a.m., the pilot requested permission to switch from instrumental to visual flight. After 9:14 a.m there was no more contact with the plane, although it is supposed to check in every 15 minutes.

    Around 10:15, the National Rescue Command Center informed ATC that an ELT signal had been detected. At the time, visibility was up to 10 kilometers.

    A rescue chopper spotted the wreckage in the mountains at 1600 meters. Weather conditions forced the chopper to return.

    The 20 year old plane had an airworthiness certificate renewed last month.

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    Utah Compassion Flight Crashes, 2 fatalities

    What: Aero Med LLC AMD CH2000 Alarus
    Where: Nephi Utah
    When: August 30, 2012, 4 p.m.
    Who: 2 aboard, 2 fatalities
    Why: Returning to Nephi Municipal Airport, the plan crashed on approach at 4 p.m.. The two aboard died on impact. The impact area was in the area of highway 132. Weather may have been involved, as it was storming at the time. After impact, there was a fire.

    The fatalities were identified as Robert Marion Lamb, 45, of Utah County and Peter John Mrowiec, 58, of Ontario, Canada. Either one could have been flying.

    Robert Lamb, a flight instructor, had been aboard while Peter Morwiec was trying to earn five hours of flight training to fly the plane home. Mrowiec was intending to purchase the plane.

    According to Lamb’s wife who asked why he was going, since he wasn’t getting paid and didn’t know [Mrowiec]. he said, “If I was stranded and couldn’t get home, I would hope someone would help me.”

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    Horizon Air Loses Engine, Lands Safely in Seattle

    What: Horizon Air Dash 8 en route from Vancouver to Seattle
    Where: Seattle
    When: August 31, 2012
    Who: 80 aboard
    Why: While en route, the Horizon Air/Alaska Airlines flight developed engine trouble (it was running hot).

    The pilot shut down the affected engine and made a safe landing in Seattle. None of the 76 passengers or 4 crew were hurt.

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    Emergency Landing at Heathrow

    What: United Boeing 767-300 en route from London to Chicago
    Where: Heathrow
    When: Aug 27 2012
    Why: While en route, the jet developed engine problems. The engine was shut down, and the flight returned to London where pilots made a fast landing.

    Travel.aol.co.uk and www.dailymail.co.uk reported that “Chicago-bound plane had to be sprayed with water by firemen to cool the engine” but we tend to believe the fast landing/hot brakes angle. (Thank you Anonymous)

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    Air China Security Diversion

    What: Air China Boeing en route from Beijing to NY
    Where: Beijing
    When: August 29, 2012
    Why: Passengers aboard an Air China Flight were flown back to Beijing and told there was a “map display error or due to turbulence.” On landing, the captain told passengers there had been a threatening message. Passengers disembarked through security and were provided an alternative flight.

    Air China posted the following message:

    “Due to threatening information received about flight CA 981, to ensure the safety of passengers, this flight has returned to Beijing Capital International Airport.”

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    Vueling F16 escort in Holland

    What: Vueling Airbus A320-200 en route from Malaga to Amsterdam
    Where: Amsterdam
    When: Aug 29 2012
    Who: 183 passengers
    Why: While en route, the pilots of the Vueling Airbus lost contact with Dutch ATC.

    The lack of communication led the Airbus to be escorted by F16s to “establish visual contact with the crew.”

    On landing at Schiphol, the plane was isolated more than a mile from the terminal, with medical and security teams on hand, and a bus to transport passengers to the airport. Schiphol had already been evacuated after a World War II bomb which had been uncovered was scheduled for removal.

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    Jet Airways Emergency Landing

    What: Jet Airways en route from Milan to Delhi
    Where: Rajasansi Airport, Amritsar
    When: August 29, 2012
    Who: 1 fatality
    Why: Jasmeet Kaur, the three year old child whose family had moved to Italy from Kurukshetra in Haryana for her health, fell ill on a Jet Airways flight, leading the pilot to make an emergency landing, but she was pronounced dead on arrival to the Verka Bypass Hospital.

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    Emergency Landing in Hollywood


    What: KTLA EUROCOPTER AS350 helicopter
    Where: Hollywood Boulevard and Franklin Avenue.
    When: August 28, 2012 1:00 pm
    Who: pilot and passenger
    Why: When the helicopter started giving off blue and white smoke, the first to see it was the pilot of another helicopter.

    KTLA pilot Tim Lynn declared an emergency, then made a forced landing in a parking lot of the senior center at Hollywood Boulevard and Franklin Avenue.

    The incident was witnessed by SKY2 pilot Dan Catalano (who taught Lynn to fly heicopters.)

    The smoke came from an oil leak. Some newspapers report two aboard the helicopter but the FAA entry only reports the presence of the pilot.

    See Video Below

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    United Airlines Tuesday Glitch, Wednesday Weather

    According to Los Angeles flight crew, United’s system went down nationwide on Tuesday.

    Take-offs were delayed, and passengers were delayed at airports. 200 flights were delayed during the 2 1/2 hour outage. On Twitter, passengers complained Tuesday of long lines and other dissatisfaction and issues. Today, the United website is back, with a Weather Summary headline about Hurricane Isaac.

    “South – The core of Isaac’s impacts occur from the lower Mississippi Valley to southwestern Alabama and a very small portion of the western Florida Panhandle. Heavy rain and fresh water flooding are likely from Louisiana to western Alabama. Additional rainfall totals of 2 to 10 inches with high spots near 15 inches are likely through tonight. Sustained winds of 25 to 55 mph with gusts to hurricane force are possible across eastern Louisiana and southern Mississippi through this afternoon. A gradual slackening of the wind is expected tonight as Isaac continues to weaken slowly. Persistent onshore flow throughout eastern Louisiana, southern Mississippi, southern Alabama and the western Florida Panhandle keeps the storm surge high today. The water rise in eastern Louisiana, including Lake Pontchartrain should continue to be 3 to 10 feet today. Slow recession of the storm surge begins later today and tonight as Isaac pushes farther inland. The tornado threat is highest in eastern Louisiana, southern Mississippi and southwest Alabama. Other shower and thunderstorm activity caused by the combination of Isaac’s moisture and a weakening cold front is expected across the Southeast. Occasional showers and thundershowers are still possible in Florida.

    Northeast – It will be mainly sunny and dry for most areas today. More cloudiness and a stray shower or thunderstorm is expected in southern sections of Virginia. Temperatures will be close to late August averages today. High temperatures reach the 60s and 70s in New York and New England. Slightly warmer temperatures with highs in the 70s and 80s from Pennsylvania and New Jersey to the Virginias.

    Midwest – The majority of the region will be dry, sunny, and hot today. There is a slight chance of a shower or thunderstorm across the western Dakotas late this afternoon or early this evening. Temperatures run up to 25 degrees above average across the Plains and Mississippi Valley. A few areas of South Dakota and Nebraska could reach 110 degrees this afternoon.

    West – Dry conditions dominate most of the region again today. Scattered thunderstorms are most likely in the Four Corners states and southern Wyoming. Stray thunderstorms are possible in southern Arizona and southeastern California. Stray showers could move through western Washington.”

    SRC: http://www.united.com/web/en-US/apps/travel/weather/todaysOperations.aspx

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    Philippine Airlines Bird Strike

    What: Philippine Airlines Airbus 320 en route from Manila to Tacloban
    Where: Tacloban Airport
    When: August 28, 2012, 6:49 a.m.
    Who: 94 aboard
    Why: On landing at Tacloban, the plane flew through a flock of ducks, several of which were ingested. Pilots made a safe landing.

    The return flight was supposed to be at 7:30 a.m. but it was cancelled as the plane was inspected for damage.

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    Southwest Airlines Reno Flight Diverted Due to Smoke

    What: Southwest Airlines Boeing en route from Oakland to Reno
    Where: Oakland
    When: August 28, 2012
    Who: 119 passengers
    Why: Southwest Flight 2899 took off but moments later at about 9:30 a.m., a flight attendant smelled smoke.

    Pilots diverted the flight back to Oakland and made a safe landing. Fire and rescue crews were on standby.

    In George’s Point of View


    You have heard this before, but…
    Maintenance! Maintenance! Maintenance!

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    Southwest SF to Denver Emergency Landing

    What: Southwest Airways Boeing 737 en route from San Francisco to Denver
    Where: Oakland
    When: August 28, 2012 7:48 a.m.
    Who: 143 passengers
    Why: The flight made an emergency landing at Oakland due to cabin pressurization problems. Fire and rescue crews were on standby.

    Passengers were provided another flight which arrived in Denver two hours late.

    In George’s Point of View


    Maintenance! Maintenance! Maintenance!

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    VIRGIN Australia Emergency Landing

    What: VIRGIN Australia Boeing en route from Brisbane to Los Angeles
    Where: Los Angeles
    When: August 27, 2012
    Who: 416 passengers
    Why: The flight made an emergency landing in LA when it developed problems with its landing gear.

    Emergency services were on standby during the landing. Fortunately, pilots made a safe landing with no injuries reported.

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    SAS Emergency Landing


    What: Scandinavian Airlines Boeing 737-683 en route from Stockholm to Umeå
    Where: Sweden
    When: August 26, 2012
    Who: 120 passengers, 5 crew
    Why: After take-off, the plane was hit by lightning.

    Pilots returned to the airport and made a safe landing. Passengers transferred to another plane, while the original was inspected.

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    Delta Atlanta-Manchester Flight Returns to Atlanta

    What: Delta Airlines Boeing 767-300ER en route from Atlanta to
    Where: Atlanta
    When: August 25, 2012
    Who: 180 aboard
    Why: After take-off, the plane developed problems with the leading-edge slats, which could not be retracted. Pilots returned to Atlanta where the flight maintained for 3.5 hours at 10,000ft, dumped and burn-off fuel.

    At 23:10, the flight made a slats-but-no-flaps landing, after which passengers disembarked. There were no injuries. Passengers were provided an alternative flight.

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    BA Stowaway Dies in Landing Gear Bay

    What: British Airways Boeing 747-400 en route from Cape Town to London
    Where: London
    When: Aug 23rd 2012
    Who: 1 fatality
    Why: It has not been released whether the stowaway found in the plane’s landing gear bay died from exposure or lack of oxygen. Temperatures at 30,000 feet are between -40 and -50ºC. The body was found by crew at Heathrow and is presumed to be the trespasser who evaded pursuers in the Cape Town International Airport. Police were called at 6.25am when the body was found.

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    Solemont Crash May be Lightning Strike, 4 Swiss Killed

    What: Happy Lines Pilatus PC-12/45 en route from Antwerp to Switzerland
    Where: Solemont, France
    When: August 24, 2012
    Who: 4 aboard, 4 fatalities
    Why: Eye witnesses say that the Pilatus was en route Friday night when it was struck by lightning. Forty minutes after the plane had sent out a distress call, emergency services found the wreck. Debris from the plane is scattered over a wide area.

    Those on the plane included the pilot, aged 57, a woman passenger aged 20, and two men aged 36 and 51. All the remains have not been found and identified, although family members have been informed.

    The accident is under investigation, and no specific cause has been released. Heavy rain was falling at the time of the crash, and there was low visibility. The four aboard the plane were from Switzerland. Late Friday, the Minister of Economy and Finance and managing director of the city of Montbéliard, Pierre Moscovici, expressed his “emotion” and “deep sympathy” towards victims.

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    Flats on the Runway

    What: Air Corsica Avion de Transport Regional ATR-72-500 en route from Ajaccio to Nice
    Where: Côte d’Azur
    When: August 25, 2012
    Why: Firefighters immediately arrived, the passengers disembarked and were transported by bus to the terminal.

    Apparently the airport had no tow bar for the ATR, blocking the runway; and another runway had to be closed due to a lightning strike. 4km visibility, wind 360 ° at 22 18knts gusts, heavy rain.

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