Cause

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    On taxi, wings of Nigerian Airforce C-130 and Arik Airlines Collide, No injury

    What: Nigerian Airforce C-130
    Where: Jos, Nigeria
    When: July 14, 2012
    Who: no injuries
    Why: The jet was about to take off when “An Arik Airline Boeing 737-700 with registration No 5NMJI on a routine flight to Lagos brushed the wing of a parked Nigerian Air Force C-130 (NAF 917) at the Yakubu Gowon Airport.”

    The tank 1 wing tip of the NAF C-130 was damaged. The wing of the Arik aircraft was dismembered.

    The announcement was made by Wing Commander A. Makun, Deputy Director, Directorate of Airforce information.

    The Air Force Jet was about to fly Airforce Military School and Airforce Girls Military School both in the Plateau State capital from Jos to Lagos. The flight was canceled.

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    3 Americans Lost in Plane crash at Castellet Airport, France

    What: Universal Jet Aviation Grumman G-1159 Gulfstream IV
    Where: Le Castellet Airport, France
    When: July 13, 2012
    Who: 3 aboard, 3 fatalities
    Why: On the ferry flight from Nice-Côte d’Azur Airport to Le Castellet, after the pilot reported problems, on landing, the airplane skidded and overshot the end of the runway. The three victims were two men aged 24 and 61, and a 30 year old woman. All three—two pilots and a flight attendant—were U.S. citizens.

    The airplane broke in two. The front part came to rest in a small pond; the rear part of the fuselage came to rest among trees. A photo from the crash scene shows the thrust reversers were deployed.

    Witnesses reported a large cloud of smoke and flames emerging from the plane. 57 firefighters, EMS personnel, police and rescue teams from the airport responded to the scene.
    Universal Jet Aviation operates out of Boca Raton, Fl.

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    Hollywood CA-LA flight Diverts to Miami

    What: American Airlines Boeing 737-800 en route from Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles
    Where: Miami
    When: July 12 2012
    Who: 143 passengers 6 crew
    Why: After taking off from Fort Lauderdale, the flight experienced problems (cabin pressure) and diverted to Miami International airport.

    There was some delay while the problem was resolved (either cabin pressure or a faulty indicator) and after an hour and a half on the ground, the flight continued. The flight, that normally lands in Los Angeles around 11 PDT, is anticipated to arrive around 3 PDT.

    http://flightaware.com/live/flight/AAL1585/history/20120712/1500Z/KMIA/KLAX

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    Instruction Flight Crashes in El Salvador

    What: Dárdano Aeroservicios Piper PA-30-160 Twin Comanche B
    Where: Soyapango El Salvador
    When: July 11, 2012
    Who: 3 aboard, 3 fatalities
    Why: After takeoff, the plane fell into a riverbed canyon. Three people died in the crash, pilot instructor Jose Miguel Avalos and his two students, Jose Antonio Martinez and Rodrigo Calles.

    One died at the scene and two died at the hospital.

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    Turbulence Over Miami

    What: American Airlines Boeing 757 en route from Aruba to Miami
    Where: Miami
    When: July 10, 2012
    Who: 185 passengers, 6 crew, 12 injured
    Why: While en route thirty minutes from landing, the flight encountered some turbulence. Fifteen seconds worth of turbulence was enough to knock people around. People were knocked out of their seats, and at least one person hit the ceiling. Some of the injured were treated at the airport and some at a Miami hospital.

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    Delta Diverts to Cedar Rapids with Engine Trouble


    What: Delta en route from Minneapolis to St Louis
    Where: Eastern Iowa Airport
    When: July 11, 2012, 6 pm
    Who: 150 aboard
    Why: The Delta flight was en route from Minneapolis to St Louis when it lost an engine. Pilots diverted to Cedar Rapids Iowa and made a safe landing.

    Johnson and Linn County fire crews were reported as first responders. No injuries were reported.

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    US Airways Charlotte-Rome Diverts for Fumes


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

    What: US Airways Airbus A330-300 en route from Charlotte to Rome
    Where: Philadelphia
    When: July 10, 2012, 10:00 pm
    Who: 176 passengers, 12 crew, 5 crew ill
    Why: While en route, a number of US Airways flight crew became sick from smelling an odor. The pilot diverted to Philadelphia where they made a safe landing. Passengers were provided an alternative flight.

    The flight crew was hospitalized. The fumes that made them ill have not been identified.

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    Search Continues for Pilot and Crew Missing in Papua New Guinea


    What: Hevilift Bell 206
    Where: Mt Hagen in the PNG Southern Highlands.
    When: July 6, 2012
    Who: 3 aboard
    Why: A helicopter is missing in Papua New Guinea. The pilot Russell Aikten recently achieved some fame after rescuing victims of the “Black Saturday” fire, and used to fly the Westpac Surf Life Saving Rescue Helicopter.

    The Australian Maritime Safety Authority and Hevilift are deploying teams to search for Captain Aikten, Chief pilot Antony Annan, and engineer Emmett Fynn. They left a mayday call about five minutes after leaving the InterOil Drill Rig site at 3.25pm Friday. They were en route to Creek to re-fuel and flying in an area reported to have low visibility at the time.

    After days of searching, nothing has been found. Tuesday searchers will be using a helicopter fitted with a magnetometer, used to detect large mineral deposits. They hope it will pick up metal from the missing aircraft. The Australian Defence Force will be deploying two Blackhawks to assist in the search, in addition to the aero-medical evacuation team, additional observers and a downed aircraft recovery team.

    See Video Below

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    El Al Tel Aviv Flight Returns to Heathrow on Three Engines


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

    What: El Al Israel Airlines Boeing 747-400 en route from London to Tel Aviv
    Where: London
    When: Jul 4 2012
    Who: 411 passengers
    Why: While en route, pilot Ilan Margalit felt that one of the right side engines was losing power as it reached 26,000 feet. He shut down the affected engine and returned to London where he made a safe landing at Heathrow.

    The Israel Times reported that the engine caught fire; however other sources say there was no actual fire. The plane landed safely on three engines. A replacement flight was provided on July 5.

    The affected engine was a Pratt & Whitney.

    In April of 2007 this plane was damaged when it “taxied over its pushback tractor.” No one was hurt in that incident either.

    Flight Tracking of ELY318 on O4-July 2012

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    Cockpit Odor Causes emergency Diversion

    What: Delta flight en route from Puerto Rico to Atlanta
    Where: Palm Beach International Airport.
    When: July 8, 2012
    Who: 180 passengers
    Why: After an odor was detected in the cockpit, pilots diverted to Palm Beach and made a safe emergency landing. 120 passengers were rerouted, and sixty were picked up by a replacement flight.

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    Spirit Airlines Emergency Landing in Los Angeles

    What: Spirit Airlines Airbus A319 en route from Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale
    Where: Houston
    When: July 8, 2012
    Who: 100+ passengers
    Why: After a disruption aboard the flight, the pilots diverted the Spirit Airlines flight to Houston, where they made a safe landing. Passengers who disembarked had no Spirit Airlines counter because, although flights are soon scheduled to begin landing there, currently there is no Spirit Airlines Customer Service at Houston Intercontinental Airport.

    On arrival, the disruptive passenger was handed left in the custody of Houston Law Enforcement.

    The disruptive passenger was an elderly blind frenchman in his eighties who had become disoriented and frightened. His son was called by authorities.

    Passengers reboarded the flight and departed Houston at 6:42 PM.

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    Air India Emergency Landing in Pakistan

    What: Air India Airbus A-319 en route from Abu Dhabi to New Delhi
    Where: Nawabshah 3:37 a.m.
    When: July 9, 2012
    Who: 122 passengers and six crew
    Why: While en route, the flight developed problems with three hydraulic systems. The crew diverted to Nawabshah Pakistan. According to news reports, “The captain preferred to keep passengers on board.”

    Air India is sending a team of eight engineers to Nawabshah to repair the plane and return it.

    The shuttle sent to return with the stranded passengers is expected to return by 4 pm.

    The DGCA is investigating.

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    Family Piper Lost in Miss. Storm

    What: Rgd. Flt Away LLC Piper PA-32R-300 Cherokee Lance en route from Andrews, N.C. to Oxford, Miss
    Where: Mississippi
    When: July 8 2012
    Who: 3 aboard
    Why: James Bartley Jr.; his wife, Terry Bartley; and their youngest daughter, Caroline Bartley died when their plane broke apart in the air over Mississippi. They were flying from a vacation home in North Carolina to the University of Mississippi. There was lightning reported in the vicinity when the plane crashed. The wreckage is described as burned and crumpled and may have fallen from an altitude of 8000 feet.

    Rescue teams responded on foot, four-wheelers and horseback.

    The debris field was spread over half of a mile n a field near County Road 4111 in New Site, Mississippi; the fuselage was found by a medical helicopter.

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    Southwest Airlines: Smoke scented Vegas to San Jose Flight


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

    What: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 en route from Las Vegas to San Jose
    Where: Mineta San Jose International Airport
    When: July 3, 2012, 10:30 am
    Who: 99 aboard, 3 crew
    Why: 25 miles east of the airport, the pilot declared emergency. There was no smoke visible but there was the smell of smoke.

    The plane taxied to the gate, where passengers disembarked.

    Twenty firefighters remained at the scene in case of escalation, as investigators went through the plane.

    In George’s Point of View

    I fly Southwest and I know enough about aircraft to say that the planes are wearing out.

    They are made to take off and land and not stop, but aging planes need extra maintenance. Most of these planes gotta go in for real hard look.

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    Melted Tarmac Traps, Delays DC Flight

    What: U.S. Airways en route from Reagan National Airport to CHarleston SC
    Where: Washington DC
    When: July 6, 2012
    Who: 35 passengers, 3 crew
    Why: As the jet was on the runway, it sank into the hot tarmac, and got stuck. THe cart could not pull the plane with the tires embedded. Everyone aboard disembarked so the jet could get unstuck. Efforts delayed the flight for three hours.

    A passenger reported online that there was a jerking motion going back and forth as if something was stuck and preventing the craft from moving, and then passengers waited 45 minutes on the tarmac fir a bus to the terminal.

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    Alouette Crashed in Romania, 4 lost

    What: Romanian Air Force AR 316B Alouette III
    Where: Buzau, Romania
    When: July 5, 2012
    Who: 4 aboard
    Why: Captain Commander Docuz Mitica who was piloting the Alouette when it went down had over 1700 flight hours; and his copilot Viorel Cojocaru had 650 hours. Topoliceanu Catalin had more than 1,100 flying hours, Student Steven Corope?chi also died in the crash. One of the mechanics aboard might have been taking a flying lesson.

    The Air Force School of Boboc lost radio contact with the helicopter at around 12:00 shortly before the helicopter crashed in Buzau County in the area known as Cross Comsoaiei right near the highway E85.

    Rescue vehicles including water and foam trucks and ambulances responded but all four aboard died.

    A committee of Air Force Staff will be investigating the crash and the findings made public.

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    UTAir Crashes on 4th, killing 4 in Lensk


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

    What: UTAir Aviation Aérospatiale AS 350 B3 Ecureuil en route from Lensk to Talakan
    Where: Lensk, Russia
    When: July 4, 2012 18:11
    Who: 4 aboard, 4 fatalities
    Why: Four people were aboard the UTAir helicopter when it crashed near Lensk Russia, killing the pilot and copilot and two passengers just moments after the pilots lost contact with ATC.

    Initial reports said there were only three aboard. The helicopter normally performed a regular shuttle flight.
    https://airflightdisaster.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/aerorussiautair.jpeg

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    SD: More Firefighting Tragedy Strikes

    What: USAF Lockheed C-130H Hercules
    Where: Edgemont SD
    When: 1 July 2012
    Who: 6 aboard, 4 fatalities
    Why: A C-130 transport aircraft en route to support firefighting missions crashed in South Dakota. The crew was part of the fight against the White Draw Fire.

    The USAF Release said:

    PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFNS) — At approximately 6 p.m. MDT July 1, a Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System equipped C-130 aircraft supporting firefighting missions crashed in the southwest corner of South Dakota. The aircraft was supporting the efforts against the White Draw Fire.

    The cause of the crash is not known and the incident is under investigation. There are no details on the status of the aircrew available at this time.

    MAFFS is a joint DoD and U.S. Forest Service program designed to provide additional aerial firefighting resources when commercial and private airtankers are no longer able to meet the needs of the forest service.

    MAFFS is a self-contained aerial firefighting system owned by the U.S. Forest Service that can discharge 3,000 gallons of water or fire retardant in less than 5 seconds, covering an area one-quarter of a mile long by 100 feet wide. Once the load is discharged, it can be refilled in less than 12 minutes.

    Media outlets made this update:
    .CHARLOTTE NC – The crash of a North Carolina-based Air National Guard cargo plane that was fighting wildfires in South Dakota has left at least one crew member dead.The family of Lt. Col. Paul Mikeal of Mooresville confirmed they were notified early Monday that he had died in the C-130 crash on Sunday. The 42-year-old married father of two was a veteran of deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.Lt. Col. Rose Dunlap of the 145th Airlift Wing in Charlotte says six crew members were aboard.The North Carolina Air National Guard confirmed that lives were lost in the crash. Other crew members who were injured were taken to Rapid City Regional Hospital. Names and conditions have not been released.The plane went down about 6 p.m. in the southwest corner of South Dakota where it had been dropping flame retardant on the White Draw Fire.The cause of the crash is under investigation and all other MAFFS-equipped C-130s have been grounded.

    In George’s Point of View


    So many heroes.
    So many tragic deaths.

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    Attempted Hijacking foiled

    What: Tianjin Airlines Embraer ERJ-190 en route from Hotan to Urumqi
    Where: Hotan
    When: Jun 29th 2012
    Who: 9 crew, 92 passengers
    Why: Right after takeoff, six passengers on the flight announced a hijacking.

    Apparently three were in the front of the plane, and three were in the back.

    Passengers and Sky Marshals subdued the hijackers.

    Two flight police officers were seriously injured. Two attendants and seven passengers were slightly injured. The six who attempted to hijack the flight were taken into police custody when the captain returned to the airport within sixteen minutes of takeoff.

    b>In George’s Point of View

    What a tragic, yet heroic story.

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    Hunan Airlines Crash Report Released; Captain and 19 Others Blamed

    The report of the Henan Airlines crash suggests that Henan Airlines be fiend $795,000 due to safety issues and suggests the chief pilot should have his pilot’s license revoked, be removed from his post and expelled from the Communist Party, and should also face criminal charges.

    The report says “says chief pilot Qi Quanjun did not locate the runway before landing.” The jet crashed 2260 feet short of the runway. The pilot crash landed under conditions of poor visibility, then left the plane, failed to evacuate the passengers and rescue the injured. The report names 19 people in all as contributing to the accident. Airline officials and local civil aviation authorities are also cited in the report and may be subject to “disciplinary penalties, be demoted or dismissed.”


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

    What: Shenzhen Airlines/Kunpeng/Henan Airlines Embraer ERJ-190 en route from Harbin to Yichun China
    Where: Yichun China
    When: Aug 24th 2010
    Who: 91 passengers (including 5 children) and 5 crew; 43 immediate deaths, 3 serious injuries and 50 minor injuries
    Why: The plane overran the runway—and departed the runway on landing—at Lindu airport in Yichun city in Heilongjiang province at 10:10 p.m, split on impact, exploded, and burst into flames. 53 people were rescued, three of whom with serious injuries.

    An investigation in 2008 revealed 100 pilots employed by Henan Airlines’ parent company had falsified their flying credentials; and about a hundred pilots flying for other airlines were found to have done the same thing.

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    Cessna Lands in Canadian Marsh

    What: Cessna 337 en route from Fort McMurray to Buffalo Narrows, Sask.
    Where: Fort McMurray
    When: June 28, 2012 3:45 pm
    Who: 2 aboard
    Why: When the Cessna they were in developed engine trouble, the pilots made an emergency landing in a marsh south of Fort McMurray. No injuries were reported.

    Canada’s TSB is investigating.

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    Tianjin Airlines Flight 7554


    Two hijackers died from injuries after six Uyghur men armed with aluminum crutches and explosives attempted to hijack Tianjin Airlines Embraer ERJ-190, registration B-3171. Six minutes after takeoff, they attempted to get into the cockpit. Passengers and crew overcame the hijackers who were dressed as Tianjin Airline staff. Thirteen were injured: seven passengers, two air marshal security officers. two flight attendants, two hijackers. The flight was scheduled from Hotan to Ürümqi in China’s Xinjiang Autonomous Region. As a consequence of this attempted hijacking, security measures and airport security was beefed up.
    The separatist World Uyghur Congress claimed the incident did not happen and that the incident was an excuse to lock up Uyghurs.

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    Cape Elizabeth Crash near Lighthouse under investigation


    On a sunny day, the small plane just 100 yards from shore crashed near a historic lighthouse in a park in full sight of park visitors. The plane which remains in ocean waters at the ocean bottom in 60 feet of water, off Fort William but is not expected to cause environmental damage. The pilot was identified as Dr. Louis Hanson of Durham, who escaped the plane but was reported “unresponsive.”

    IDENTIFICATION
    Regis#: 39443 Make/Model: S10 Description: STINSON S108
    Date: 06/24/2012 Time: 1700

    Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Fatal Mid Air: N Missing: N
    Damage: Unknown

    LOCATION
    City: CAPE ELIZABETH State: ME Country: US

    DESCRIPTION
    AIRCRAFT LOST POWER AND CRASHED INTO OCEAN. NEAR CAPE ELIZABETH, ME. 1 FATAL.

    INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 1
    # Crew: 1 Fat: 1
    WEATHER: 30009 10SM CLR 26/12 A2989

    OTHER DATA
    Activity: Pleasure Phase: Cruise Operation: OTHER

    The NTSB is investigating the power loss and subsequent crash of the four-seat Stinson S108 that occurred in Cape Elizabeth.

    Serial Number 108-13 Type Registration Individual
    Manufacturer Name UNIVERSAL STINSON Certificate Issue Date 11/21/2002
    Model 108 Expiration Date 03/31/2013
    Type Aircraft Fixed Wing Single-Engine Status Valid
    Pending Number Change None Type Engine Reciprocating
    Date Change Authorized None Dealer No
    MFR Year 1946 Mode S Code 51112245

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    Military Fokker Crashes in Jakarta Neighborhood


    What: Tentara Nasional Indonesia-AU (Air Force) Fokker F-27 Friendship 400M
    Where: Jakarta Indonesia
    When: June 21, 2012, 15:00 hrs.
    Who: 7 aboard
    Why: The flight was engaged in maneuvers when it crashed into a Jakarta neighborhood in the Rajawali housing complex (the Air Force Eagle Complex, at Halim Perdanakusuma airport.). It is reported that everyone aboard the flight except the co-pilot died in the crash. The co-pilot survived; and several people inside the buildings also died on the ground. A fireball erupted in the neighborhood. Some residents were hospitalized with burns.

    Major Flight Heri Setiawan (captain pilot), Sergeant Major Simulanto, Sahroni Flight Lieutenant, Captain Agus Supriyadi Engineering, Purwo First Sergeant, Master Sergeant Wahyudi (Engineering Squadron 021) were confirmed killed in the crash.

    Skies were clear at the time of the accident.

    The names of the victims who were in the housing were not released. Video below

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    Jet Blue Takes Rocky Road back to Vegas, Jetblue 194 crew superheroes


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

    What: Jetblue Airbus A320-200 en route from Las Vegas to New York
    Where: Las Vegas
    When: June 17
    Who: 135 passengers
    Why: After taking off from Las Vegas, “yellow” hydraulics aboard the jet blue flight failed, leading the pilot to declare an emergency and return to the airport due to “mechanical indications.”

    Passengers were getting airsick due to the plane’s rocking locomotion, and described the flight as nightmarish.

    On landing, the plane was towed, as the steering was reported as inoperable.
    video below