What: Air Tran Boeing 717-200 en route from Charlotte to Atlanta
Where: Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport
When: May 4 2011
Who: 115 passengers
Why: After taking off, the left engine compressor stalled. The pilots shut down the left engine and returned to the airport.
Spartanburg EMS, and Boiling Springs, Greer, Pelham and Tyger River fire departments were on the scene
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Contact photographer Ron Carter
What: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-500 en route from Houston to Phoenix
Where: El Paso Texas
When: May 4, 2011, 5 pm
Who: 138 aboard
Why: While en route, an electrical smell was detected. Oxygen masks were deployed.
The flight diverted to El Paso and made a safe landing. Passengers did not have to use emergency slides. They were provided an alternate flight to Phoenix while the plane was ferried for inspections.
What: Fuerza Aérea Boliviana Cessna T210 Turbo Centurion en route from El Alto International Airport in La Paz
Where: Santa Elena River, Iquisiva Province, La Paz
When: May 5 2011
Who: 6 aboard
Why: The Bolivian Air Force plane piloted by the air force and carrying four United Nations workers was doing a fly-by and did not return at 2:30 as scheduled. The plane, which had been missing since May 5 and a search going on in Yungas (Coroico, La Asunta and Caranavi). The flight was located near the Santa Elena River, where it appears that it hit a tree during an emergency landing.
The passengers lost in the crash were Ivan Alfaro Santiago, Estephan Campos Ruiz, Mariela Romero Torreblanco and Patricia Delgado Rua, and the Cessna was being flown by Lt. Néstor Álvaro Ottich Arenas and Lt. José Javier Alegría Estrada.
What: Merpati Nusantara Xian MA-60 en route from Sorong to Kaimana
Where: Kaimana, West Papua
When: May 7, 2010 12:21 pm
Who: 21 passengers (including 2 children and a baby), 4 crew, 2 technicians
Why: After flying a holding pattern for a quarter of an hour, the plane was on its final approach when it crashed in shallow water .3 miles before it reached the runway. On impact with the water, the plane broke in two and sank, with the passengers trapped within. Officials say bad weather and low visibility (6,600 ft) are responsible for the crash.
The divers recovering the bodies from Kaimana Bay have been hampered by heavy rain; those recovered were described as “not intact.”
The Chinese-made plane was new and only had been in operation for just over 600 hours, since its purchase in October. Merpati flies three other Xian MA-60s’.
Pictured: An American Eagle Embraer EMB-145LR
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Contact photographer Propfreak
What: American Eagle Embraer en route from Los Angeles to Reno
Where: near Fresno
When: May 6th 2011 1:40 pm
Who: 41 aboard
Why: The flight had taken off and was en route when an odor was detected on board.
The pilot diverted to Fresno made a safe landing, and taxied to the gate. Passengers were able to exit normally.
The odor was described as a “hot, electrical ozone smell.” Mechanics examined the plane to find the source of the smell.
What: Bahrain Air en route from Dubai to Bahrain
Where: Bahrain
When: April 30, 2010
Why: Those aboard the Bahrain Air Flight included passengers bumped from an earlier flight which had been cancelled without explanation.
On approach to Bahrain, the flight encountered turbulence described by passengers as severe, nightmarish and insane. The pilot performed a go around and made a second attempted landing. The turbulence was even worse, leading to the pilots to decide to divert to Doha.
Meanwhile, passengers were apparently screaming, crying, fainting and in general having public panic attacks. At some point, the pilot announced the diversion to passengers, although some passengers said they were unaware of what was going on, perhaps because they were too terrified to be listening. They could have used a soothing word from the cabin, but apparently that was not forthcoming.
As if being bumped from one flight, enduring turbulence at the destination and then having to divert to Doha wasn’t bad enough, a lot of flights were diverted to Doha due to the weather; and once they landed safely at Doha at 11:45 pm, the Qatar airport refused to allow the passengers to disembark. It was an hour before they were provided water. Around 3:00 a.m. the passengers were promised flights on the 7:00 am, 9:00 am, or 5:00 pm flights to Bahrain.
Some of these passengers are considering legal action for their treatment.
What: AirTran Airways Boeing 717-200 en route from Charlotte to Atlanta
Where: Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport
When: May 4, 2011
Who: 115 passengers, 5 crew
Why: The flight took off as usual but while en route, the twin engine plane developed a problem in one engine, with the compressor stalling. The left engine had to be shut down.
The flight diverted to Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport where they made a safe landing.
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Contact photographer Barry Shipley
What: Fed Ex/Morningstar Boeing 737-200 en route from Winnipeg to Calgary
Where: Winnipeg
When: May 3rd 2011
Why: The plane was on the runway when the pilot received an indication of fire. The fire indication would not shut down, even after the plane stopped. Emergency services responded. The plane was “rebooted” and the indication shut down.
(Just like my kitchen alarm that goes off whenever I cook, regardless of whether something is burning or not. I promise it wasn’t me. I promise I wasn’t cooking in the non-existent galley.)
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Contact photographer Jan Bialas
What: American Airlines Boeing 777-200 en route from London to Chicago
Where: Moncton
When: May 3rd 2011, 3 pm
Who: 150 aboard
Why: While en route, the crew reported the smell of smoke, and diverted to Moncton in Canada.
The plane landed with emergency services on standby and emergency services stayed until 5:20 p.m. The smoke in the cockpit turned out to be from an overheating battery. Dieppe Fire Department examined the plane. There were no injuries, and passengers were provided a room in the airport, so they didn’t have to go through customs.
A replacement jet was flown in.
What: US Airways Boeing 737-300 en route from Reno, to Phoenix
Where: Las Vegas
When: May 1st 2011
Who: 90 passengers
Why: After takeoff, the right engine developed problems. The pilot shut down the engine and diverted to McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas where they made a safe landing.
Passengers were provided alternative flights. There were no injuries.
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Contact photographer Igor Bubin
What: Aerosvit/Dniproavia Embraer ERJ-145 en route from Dnepropetrovsk (Ukraine) to Moscow
Where: Moscow
When: Apr 28th 2011
Who: 30 passengers 4 crew
Why: After making a safe landing, the plane rolled off the runway and the gear struts collapsed.
Passengers exited on to the runway.
What: Cessna 180 en route from Vulcan, Alta., to Springfield, B.C.,
Where: Williams Lake, Rocky Mountains
When April 26 2011, between 8 and 9 am
Who: Fifty-nine year old pilot Ed Fedaj
Why: Friday, the dog Rusty was found by Parks staff Rusty survived a plane crash that killed his owner Ed Fedaj, but before the dog could be recovered, he disappeared into the park. After being looked over by a vet, Rusty, a 6 yr-old Border Collie will be returned to his family, to be adopted by Ted Fedaj.
The Cessna 180 was found where it slammed into a gorge at 1,500 metres on the side of Mount King. Ed’s body was retrieved in spite of an avalanche risk.
Ed had been visiting relatives in southern Alberta and was returning home to Williams Lake when he crashed.
The B.C. Coroners Service and the Federal Transportation Safety Board are investigating.
A Philippine SIAI-Marchetti
Aero Image.com
Contact photographer Rogier Westerhuis
What: Philippine Air Force Siai-Marchetti AS-211 Warrior
Where: Banawang village near the Stela Mariz Beach resort, Philippines
When: April 28 2011
Who: 2 pilots
Why: After taking off from Basa Air Base (Clark Field in Pampanga) on a routine flight, the Aermacchi S-211 trainer jet crashed near the beach.
Initially reports said there was one person aboard, but later reports say there were two who both died in the crash. One body has been retrieved, and divers are searching for one of the pilots who is missing. The condition of the plane is described as “vaporized” and “disintegrated.” Pieces of the plane, and what can be found of the bodies are being recovered for the examination, and local witnesses are being interviewed about what they saw.
The fatalities were Maj. Ephraim Gatus Suyom and Juan de Leon.
What: Flight Simulation Center Grob G115 # D-EOFS
Where: near Meggara Airport, Greece
When: 29-APR-2011
Who: 2 aboard, 2 fatalities
Why: The two aboard were on a training flight on the blue and white Grob G115 when the single engine plane crashed off the island of Spetses.
The instructor was a sixty year old Greek from Aigion, and the other was a non Greek man taking a flying lesson.
A marine taxi driver, Mr Lefteris Fostinis, was the first to discover the wreckage. A private diver found the two victims still in the cabin of the aircraft.
The bodies were retrieved and taken to Kranidi Medical Center.
The cause of the crash is unknown.
What: Kolavia Tupolev TU-154M en route from Mineralny Vody to Surgut Russia
Where: Mineralny Vody Russia
When: Apr 29th 2011
Who: 112 passengers
Why: While en route, the Tupolev developed a fire in the engine, or at least a fire indication. The pilot returned to Vody and made a safe landing half an hour after taking off.
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Contact photographer
What: Continental Airlines Boeing 737 en route from San Antonio to Houston
Where: San Antonio
When: Apr 28, 2011
Who: 151 aboard
Why: The plane had taken off and developed a “strong chemical odor.” The pilots returned to San Antonio International Airport and made a safe landing; however they did not know the cause of the odor and for caution’s sake, took the plane to the “ramp” area. Several passengers developed respiratory distress.
The crew boarding wore hazmat suits. The source of the chemical odor was not identified.
What: Wanaka Helicopters Robinson R22 on a training flight from Wanaka to Haast and back
Where: Arawhata Saddle, Wanaka South Island, New Zealand
When: April 27 2011
Who: Pilot instructor and student
Why: The training flight did not return to Wanaka as scheduled at 1:00; it’s last known position was near Bonar Glacier.
The beacon, one of two types aboard, was detected and the helicopter found at 9:00 am Thursday *local time.
Both pilot and student were fatalities, and the wreckage was found near the Olivine Wilderness Area in a stream at the head of the Arawhata River by search teams investigating an area near Mt Aspiring. The search was focused on Bow Peak in the “Waipara Saddle.”
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Contact photographer Tokyo Spotter
What: ANA All Nippon Airways Boeing 767-300 en route from Miyazaki to Tokyo
Where: Tokyo
When: Apr 27th 2011
Who: 111 passengers, 8 crew
Why: 150 miles outside of Tokyo, the flight ran into clear air turbulence. Three flight attendants and two passengers were injured at 4:55 PM. One of the flight attendants suffered a broken bone (pelvis).
The incident is currently under investigation.
What: United Airlines /Shuttle America Embraer ERJ-170 en route from Chicago to Newark
Where: Detroit
When: Apr 23rd 2011
Why: While en route, the flight encountered severe turbulence that injured a flight attendant. The pilot diverted to detroit and made a safe landing. It is not clear if the flight attendant was hospitalized in detroit, only that undesignated injuries occurred.
What: Pawan Hans Helicopters Ltd. Mi-172
Where: Arunachal Pradeshnorth-east India near China border
When: April 19 2011
Who: 18 passengers, including two minors, and five crew
A committee of inquiry was on Saturday set up to investigate the circumstances that led to the recent crash of the Pawan Hans helicopter in Arunachal Pradesh. After the crash, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said they would launch a series of measures to ensure that all helicopters are operated and maintained.
Arunachal Pradesh government requested ( on January 18, 2010, and then on August 8, 2010) to replace the old helicopter.
Interim compensation of Rs 1 lakh is being provided for the deceased and Rs 50, 000 for the injured.
Those killed were identified as Mrs Anita, A Baruah, Dr Tendon, Dr Asif, Mrs R Asif, Mrs Jahara, Ms Asif, Master Asif, Mr A Sharma, A K Saraugi, Ms N Botha, Col Sharma, Mr W Bhatia, Mr T Mustafa. The three crew members killed were a second pilot Captain Tiwari, Flight Attendant A Dixit and Assistant Maintenance Engineer S B Kulkarni.
Survivors were Captain Varun Gupta, Randiv Kumar Chaturvedi, Dorjee Wangdi, Rishi Bothra, Rajendra Pal and Mrs Karishma Saraugi.
What: Los Angeles Police Department helicopter
Where: Van Nuys Airport
When: April 24 2011, 6:00 am
Who: officers aboard
Why: In the San Fernando Valley near Saticoy Street and Densmore, gunfire struck the helicopter, which began smoking and leaking fuel. No one aboard the helicopter was hit.
The pilot was forced to make an emergency landing; at least one report said the chopper landed with a dead engine. The helicopter made an emergency landing at Van Nuys Airport, making an “auto-rotation” to land on the apron at a charter jet service, Clay Lacy Aviation. The helicopter was put aboard a flat-bed truck to be transported to Hooper Air Station for investigation.
The shooter was tracked down and arrested at his home and in possession of a semi-automatic rifle. The arrest was made at 7:10 a.m near Cohasset Street and Gloria Avenue. No one was injured. The shooter was reportedly distraught over the death of a friend.
* An autorotation is landing without a engine power. The airspeed of the descent turns the rotors fast enough to provide lift for a safe landing.
What: Single engine 1960 Piper Tri-Pacer en route from Lakefront Airport to St. Charles Parish
Where: Harrison Avenue and West End, New Orleans
When: April 16, 2011, 2:15 pm
Who: pilot
Why: Pilot Houston Hunter had dropped off his grandson at Lakefront Airport in New Orleans and was en route to Ama Airport in St. Charles Parish when he had mechanical problems and lost power. The pilot turned and tried to return to Lakefront, but had to make an emergency landing on the boulevard median, striking a minivan. Hunter injured his arm. There were three adults and two children in the van but no one was injured.
What: US Airways Bombardier CRJ-300 en route from New York
Where: Philadelphia International Airport
When: April 22, 2011 7:30 pm
Who: 12 passengers and 3
Why: Citing engine failure, the pilot of a US Airways flight made a successful emergency landing in Philadelphia.
Emergency crews were on standby. No injuries were reported, and no cause for the failure.
What: Allegiant Air MD80 en route from Orlando to Kentucky
Where: Orlando
When: April 22, 2011
Who:
Why: After taking off from Orlando, the plane developed (or already had) a problem with the hydraulics.
The pilot made a safe return to Orlando, without injury. Passengers were provided an alternative flight and/or hotel accommodations, and an alternative flight Saturday.
What: Precision Ag & Seed Services Beechcraft
Where: Topeka, Kansas
When: 22-APR-2011
Who: 4 fatalities
Why: A family of four missed the approach to Philip Billard Municipal Airport. Witnesses to the crash say they heard the engine sputter.
The plane was flying too low as it made a go-around to make a second landing pass. The plane was a Beechcraft built in Kansas.
The young Scott city couple and their daughters were making an Easter trip when they crashed. The victims names were released: Richard Dylan Spencer, 35; Amy Beth Spencer, 34; and their daughters, Chase Spencer, 7, and Ansley Spencer, 5.
All of these aviation crashes that involve deaths are terrible; but somehow it hits home sharper when it is a young couple with their two small children.
Rest in peace Spencers.
