What: Egyptair Boeing 777-200 en route from Cairo Egypt to Jeddah Saudi Arabia Where: Cairo When: July 29 2011 Who: 291 passengers, 7 hospitalized Why: After passengers boarded but before takeoff, the cockpit experienced a fire. Smoke leaked into the cabin, but luggage was intact.
Passengers exited via sides, with five injuries resulting. Two firemen were hospitalized with smoke inhalation.
What: Air Canada Boeing 777 en route from Sydney to Toronto Where: Sydney When: Jul 27 2011 Who: 262 passengers Why: The plane was en route when crew members smelled smoke in the aft galley. The pilots turned around and returned to Sydney where they made a safe landing.
Initial reports indicated fire but no fire was found. No injures were reported, and there was no need for Emergency services who were on standby as they were landing.
What: Saudi Arabian Airlines Boeing 747-400 en route from Kuala Lumpur to Jeddah Where: Chennai When: Jul 6th 2011 Who: 200 passengers Why: While en route, the flight developed smoke in the cockpit. Pilots diverted to Chennai and made a safe landing. Emergency services examined the plane and found no fire or heat. Maintenance examined the flight.
The flight continued about 4 and a half hours later, and made a safe landing eventually in Jeddah
What: United Airlines/Skywest Canadair CRJ-200 en route from Lincoln,NE to Denver,CO Where: Lincoln Nebraska When: June 6 2011, 7 am Who: 53 passengers 3 crew Why: On takeoff from Lincoln Airport, the crew detected smoke in the cockpit.
Pilots returned immediately to Lincoln and made a safe landing. Maintenance examined the plane. Takeoff was delayed for 9 hours.
What: Delta Airlines Boeing 767-300 en route from Las Vegas to Atlanta,GA Where: Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport Atlanta When: Jun 2nd 2011, 5:53 p.m Why: While en route to Atlanta, on approach the left engine developed issues and began smoking. Pilots made a safe landing.
Passengers disembarked on the runway and were provided transportation to the terminal.
What: British Airways Boeing 777-200 en route from London Heathrow to Boston,MA Where: Shannon When: May 23rd 2011 Who: 221 passengers Why: En route over the Atlantic, smoke developed in the cockpit and the pilots declared emergency and diverted to Shannon.
(There is some speculation that the smoke was ash drawn into the cabin.)
The smoke increased on descent, but the pilot made a safe landing. The smoke is being blamed on an undesignated mechanical problem.
Above FL200, the atmosphere was (reported as) clear of Grimsvotn ash.
Passengers were provided hotel accommodations until the replacement flight arrived (May 24.)
What: Delta Airlines DC-9 en route from Detroit to Minneapolis Where: Ashwaubenon When: May 21, 2011 Who: 81 passengers, 5 crew Why: The plane was en route when the pilot smelled smoke from burning plastic in the cabin, and announced to passengers they would be diverting to Green Bay with rescue services from De Pere, Allouez, Ashwaubenon, Hobart and Howard on standby.
They made a safe landing in Green Bay at Austin Straubel International Airport at 2:25 pm
What: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-300 en route from Kansas City, Mo., to Dallas Where: east of Oklahoma City When: May 10th 2011 Who: 44 passengers, 5 crew Why: While en route, east of Oklahoma City, the plane developed smoke in the cockpit.
The pilot made an emergency landing diverting to Oklahoma city for a safe landing. A replacement jet was provided within two hours.
The smoke was attributed to a malfunctioning windshield heating element.
What: American Airlines Boeing 757 en route from Miami to San Francisco Where: Las Vegas When: May 6 2011, 11:00 am. Who: 159 passengers, 6 crew Why: While en route, the pilot reported that there was smoke in the cockpit.
The flight was diverted to Las Vegas, and made a safe landing at McCarran International Airport
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.
What: US Airways Boeing 737-400 en route from Dallas to Charlotte. Where: Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport When: April 18, 2011, 1 pm Who: 94 passengers, 5 crew (also reported as 107 aboard) Why: After pilots smelled smoke in the cockpit, they diverted the flight to Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport where they made a safe landing with local emergency responders as well as fire crews from Pelham-Batesville and Boiling Springs, and Greenville and Spartanburg EMS were on standby when the plane landed.
After the plane was grounded, passengers were taken by bus to Charlotte.
What: Delta twin-engine McDonnell Douglas MD-90, en route from Tampa, Fla to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Where: Rochester When: April 13, 2011 4 pm Who: 143 passengers 6 crew Why: While en route, passengers felt vibrations, and smelled smoke before the pilots made an emergency diversion at the Rochester airport. They landed with the fire department on standby.
An engine was judged to be faulty and is being replaced while at the Rochester airport. Most of the stranded passengers finished the last leg of their trip on buses provided by Delta, though some rented cars.
What: Emirates en route from Kuala Lumpur to Dubai Where: Chennai When: April 10, 2011 Who: 465 passengers Why: While en route, the plane had a technical failure resulting in smoke in the cockpit. The crew diverted to Chennai where they made a safe landing. Passengers were provided alternative transportation to Dubai. However, the passengers overnighted in Chennai as the problem could not be solved within the crews “max duty time.”
On April 4, 2011, a United Airlines Airbus 320-232 with 109 passengers and crew aboard returned to the airport about 20 minutes after take-off due to electrical difficulties and smoke in the cockpit. On landing, the crew described a loss of anti-skid braking and nose-wheel steering and passengers had to exit via slide. (The right front slide failed.) Dan Bower is investigator-in-charge of the NTSB team including reps of Federal Aviation Administration,United Airlines, the Air Line Pilots Association, theAssociation of Flight Attendants, and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and an Airbus rep appointed by the Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses (BEA) of the Government of France.
What: United Airlines Airbus A320-200 en route from New Orleans,LA to San Francisco,CA Where: Louis Armstrong Airport When: April 4 2011 7:20 a.m. after a 13 minute flight Who: 100 passengers 5 crew Why: After takeoff, the pilot reported smoke in the cockpit, and returned to the airport. The pilot reported losing all instruments, and landed on backup power, blowing out a tire and running off the runway. Passengers evacuated via slides.
After landing, passengers were taken to the Hilton.
TRANSCRIPT OF AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER, PILOT CONVERSATION
UA 497: Clear for takeoff runway 19, thank for you very much.
UA 497: We need to vector back to the airport, we got a smoke issue with the airplane.
N.O. Approach: Turn right 030 (degrees) and maintain 4,000 (feet.)
UA 497: 030 4,000. And we’d like the longest runway please.
N.O. Approach: There are men and equipment on the runway – they’re going to try to get them off now. Descend at pilot’s discretion. Maintain 2,000.
UA 497: We are declaring an emergency and please roll equipment for our landing please.
N.O. Approach: We are unable for (runway) 10, can you take (runway) 19?
UA 497: ..no..
N.O. Approach: Roger, we are clearing the runway now.
Airport operations: How much time do we have?
New Orleans Tower: I’d say they are about 11 miles to the west.
Airport operations: Tower, we can start trying to pull them off, but I don’t think we will get them all off in time.
N.O. Approach: United 497, Say souls on board and fuel remaining.
UA 497: 106 souls on board, fuel remaining 32,400 pounds.
N.O. Approach: They are still trying to get all the vehicles off the runway and 19 is still available if you like….
New Orleans Tower: … working as fast as they can (unintelligible) There is a bunch of equipment on there they’re tying to get off now.
UA 497: You need to clear it for us.
New Orleans Tower: I understand, sir. We’re getting them off as fast as we can.
N.O. Approach: Turn right heading 140, main 2,000 ….cleared ILS runway 10 approach.
New Orleans Tower: Can you verify the vehicles are exiting?
Airport operations: We are attempting to get the vehicles off right now, I’m removing the cones also.
New Orleans Tower: OK, cause I haven’t seen any of the vehicles move and the aircraft is ten to the northwest and they have to have runway 100.
N.O. Approach: United 497, Turn right heading 180.
UA 497: um…. We only have one… um … (Alarms sounding in background.)
N.O. Approach: United 497 say again sir?
New Orleans Tower: We need three minutes to get the runway clear.
UA 497: (alarms blaring) We’ve lost all our instruments right now and we’re going to need (directions)
N.O. Approach: United turn left heading, 20 degrees left
N.O. Approach: Just continue left turn, I’ll tell you when to stop.
UA 497: (unintelligible) What vector are we from the airport?
N.O. Approach: Right now sir you are on the 330 degree heading from the airport. Northwest of the airport for runway 19er. If you continue on this present heading you’ll set up on the shoreline for 19.
UA 497: Shoreline for 19.
N.O. Approach: I can set u up there or I can vector you, what’d you need?
UA 497: That’s fine.
N.O. Approach: (unintelligible…)You got the water, right?
UA 497: Yeah, we got the water and we’re going to stop here about 600 feet.
N.O. Approach: Roger that. The airport’s currently at your 1 o’clock and five miles.
UA 497: 1 o’clock and five miles roger.
New Orleans Tower to fire crews: Fox-6, next arrival runway 19er is our aircraft. And the aircraft is approximately 3 miles northwest runway 19er.
N.O. Approach: If you start your right turn now I can set you up on final.
UA 497: Start turn on final.
New Orleans Tower to fire crews: The aircraft is over the shoreline around two miles out. You do have permission to proceed on to the runway after he lands.
N.O. Approach: Make a right turn. The airport is off to yoru right side,
N.O. Approach: 497, clear to land 19er. You’ll be able to make it sir? Winds 180 at 16, gusts to 20, Clear to land. Runway 19er.
New Orleans Tower to fire trucks: Fox-5, this is our aircraft touvh ing down bow.
New Orleans Tower: Follow the aircraft down the runway.
New Orleans Tower: We’re going to need runway 10 operational. Runway 19er is fouled at this time.
What: American Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-82 en route from Fort Myers to Dallas TX Where: Jacksonville When: Mar 30th 2011 Why: While en route, the crew smelled smoke in the cabin.
They diverted to Jacksonville. By the time they landed, the odor dissipated. The plane was examined; and a replacement MD-83 was flown in.
What: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-300, en route from Orlando to Chicago Where: Louisville Kentucky When: Mar 28 2011 3:00 pm Who: 101 passengers 5 crew Why: While en route, the cockpit began to fill with smoke. A pilot saw a problem with the windshield defroster wiring, and turned off the defroster.
The pilots diverted the flight to Louisville where they made a safe landing. Passengers were provided an alternative Boeing flight to Chicago arriving two and a half hours later.
What: Delta en route from Grand Rapids to Detroit Where: Gerald R Ford International Airport When: March 19 2011 Who: 55 passengers Why: After departure from Grand Rapids, the plane developed smoke in the cockpit. The pilot returned to the airport where he made a safe landing. Passengers disembarked on the runway and were ported back to the terminal.
What: American Eagle Embraer ERJ-145 en route from Chicago to Charlotte NC Where: Champaign When: March 4 2011, 9:36pm Who: 31 passengers Why: After takeoff, the pilot smelled smoke.
The pilots diverted to Savoy and made a safe landing. Emergency responders (whom, it was noted, had 12 minutes to set up) included Tolono and Savoy firefighters, Pro Ambulance and University of Illinois police.
There were no injuries reported. Passengers were ported to the terminal and the plane was sent for examination.
What: Delta en route from New York City to Phoenix Where: Eppley Airfield When: Feb 28, 2011 Why: While en route, the plane developed smoke in the cockpit.
The flight diverted to Omaha and made a safe landing with rescue crews standing by.
Passengers disembarked and were booked on an 8:15 am Omaha to Phoenix flight.
What: Lufthansa Airbus A340-300 en route from Sao Paulo Guarulhos,SP to Munich Where: Sao Paulo When: Feb 21, 2011 Who: not available Why: Thirty minutes after takeoff, the plane developed smoke.
The pilots returned to Sao Paulo where they made a safe landing. The passengers who were not rebooked were scheduled to fly to Munich 19 hours later.
What: British Airways en route from Boston to London Where: Logan International Airport When: Jan 31, 2011 Who: 13 crew Why: After taking off for London, smoke was reported in the cabin. Pilots returned to Logan and made safe landing at 8:16 am. Maintenance determined that oil from an auxiliary power unit for an air conditioner was the problem.
What: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 en route from Denver to Philadelphia Where: Eppley Airfield, Omaha When: 3:30 Who: 99 passengers and 7 crew Why: While en route, the cabin began smelling of smoke. The pilots diverted to Eppley Airfield in Omaha Nebraska and made a safe landing.
The plane was examined and allowed to continue on, reaching Philadelphia about 6 hours later.
What: Continental Airlines Boeing 737-700 en route from Newark to Boston Where: Newark Liberty Airport When: Jan 26, 2011 Why: On take-off, the plane filled with smoke. The pilot announced that the smoke was due to de-icing procedures, and made an emergency landing in Newark. Weather conditions at the time included snow, and freezing temperatures.
The plane made a safe landing with emergency services on standby.
What: World Atlantic Charter flight en route from Westover Airforce Base to Providence Where: Albany International Airport When: Jan 25, 2011 Who: UMass men’s baskeball team Why: Ten minutes after takeoff, smoke was smelled in the plane’s cabin and cockpit. The flight diverted to Albany and made a safe landing.
No one was injured, although there was some praying and some bonding going on.
The team waited around for a replacement plane which took them to Bradford, Pennsylvania where they took a bus to the game.
What: Continental/ ExpressJet Embraer ERJ-145 en route from Manchester NH to Newark NJ Where: Logan When: Jan 18, 2010 Who: 44 passengers and 3 crew Why: After taking off 6 hours late after ground stops due to the weather, after five minutes in flight, smoke in the cabin forced the pilots to divert to Logan Airport. Emergency was declared due to “smoke in the lavatory.” In the meantime, passengers were covering their faces because of the smoke. A leak, mechanical problem and possible fire was reported on the Continental flight and speculation is that de-icing fluid had infiltrated the engine, causing burn-off.
The plane landed safely at Logan, with emergency crews on standby.
37 passengers boarded another plane around 3 pm to continue to their destination.
