weather

  • | | | | | |

    India: Crashed Helicopter found, Minister Dorjee Khandu’s body recovered.

    What: Pawan Hans Helicopters Eurocopter AS 350B3 Ecureuil en route from Tawang to Itanagar
    Where: Luguthang, India
    When: April 30, 2011
    Who: 5 fatalities, including Dorjee Khandu
    Why: The helicoptor taking Dorjee Khandu from a retreat disappeared en route. Two MI-17 and two Cheetah helicopters were engaged in the search.

    The helicopter wreckage was found 5 days after it went missing. Dorjee Khandu, Mr Khandu’s security officer Yeshi Choddak, Yeshi Lamu, and crew members JS Babbar and KS Malick all died in the crash. The wreckage was at 4900 meters, near Jung Falls in the Tawang district. The search was hampered by bad weather.

    The chopper that crashed was 4 months old, according to Chief Minister Khandu’s adviser Kiren Rijiju. However, the maintenance department of Pawan Hans has a bad reputation.

  • | | | |

    27 Perish in Kaimana Bay in Merpati Crash

    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’.

  • | | | | | | | |

    Single Survivor Pulled from Crash


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

    What: United Nations – UN/Georgian Airways Canadair CL600 2B19 Regional Jet CRJ-100ER on the return trip from Kinshasa-N’Djili Airport (FIH) to Kisangani (FKI) and Entebbe (and back)
    Where: Kinshasa-N’Djili Airport, Congo
    When: 04 APR 2011 2 pm.
    Who: 4 crew, 29 passengers
    Why: On landing in Kinsasha, the United Nations plane encountered rainy weather and crashed at the end of the runway, breaking into several pieces. Witnesses say the plane encountered windshear at 65 feet and fell straight down. At least eight were thrown from the plane when it broke. There were 32 fatalities. There was one survivor. The crew was composed of Georgians.

    The rain helped put out the fire, according to firefighters. The black box was recovered.

    The lone survivor, Francis Mwamba, a Congolese journalist, was taken to Biamba Marie Mutombo hospital.

    The plane was also reported as a Fokker.

    Airzena Georgian Airways made this statement:

    “Airzena Georgian Airways” regrets to confirm an accident occurred at Kinshasa airport, capital of Democratic Republic of Congo on 4 April, 10 at 13:00 GMT.The flight was operated under UN mission by aircraft of type CRJ-100 enroute from Goma to Kinshasa. The landing was performed in adverse weather conditions. The aircraft sufferred crash landing, broke up into parts and caught fire.

    According to the currently available information crew and passengers died in the accident. The number is specified.

    The accident is being investigated officially to determine its possible cause.

    “Airzena Georgian Airways” is deeply shocked about the accident and expresses its condolences to the family members of the perished.


    View Kinshasa Airport,congo in a larger map

  • | | | | |

    Air Blue Report: Where Are You?

    Do we know more than we did before the investigations? No, we do not. Because after almost 9 months, we still haven’t heard the official investigation of the Air Blue Airbus that crashed in Margalla Hills on July 28, 2010. And this is not one of those cases where the blackboxes disappeared. The black boxes on this flight were located and sent to France for processing.


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

    What: AirBlue Airbus A321-200 en route from Karachi to Islamabad Pakistan
    Where: Margalla Hills about 10nm north of Islamabad
    When: Jul 28th 2010
    Who: 146 passengers and 6 crew
    Why: While on approach to Islamabad in poor weather conditions during monsoon rain and low visibility, radio contact was lost (at 09:45) and the plane impacted the terrain.

    Helicopters flew into the mountainous area, which is difficult to access. Initial reports were that there were no survivors then helicopters were reported to have flown five survivors to hospitals. Six bodies have been recovered including the pilot but there are no survivors (in spite of the video report.)

    Scheduled 14 CFR Non-U.S., Commercial operation of Airblue
    Accident occurred Wednesday, July 28, 2010 in Islamabad, Pakistan
    Aircraft: AIRBUS A321, registration: AP-BCB
    Injuries: 157 Fatal.
    On July 28, 2010, Airblue flight 202, an Airbus A321 with IAE V2500 engines, registration AP-BCB, impacted terrain in the Margilla Hills during approach to runway 12 at Benazir Bhutto International Airport (OPRN), Islamabad, Pakistan. All 150 passengers and 7 crewmembers onboard were fatally injured and the airplane was destroyed. The flight was a regularly scheduled passenger flight from Jinnah International Airport, Karachi, Pakistan (OPKC) to OPRN.

  • | | |

    UN Plane Crashes in Stormy Congo


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

    What: United Nations/Georgian Airways Canadair CL-600-2B19 Regional Jet CRJ-100ER en route from Kinshasa-N’Djili Airport (FIH) to Kisangani (FKI) and Entebbe (EBB), Uganda and back.
    Where: Kinshasa-N’Djili Airport (FIH) Congo
    When: 04 APR 2011 2 pm local time
    Who: 29 passengers 3 crew
    Why: On the final leg of the flight, the plane crashed in rainy weather. The pilot attempted a landing in heavy rain, and broke in two. There were some who initially survived who were taken to Biamba Marie Mutombo hospital in the town of Masina, which is fifteen minutes from the Kinshasa airport. Twenty UN workers were aboard. The plane ignited on contact.

    One person survived the crash according to a UN Farhan Haq spokesman.

    * A second source said the plane was a Fokker 834.


  • | |

    Florida Weather Blasts Airshow, Tornadoes Toy with planes

    What: Lakeland Linder Regional 2011 Sun n’ Fun fly-in and exposition
    Where: Central Florida
    When: March 31 2011
    Who: Multiple injuries, no fatalities
    Why: A tornado disrupted a central Florida airshow, although reports that a hanger collapsed on spectators is false. Seven people reported injuries but there were no fatalities. Heavy winds, damaging rain, fallen trees, and alot of wrecked planes. The airshow is planning on reopening Friday. You have to give them credit for that.

    And elsewhere in Florida, the storm caused more problems. At Cape Canaveral exercises were put on hold while the storm passed through.

  • | |

    Tsunami Closes Airports

    Sendai Airport in Northern Japan was inundated by a tsunami and remained shut down.
    Narita, which focuses on long international flights, was partially re-opened today.
    Haneda, Tokyo’s other airport, closed for much of the day

    Flights incoming to Tokyo were cancelled due to the quake and tsunami, and some diverted to U.S. Air Force’s Yokota Air

    Nasa Images


    Below is the TSUNAMI WARNING SUPPLEMENT for Hawaii Fri March 11
    000
    WEHW40 PHEB 111649
    TSUHWX

    HIZ001>003-005>009-012>014-016>021-023>026-111849-
    /O.CON.PHEB.TS.W.0001.110311T1649Z-000000T0000Z/

    BULLETIN
    TSUNAMI MESSAGE NUMBER 12
    NWS PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER EWA BEACH HI
    648 AM HST FRI MAR 11 2011

    TO – CIVIL DEFENSE IN THE STATE OF HAWAII

    SUBJECT – TSUNAMI WARNING SUPPLEMENT

    A TSUNAMI WARNING CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR THE STATE OF HAWAII.

    AN EARTHQUAKE HAS OCCURRED WITH THESE PRELIMINARY PARAMETERS

    ORIGIN TIME – 0746 PM HST 10 MAR 2011
    COORDINATES – 38.3 NORTH 142.4 EAST
    LOCATION – NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU JAPAN
    MAGNITUDE – 8.9 MOMENT

    MEASUREMENTS OR REPORTS OF TSUNAMI WAVE ACTIVITY

    GAUGE LOCATION LAT LON TIME AMPL PER
    ——————- —– —— —– ————— —–
    KWAJALEIN MH 8.7N 167.7E 1134Z 0.70M / 2.3FT 16MIN
    CHRISTMAS KI 2.0N 157.5W 1459Z 0.52M / 1.7FT 18MIN
    MANUS PG 2.0S 147.4E 1426Z 0.92M / 3.0FT 36MIN
    PAGO PAGO AS 14.3S 170.7W 1556Z 0.35M / 1.2FT 14MIN
    LUGANVILLE VU 15.5S 167.2E 1537Z 0.54M / 1.8FT 52MIN
    VANUATU 17.8S 168.3E 1532Z 0.69M / 2.3FT 20MIN
    DART 55012 15.8S 158.5E 1517Z 0.04M / 0.1FT 52MIN
    DART 46404 45.9N 128.8W 1440Z 0.11M / 0.3FT 18MIN
    KAPOHO HI 19.5N 154.8W 1408Z 0.06M / 0.2FT 14MIN
    HONOLULU OAHU 21.3N 157.9W 1329Z 0.68M / 2.2FT 32MIN
    HILO HAWAII 19.7N 155.1W 1357Z 1.32M / 4.3FT 24MIN
    KAHULUI MAUI 20.9N 156.5W 1340Z 1.82M / 6.0FT 28MIN
    LAHAINA HI 20.9N 156.7W 1335Z 0.50M / 1.6FT 64MIN
    MILOLII HI 19.2N 155.9W 1350Z 0.67M / 2.2FT 12MIN
    BARBERS PT HI 21.3N 158.1W 1323Z 0.65M / 2.1FT 06MIN
    HONUAPO HI 19.1N 155.6W 1340Z 0.04M / 0.1FT 32MIN
    HALEIWA HI 21.6N 158.1W 1329Z 1.09M / 3.6FT 38MIN
    MAKAPU`U HI 21.3N 157.7W 1312Z 0.49M / 1.6FT 52MIN
    KAWAIHAE HAWAII 20.0N 155.8W 1330Z 0.85M / 2.8FT 56MIN
    HONOKOHAU HI 19.7N 156.0W 1345Z 0.44M / 1.4FT 10MIN
    DART 51407 19.6N 156.5W 1322Z 0.17M / 0.6FT 44MIN
    NAWILIWILI KAUAI 22.0N 159.4W 1311Z 0.64M / 2.1FT 26MIN
    HANALEI HI 22.2N 159.5W 1306Z 0.85M / 2.8FT 28MIN
    TERN FR. FRIGATE US 23.9N 166.3W 1224Z 0.37M / 1.2FT 16MIN
    MALAKAL KOROR PW 7.3N 134.5E 1142Z 0.10M / 0.3FT 40MIN
    LEGASPI PH 13.1N 123.8E 1049Z 0.26M / 0.8FT 58MIN
    DART 46403 52.7N 156.9W 1128Z 0.09M / 0.3FT 60MIN
    DART 52402 11.7N 154.2E 0932Z 0.29M / 0.9FT 22MIN
    DART 46408 49.6N 169.9W 1030Z 0.14M / 0.5FT 18MIN
    DART 21414 48.9N 178.3E 0927Z 0.18M / 0.6FT 24MIN
    MIDWAY 28.2N 177.4W 1054Z 1.26M / 4.1FT 12MIN
    YAP FM 9.5N 138.1E 0951Z 0.18M / 0.6FT 92MIN
    WAKE US 19.3N 166.6E 0928Z 0.38M / 1.2FT 14MIN
    SAIPAN US 15.2N 145.7E 0916Z 0.66M / 2.2FT 30MIN
    TOSASHIMIZU SHIKOKU 32.8N 133.0E 0751Z 0.93M / 3.0FT 64MIN
    OMAEZAKI HONSHU JP 34.6N 138.2E 0660Z 0.99M / 3.2FT 72MIN
    DART 21418 38.7N 148.7E 0619Z 1.07M / 3.5FT 06MIN

    LAT – LATITUDE (N-NORTH, S-SOUTH)
    LON – LONGITUDE (E-EAST, W-WEST)
    TIME – TIME OF THE MEASUREMENT (Z IS UTC IS GREENWICH TIME)
    AMPL – TSUNAMI AMPLITUDE MEASURED RELATIVE TO NORMAL SEA LEVEL.
    IT IS …NOT… CREST-TO-TROUGH WAVE HEIGHT.
    VALUES ARE GIVEN IN BOTH METERS(M) AND FEET(FT).
    PER – PERIOD OF TIME IN MINUTES(MIN) FROM ONE WAVE TO THE NEXT.

    NOTE – DART MEASUREMENTS ARE FROM THE DEEP OCEAN AND THEY
    ARE GENERALLY MUCH SMALLER THAN COASTAL MEASUREMENTS.

    EVALUATION

    A TSUNAMI HAS BEEN GENERATED THAT COULD CAUSE DAMAGE ALONG
    COASTLINES OF ALL ISLANDS IN THE STATE OF HAWAII. URGENT ACTION
    SHOULD BE TAKEN TO PROTECT LIVES AND PROPERTY.

    A TSUNAMI IS A SERIES OF LONG OCEAN WAVES. EACH INDIVIDUAL WAVE
    CREST CAN LAST 5 TO 15 MINUTES OR MORE AND EXTENSIVELY FLOOD
    COASTAL AREAS. THE DANGER CAN CONTINUE FOR MANY HOURS AFTER THE
    INITIAL WAVE AS SUBSEQUENT WAVES ARRIVE. TSUNAMI WAVE HEIGHTS
    CANNOT BE PREDICTED AND THE FIRST WAVE MAY NOT BE THE LARGEST.
    TSUNAMI WAVES EFFICIENTLY WRAP AROUND ISLANDS. ALL SHORES ARE AT
    RISK NO MATTER WHICH DIRECTION THEY FACE. THE TROUGH OF A TSUNAMI
    WAVE MAY TEMPORARILY EXPOSE THE SEAFLOOR BUT THE AREA WILL
    QUICKLY FLOOD AGAIN. EXTREMELY STRONG AND UNUSUAL NEARSHORE
    CURRENTS CAN ACCOMPANY A TSUNAMI. DEBRIS PICKED UP AND CARRIED
    BY A TSUNAMI AMPLIFIES ITS DESTRUCTIVE POWER. SIMULTANEOUS HIGH
    TIDES OR HIGH SURF CAN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE THE TSUNAMI HAZARD.

    THE ESTIMATED ARRIVAL TIME IN HAWAII OF THE FIRST TSUNAMI WAVE IS

    0307 AM HST FRI 11 MAR 2011

    MESSAGES WILL BE ISSUED HOURLY OR SOONER AS CONDITIONS WARRANT.
    …SP…

  • | | | | | |

    Dash 8 Has Gusty Landing Ending in Crunch


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

    What: Flugfelag Air Iceland de Havilland Dash 8-100 en route from Reykjavik Iceland to Nuuk Greenland
    Where: Nuuk
    When: Mar 4th 2011
    Who: 31 passengers and 3 crew
    Why: After weather conditions had already delayed the flight for more than a day, passengers were finally able to make the journey. However, on landing, the plane veered off the runway in gusty conditions. The de Havilland Dash received nose, propellers and engines damage, but no one aboard was injured.

    Perhaps they should have delayed the flight for another day.

  • | | | | |

    Tragedy in Honduras


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

    What: Central American Airways – CAA Let L-410UVP-E20 en route from San Pedro Sula-Ramon Villeda Morales Airport to Tegucigalpa-Toncontin
    Where: Santa Ana, Cerro de Hula Honduras
    When: Feb 14 2011
    Who: 2 crew, 12 passengers, 14 fatalities
    Why: The Central American Airways flight from San Pedro Sula to Tegucigalpa departed from San Pedro Sula at 07:04 for the 40 minute flight to Tegucigalpa and crashed at 8:02 in a forested area.

    Crash victims include labor leader, Israel Salinas Castellanos and Pedro Sula businessman Carlos Chahine, who served as minister Economy. The plane’s captain was Eduardo Ernesto Pach Pineda, and co-pilot Andersón Mejía. Salinas Elvir and Rodolfo Rovelo were also killed in the crash.

    CREW:
    1. Captain Oscar Anderson
    2. Captain Eduardo Pach
    PASSENGER LIST
    1. Plutarch Molina
    (Business Building)
    2. Peter Jhon
    3. Howar Jeams
    4. Chuk Tom Klein
    5. Joaquin Fernandez
    6. Leda Cabrera
    7. July Alvarenga
    8. Israel Salinas
    9. Carlos Chaín
    10. Alejandra Figueroa
    11. Rodolfo Rovelo
    12. Sara Villacorta

  • | | | |

    Crash in Cork; 6 Fatalities


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer A. Muñiz Zaragüeta

    What: Manx2 leased from Flightline Swearingen SA-227BC Metro III en route from Belfast to Cork
    Where: Cork Airport, Ireland
    When: Feb 10, 2011
    Who: 6 fatalities, 6 hospitalized (12 aboard) 10 passengers, 2 crew
    Why: The plane was on approach to Runway 17 in fog and low visability. The plane made a go-around. The pilot attempted a second landing on Runway 35. The flight made a second go-around; on the second approach to Runway 17 the aircraft crashed and flipped.

    The plane is an 18-seater Fairchild Metroliner leased by Manx 2 with the flight number BPS 7100.

    The Spanish pilot and his British co-pilot are among the fatalities; also, Pat Cullinan, a partner in KPMG from Omagh and worked in the Belfast office of the accountancy firm; businessman Brendan McAleese from Co Tyrone, who is is a first cousin of Dr Martin McAleese, husband of President Mary McAleese.

    A public announcement said “three men from the North, two men resident elsewhere in the United Kingdom, and a male Spanish national” were killed.

    The six survivors (5 men and 1 woman) have been hospitalized at Cork University Hospital.

    Irish Authority Statement
    1015hrs 10 February 2011: Flight Avia No FLT400C a metroliner SW4 with ten passengers and two crew has crashed at Cork Airport. No details of injuries or fatalities are available. The aircraft made an approach to Runway 17 in low vis conditions (Category 2) and went around and did not land and attempted a second landing on Runway 35. The aircraft then went around a second time and came back for an approach to Runway 17. On the second approach to Runway 17 the aircraft crashed adjacent to Taxiway C. Rescue and Fire crew are in attendance. There is a fire and debris has been scattered onto the runway and over a wide area. The accident will be investigated by the Air Accident Unit of the Dept. of Transport. This is correct at this time and may be amended as more detail becomes available.

    Ireland is conducting the investigation.

  • | |

    American Airlines Assists Customers Affected by Weather in Midwest

    FORT WORTH, Texas, Jan. 30, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Due to the anticipated weather impact on the Midwestern United States, American Airlines offers customers the convenience to change their plans. Customers ticketed to travel on American Airlines, American Eagle or AmericanConnection flights to, from or through the airports listed below may change flights as shown without penalty.

    If you are traveling to/from/through those cities on Jan. 31-Feb. 2 and your ticket was issued no later than Jan. 30, you may begin travel as late as Feb. 6.

    • Bloomington/Normal, Ill. (BMI)
    • Cape Girardeau, Mo. (CGI)
    • Cedar Rapids, Iowa (CID)
    • Champaign, Ill. (CMI)
    • Chicago (ORD)
    • Des Moines, Iowa (DSM)
    • Detroit (DTW)
    • Dubuque, Iowa (DBQ)
    • Evansville, Ind. (EVV)
    • Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. (TBN)
    • Fort Wayne, Ind. (FWA)
    • Grand Rapids, Mich. (GRR)
    • Joplin, Mo. (JLN)
    • Kalamazoo/Battle Creek, Mich. (AZO)
    • Kansas City, Mo. (MCI)
    • Kirksville, Mo. (IRK)
    • Manhattan, Kan. (MHK)
    • Marion, Ill. (MWA)
    • Milwaukee (MKE)
    • Moline/Quad Cities, Ill. (MLI)
    • Northwest Arkansas, Ark. (XNA)
    • Oklahoma City, Okla. (OKC)
    • Peoria, Ill. (PIA)
    • Quincy, Ill. (UIN)
    • St. Louis (STL)
    • Springfield, Ill. (SPI)
    • Springfield, Mo. (SGF)
    • Traverse City, Mich. (TVC)
    • Tulsa (TUL)
    • Wichita, Kan. (ICT)
    About American Airlines

    American Airlines, American Eagle and AmericanConnection® serve 250 cities in 40 countries with, on average, more than 3,400 daily flights. The combined network fleet numbers more than 900 aircraft. American’s award-winning AA.com® website provides users with easy access to check and book fares, plus personalized news, information and travel offers. American Airlines is a founding member of the oneworld® Alliance, which brings together some of the best and biggest names in the airline business, enabling them to offer their customers more services and benefits than any airline can provide on its own. Together, its members serve approximately 750 destinations in nearly 150 countries and territories. American Airlines, Inc. and American Eagle Airlines, Inc. are subsidiaries of AMR Corporation. AmericanAirlines, American Eagle, AmericanConnection, AA.com, We know why you fly and AAdvantage are trademarks of American Airlines, Inc.

  • | | | | | | |

    Iran Air Boeing Crashes in Terman village


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

    What: Iran Air Boeing 727-200 en route from Tehran Mehrabad to Uromiyeh
    Where: Uromiyeh Iran
    When: Jan 9th 2011 7:45pm
    Who: 94 passengers and 12 crew (alternately reported as 93 passengers and 11 crew)
    Why: The weather was foggy and it was snowing. While on final approach to Urmia Airport runway 21 the crew had to perform a go-around, but five miles from the airport struck the mountainous area of Terman village.

    The Deputy Minister of Roads and Transportation reported this as a crash during a forced landing outside the airport.

    The impact shattered the plane. 33 were rescued by emergency responders and hospitalized. 73 bodies were recovered, including all 12 crew members. There are 77 confirmed dead (currently), 42 of whom have been identified.

  • | | | | | |

    Russian Military Crash


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

    What: Russian Air Force Antonov 22A en route from Voronezh to Tver-Migalovo
    Where: Krasny Oktyabr, Tula Region, Russia
    When: Dec 28, 2010, 21:30
    Who: 12 crewmembers (all fatalities)
    Why: After disappearing from radar at 21:30, the Russian military transport plane on a return flight after delivering a MiG-31 fighter jet to the Voronezh Military Aviation Engineering University crashed near Krasny Oktyabr, Tula Region, Russia. There was no cargo. The burning remains were sighted by air patrols on Tuesday at 23:36 four kilometres from the village of Troitskoye. Witnesses heard an explosion.

    Two on site recovery teams hampered by a blizzard and brutal cold weather found that all 12 crew members had been killed. Russian reports speculate that the cause was engine failure. The Antonov is a military cargo turboprop.

    The Russian military is grounding all planes with similar engines, pending determination of the cause of the crash.

  • | | | |

    Jackson Hole Taxiway Excursion


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

    What: American Airlines 757-200 en route from Chicago to Jackson Wyoming
    Where: Jackson Hole Wyoming
    When: December 29, 2010
    Who: 171 passengers, 10 crew
    Why: On landing in snowy Jackson Hole, the pilot announced the brakes were not working properly, and the plane overran the runway nose-first into what is described as a deep snowbank. Jackson Hole had 7 inches of snow overnight and light snow was falling as the plane slid 350 feet past the runway overrun. There were no reports of injury or damage. Passengers disembarked via stairway after airport crews plowed an access route. Traffic was diverted from the runway, as passengers were shuttled to the gate, and snow equipment was engaged to dig the plane out.

  • | | | |

    Ethiopia 409: Almost A Year Later


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Alastair T. Gardiner

    Update:

    It has been 11 months since the crash, and families of the 90 people who died in the crash are fretting over delays in their insurance settlement. Families approaching the EIC (Ethiopian Insurance Corporation) plead for their compensation to no avail. At least the families who have hired foreign lawyers have some auxiliary power to help supplement their efforts.

    The cause of the delays have been attributed to the insurance companies trying to avoid “controversial” claims, time-consuming paperwork, and waiting for the final findings of the official accident report, which is slated to be released on Jan 25 2011, exactly a year after the tragedy.

    What: Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 en route from Beirut to Addis Ababa
    Where: 2 miles west of the coastal village of Na’ameh.
    When: Jan 25 2010
    Who: 7 crew 83 passengers
    Why: Shortly after taking off in stormy weather and heavy lightning, Lebanese ATC lost contact. The plane disappeared from radar 45 minutes after leaving Beirut. Witnesses on the coast saw the plane as it crashed into the sea.

  • | | | |

    Moscow Runway Excursion

    What: UTAir Avions de Transport Regional ATR-72-200 en route from Kazan to Moscow
    Where: Moscow
    When: Dec 27th 2010
    Who: 52 passengers
    Why: On landing at Vnukovo Airport (Moscow), the plane skidded and came to rest off the runway stuck in snow. There were no injuries reported.

  • | | | |

    Plane Crashes in Kathmandu

    What: Tara Air de Havilland DHC-6-300 Twin Otter en route from Lamidanda to Kathmandu
    Where: Okhaldhunga, Palunge Mountain, Nepal
    When: Dec 15th 2010
    Who: 19 passengers and 3 crew
    Why: Five minutes after takeoff, Air Traffic Control lost contact with the plane.

    The flight was scheduled to arrive in Kathmandu 35 minutes after departure and it never arrived.

    The wreckage was found at 8850 feet, where it crashed into Palunge Mountain.
    All the bodies have been recovered.

  • Cold Snap Freezes O’Hare

    O’Hare has cancelled more than 75 flights (17,000 including Midway) leaving travelers stuck at OHare, where hundreds of cots have been set up. While it is only a few inches of snow, current conditions are cloudy with wind NW at 19 mph, and a high temperature of 15° F and a low of 7°.

    …See more on Chicago weather

  • | | |

    Severe Winter Weather Expected to Affect United and Continental Flights in Midwest

    CUSTOMERS TRAVELING TO IMPACTED CITIES MAY RESCHEDULE WITHOUT PENALTY ON UNITED.COM OR CONTINENTAL.COM

    CHICAGO, Dec. 11, 2010

    United Continental Holdings, Inc. ( today announced travel options for United Airlines and Continental Airlines customers whose flight plans may be affected by severe winter weather forecast for the Midwest this weekend. Weather conditions are expected to make air travel difficult, with the likelihood of delays and cancellations of flights at United’s hub at Chicago O’Hare International Airport and Continental’s hub at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.

    Operations at other airports throughout the Midwest will also be affected by severe weather. Customers should check their flight status on united.com or continental.com before leaving for the airport.

    Change Flights for No Fee at united.com or continental.com

    Customers scheduled on flights to, from or through the region, including Chicago and Cleveland, through Dec. 13 may reschedule their itinerary with a one-time date or time change, and the change fees will be waived. If a flight has been canceled, a refund in the original form of payment may be requested. Complete details and eligible travel dates are available at united.com and continental.com.

    The fastest and most convenient way to change travel plans is via united.com or continental.com, and customers should continue to manage their reservations on the respective company’s website from which their ticket was purchased. Customers may also book a new reservation, change an existing reservation or check flight status by calling United Reservations at 800-UNITED-1 or Continental Reservations at 800-525-0280 or their travel agent. Another excellent way to receive information about flight delays, cancellations and gate changes is with United’s EasyUpdate service or Continental’s TripAlert service, which provide customers notifications via phone, text or e-mail.

    About United Continental Holdings, Inc.

    United Continental Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: UAL) is the holding company for both United Airlines and Continental Airlines. Together with United Express, Continental Express and Continental Connection, these airlines operate a total of approximately 5,800 flights a day to 371 airports on six continents from their hubs in Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Guam, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark Liberty, San Francisco, Tokyo and Washington, D.C. United and Continental are members of Star Alliance, which offers 21,000 daily flights to 1,160 airports in 181 countries. United’s and Continental’s more than 80,000 employees reside in every U.S. state and in many countries around the world.For more information about United Continental Holdings, Inc., go to UnitedContinentalHoldings.com. For more information about the airlines, see united.com and continental.com, and follow each company on Twitter and Facebook.

    SOURCE United Continental Holdings, Inc.

  • |

    Storm Arrives at Beirut Airport


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

    What: Flying Carpet Air Transport & Services Piper PA-28-235 Pathfinder
    Where: Beirut International Airport, Lebanon
    When: Dec 11, 2010
    Why: In the course of inclement weather in Beirut, a number of small planes (including the above-listed Piper) parked on the tarmac were damaged. The storm caused delay in incoming /outgoing flights, heavily damaging at least four small training planes which were flipped or rammed into electrical poles. Winds were tracked at over 60 mph. Waves reached a height of up to 23 feet (7 meters). Heavy rains flooded the streets in Beirut and snow forced some road closures in remote mountain towns.

  • | | | | |

    Prison Transport Helicopter Crashes in Mexico, several fatalities

    What: Mexico’s Atty General’s Office Bell 412 helicopter#HFJ XC
    Where: Veracruz, Mexico
    When: December 8, 2010, 16:30
    Who: 4 fatalities, 11 aboard
    Why: While en route to Villa Aldama prison, the helicopter, carrying Pilot, copilot, six federal police, a prosecutor and two detainees crashed in bad weather, strong winds, low visibility. There were three fatalities on the scene, three injured. Later it was confirmed 4 guards were killed, the two pilots are in serious condition.

  • | | | | |

    Newcastle: Snowy Runway Overrun


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

    What: Thomson Boeing 737-800 en route from Lanzarote to Newcastle
    Where: Newcastle
    When: Nov 25th 2010
    Who: 189 passengers
    Why: It was snowing when the plane landed at Newcastle, and due to pavement conditions, the plane overran the runway. Passengers disembarked via stairs on the runway and were taken by bus to the terminal. Apparently no one was injured, but anyone who has been a passenger in a hydroplaning vehicle can sympathize with the passengers fear.

  • | | | | |

    Vueling Skids off Orly Runway


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

    What: Vueling Airbus A320-200 en route from Barcelona to Paris
    Where: Paris
    When: Nov 26th 2010
    Who: 96 passengers
    Why: While landing in snowy weather, the plane skidded off the runway. Passenger disembarked via stairs directly on to the runway, though they were taken by bus to the terminal.

  • | |

    Helicopter Crashes in Nepal

    What: Fishtail Air Aérospatiale AS 350B Ecureuil en route from Lukla Airport to Mount Ama Dablam
    Where: near Mount Ama Dablam base camp
    When: Nov 7 2010
    Who: 2 aboard; 2 fatalities Captain Sabin Basnet and Engineer Purna Awale
    Why: After flying from Kathmandu to Lukla at 8 a.m, the helicopter was the rescue team who had flown to Mount Ama Dablam to rescue two stranded Japanese mountaineers. After taking off at Lukla, the helicopter lost contact.

    A Fishtail Air helicopter search found the remains.

  • | | | | | |

    Cuban Flight Crashes; All aboard are Lost


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

    What: Aerocaribbean ATR-72-500 en route from Santiago to Havana
    Where: Guasimal, Sancti Spiritus Cuba
    When: Nov 4 2010
    Who: with 61 passengers and 7 crew
    Why: The last flight to leave Santiago before the airport closed due to tropical storm Tomas disappeared from radio contact at 5:42 pm while over Guasimal not far from the Zaza Reservoir. The crew made an emergency call at 5:42. 40 cubans were aboard and 28 non-cubans (9 Argentinian, 7 Mexican, 3 Dutch, 1 French, 2 German, 2 Austrian, 1 Italian, 1 Spanish, 1 Venezuelan, and 1 Japanese).

    A hospital worker said “The plane made several abrupt movements before crashing to the ground.” Rescuers hiked in through thick vegetation (using bulldozers to get through the vegetation to find the plane shattered and in flames and no survivors.

    Tropical storm Tomas developed into a hurricane. Cuba declared a state of alert.

    The ongoing investigation has not ruled that weather is the definitive factor because the storm had not reached Cuba at the time of the crash.

    Cuban state airline Cubana de Aviacion owns Aerocaribbean. The flight normally flies twice a week from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, to Santiago de Cuba to Havana