What: Kingfisher Airlines A320 en route from Mumbai to New Delhi
Where: Mumbai
When: Oct 8 2010,
Who: 120 passengers
Why: After takeoff, the flight incurred a bird strike.
The crew made an emergency landing back in Mumbai. Passengers disembarked, and will be provided an alternative flight. Meanwhile, maintenance will be examining any damage to the plane committed in the bird strike.
What: Singapore Airlines B773 en route from Moscow to Singapore
Where: Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Airport
When: Oct 3 2010, midnight
Who: 262 passengers
Why: The flight was en route when Moscow police contacted the pilots and told them there was a possible bomb on board.
Delhi, the nearest airport, refused to allow them to land due to the Commonwealth Games, but they were permitted to divert to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Airport where they made a safe landing around midnight.
Passengers disembarked, and the plane was isolated and the baggage searched.
What: Air India Airbus A310-300 en route from Kozhikode India to Riyadh Saudi Arabia
Where: Nedumbasseri International Airport at Kochi
When: Oct 2nd 2010
Who: 197 passengers (11 in J, 180 in economy, and six infants) and 12 crew
Why: The flight originated in Nedumbasseri at 4.30am and went from there to Kozhikode. Forty-five minutes after leaving Kozhikode, the crew reported fumes in the cabin. The two Indian pilots diverted to Kochi, made a safe landing and passengers were evacuated. Emergency vehicles, including fire trucks, were on standby as the flight landed. The plane was isolated for maintenance, which found a problem in engine 2 on the right.
Passengers reported a high degree of alarm from the rapid descent, the cabin pressure, and the fire alarm. They were provided an alternative flight.
What: Indian Air Force HAL Chetak/Alouette III en route from Kalaikunda to Bagdoghra
Where: Sundarpahari area, Godda district, Jharkhand state
When: Sept 11 2010
Who: 3 aboard, 3 fatalities
Why: While en route in bad weather, the flight crashed in Sundarpahari near Sinharsi air base. Two pilots and a co pilot were killed. Weather is assumed to be the cause, but the IAF has ordered an inquiry .
What: Spicejet Boeing 737-800 en route from Kolkata to Delhi
Where: Kolkata
When: Sep 8th 2010
Who: 136 passengers
Why: On taxi (or during takeoff) which was already an hour late, the Spicejet’s left engine was smoking.
The pilot noticed the smoke, aborted the flight and returned the plane to the gate where maintenance worked on repairing the problem.
After another delayed departure, the Spicejet was again en route. When the cabin did not pressurize a quarter of an hour later into the flight, the pilot turned back and made an emergency landing in Kolkata.
At 10:20pm, passengers were flown out in a replacement plane.
Pictured: AnIndiGo Airbus
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Contact photographer
What: IndiGo Airbus A320-200 en route from Bhubaneshwar to Delhi
Where: Biju Patnaik Airport, Bhubaneshwar
When: Aug 28th 2010
Who: 140 passengers and 6 crew
Why: On takeoff, the Airbus suffered a bird strike. Ground crew witnessed a part or parts falling. The crew decided to return to Bhubaneshwar where they made a safe landing.
A replacement jet is being flown in to complete the Hyderabad-Bhubaneswar-New Delhi flight.
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Contact photographer Sunandan Subramaniam
What: Jet Airways Boeing 737-800 en route from Mumbai to Chennai
Where: Mumbai
When: Aug 27th 2010
Who: 140 passengers, 6 crew
Why: While taxiing for takeoff, off duty crew reported smoke near the left wing; procedures were not followed (i.e. fire suppression system was not engaged.)
The flight was evacuated; 26 passengers were injured, and the plane received damage from exiting passengers via the overwing exit.
India suspended he six crew members as well as 4 additional crew aboard.
No fire was found.
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Contact photographer Szabo Gabor
What: Emirates Airbus A330-200 en route from Thiruvananthapuram to Dubai
Where: Thiruvananthapuram
When: August 24, 2010
Who: 278 passengers
Why: After a hydraulic probelm developed in the landing gear of the Airbus, the pilot intended to divert to Mumbai, but instead made an emergency landing back at Thiruvananthapuram. It was a safe landing and there were no injuries.
A replacement jet was provided.
What: Air India en route to Delhi
Where: Amausi airport, Lucknow
When: AUG 21, 2010
Who: 137 passengers
Why: On takeoff, one of the flights tire’s burst.
The crew diverted the plane to Amausi airport where they made a safe landing.
Following the Air India Express tragedy in Mangalore India (and definitely in response to it), the DGCA (India’s Directorate-General of Civil Aviation) has been trying to shut the gate after the horses are out. They’re still pointing their fingers at the pilot.
The tape of the crash records the co-pilot Capt H S Ahluwalia (*i.e. the pnf) insisting to Commander Capt Zlatko Glusica to initiate a go-around. The Captain (**i.e. the pf) did not, and the plane landed too far down the runway, clipped an antenna, crashed thru the end of the runway, off the edge of the runway plateau. We can only assume the captain ignored his co-pilot, as no go-around was initiated.
Apparently the pilot was in error and the co-pilot knew it. It must have been obvious to Ahluwalia that they were landing at the wrong angle too far down (the middle) of the runway–but he did not act on his knowledge. At any rate, he was in disagreement with his superior officer.
Consequently, the DCGA has issued an operations circular highlighting procedural assertiveness for the co-pilot when he knows the pilot is wrong. The Mangalore tragedy is not mentioned by name, but it is certainly the silent subtext.
Did the crash occur because the co-pilot did not take the controls? What exactly will this circular accomplish? Had this circular been public already, would the pilot and co-pilot have ended up in a wrestling match over controls of the airplane?
It will be interesting to hear from pilots about what they think the consequences of this directive might be, and if they think a cultural context may play a part.
I always turn to the experts. Right now, before the full investigation is out, I am hearing a lot of speculative “pilot error” but it is all speculation. But is it all pilot error?
My experts remind me that “Every incident is linked to a chain of events. Each event alone is not sufficient reason to provoke an accident although when they link together the chances are multiplied and sometimes the accident occurs.” ( I am quoting a pilot.)
For example, if pilot fatigue were a contributing factor (landing at dawn after a long tiring duty cycle), isn’t the carrier’s policy on pilot fatigue a contributory factor?
The Boeing 737 landed midway on runway 24, and then overshot it, crashing into a gorge. Initial reports on the civil aviation website showed runway 27 mislabeled as runway 24. The actual crash site was not even pictured, a mistake that certainly casts doubt on the quality of the investigation, and possibly even the quality of the resources available to pilots at the time they were negotiating a landing. What did their map say? Is a pilot alone in error if the resources provided him are in error? I know I am digressing, but the point I want to make is this:
I don’t have years of flight school, or engineering training but I do have opinion. And in my opinion, pilot error alone does not cause a crash like this.
Terminology
*pnf – pilot not flying
**pf – pilot flying
—
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Contact photographer WT
What: Air India Express Boeing 737-800 en route from Dubai to Mangalore
Where: Mangalore airport
When: 6:00 a.m May 22 2010
Who: 160 (?) passengers including 23 children, 6 crew= 158 fatalities and 8 survivors
Why: Air India Express flight 812 attempted touch down was around the middle marker. (Conflicting) reports are that it overshot the runway, and that the pilot intended a go round (tapes reveal the co pilot was urging a go-round) but the plane hit the localizer antenna at the runway’s end, plowed through the perimeter losing part of a wing, and went down 75 feet into a ravine, and broke into pieces and burst into flames. On touchdown, there was a reported “bang” which may have been a tire bursting. A drizzle started after the accident. From 5 to 10 people have been hospitalized, but according to reports there are possibly 3 survivors.
Survivor Abdul Puttur suffered burns. He was seated near the wing exit and said that the pilot had announced the landing, then there was a thud. He saw huge flames after the plane fell into the ravine and then he jumped out from the back entrance. Another passenger said the pilot made no announcement.
The Serbian pilot was Zlatko Glusica, first officer was S.S. Ahluwalia.
According to DGCA rules, Mangalore International Airport is deemed a “critical airfield” which means that “supervised take offs and landings” are prohibited. Only the captain (not the first officer) can pilot take-offs and landings. Mangalore International Airport has a controversial table top runway and which forces pilots to make a precision landing. The airport has no buffer zone, and pilots landing planes must fly precisely or risk hurtling off the edge.
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Contact photographer Jordi Grife
What: PIA Pakistan International Airlines Boeing 747-300 en route from Islamabad to Karachi
Where: Karachi
When: Aug 7th 2010
Who: 400 passengers
Why: After landing in heavy rain, the plane was in the process of taxiing to the gate when the crew was informed that the tires had blown on landing. Passengers disembarked via mobile stairs directly on to the tarmac and were provided transport to the gate.
COURT OF INQUIRY INTO THE CAUSE OF ACCIDENT TO B737-800 AIRCRAFT VT-AXV ON 22.05.2010 AT MANGALORE AIRPORT
An Air India Express Boeing 737-800 aircraft VT-AXV met with an accident at Bajpe Airport, Mangalore on 22nd May 2010, while operating a scheduled flight IX-812 from Dubai to Mangalore, resulting in tragic death of 152 passengers and 6 crew members.
A Court of Inquiry has been ordered by the Government of India, vide Notification No AV.15013/02/2010-DG dated 3rd June, 2010. As per the notification, the Headquarters of the Court of Inquiry will be at New Delhi. The court is required to submit its report by 31st August, 2010.
Constitution of the Court of Inquiry: –
The court consists of the following: –
(a) Air Marshal (Retd) BN Gokhale : Chairman
(b) Capt Ron Nagar : Assessor
(c) Shri SS Nat : Assessor
(d) Shri Babu Peter : Assessor
(e) Shri Gurcharan Bhatura : Assessor
(f) Shri SN Dwivedi :Secretary to the Court
A brief Bio-data of each member of the Court of Inquiry is given below: –
Air Marshal BN Gokhale
Air Marshal BN Gokhale PVSM AVSM VM (Retd) was commissioned into the Indian Air Force in June 1968. He has flown over 3500 hours on various fighter and trainer aircraft and has taken active part in 1971 operations. He is a Qualified Flying Instructor and a Fighter Combat Leader from the prestigious Tactics and Combat Development Establishment. During his illustrious career, he has held several operational and staff appointments, He has commanded a frontline
fighter squadron during the Siachen Operations. He has been Chief Operations Officer of an operational base and has also commanded a premier air base. Air Marshal Gokhale has been an Instructor at the Defence Services Staff College and Inspector at Directorate of Air Staff Inspection. He has had assignments abroad which include Flying Instructor in Iraq and Indian Defence Advisor in Embassy of India, Cairo. Apart from being a graduate of the Defence Services Staff College, he is an Alumnus of Air War College, USA and a Fellow of Aeronautical Society of India.
He has served as Air Advisor to the Chief of Air Staff, Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Operations) and Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of IAF Training Command, Bengaluru, prior to taking over as the Vice Chief of Air Staff. On retirement as the VCAS in Dec 2007 he has been appointed as Scientific Consultant to the Principal Scientific Advisor to Govt of India. He is also appointed as Consultant to DRDO and National Security Council.
Captain Ron Nagar
Capt Ron Nagar is the Senior Vice President (Flight Operations and Training) with King Fisher Airlines Pvt. Ltd.
He is an accomplished pilot with 37 years of experience in Flight Operations wherein he has been Executive Director (Safety) and Chief Executive (Training) at Indian Airlines. He has been a Training Captain for 30 years, a TRE (Examiner) on Boeing 737,Airbus A320 family and HS 748.
He has participated in several international seminars and training courses, related Human Factors, Aviation Security, IOSA awareness, Aircraft accident prevention, Emergency Response and Crisis communication. He was also a Simulator instructor and has evaluated Simulators.
Shri SS Nat
Shri SS Nat, Deputy Director General of Civil Aviation, India (Retd) is a Type-rated Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Licence holder with rich experience in Civil Aviation. He has successfully completed DGCA approved Maintenance Training on Heavy Aircraft and Jet Engines.
He has worked for about 30 years in the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India in various capacities and retired as Deputy Director General in 2006. He was Head of Airworthiness Wing of DGCA from 1996 to 2004. He has been associated in the formation of various Civil Aviation Requirements during his tenure with DGCA.
He has also carried out Audits, Surveillance inspections and Surprise Checks on Scheduled, Charter and General Aviation operators during his tenure with DGCA to ensure compliance of regulatory requirements.
He was a member of the initial stage accident investigation Team for the crash of Alliance Air’s Boeing 737 aircraft at Patna on 17 July 2000.
Shri Babu Peter
He is a graduate of Electrical Engineering from Regional Engineering College Calicut, Kerala. He joined Air India as a Graduate Engineer in 1971, and has worked as a Licensed Aircraft Maintenance
Engineer over 25 years. He holds valid licenses on several Boeing and Airbus aircraft and their Engines.
He was the Director of Engineering Air India from 2002 to 2004 and the Director of Engine Overhaul in Air India from 2004 to 2005. He later moved over to Indian Airlines as Functional Director and Board Member and retired from Indian Airlines in 2006.
He is presently working as Executive Vice President Engineering in GoAir. He is also a Fellow of Aeronautical Society of India and was the Chairman of Academic Committee in the year 2008-09. In the past he has also been Assessor to the Court of Inquiry in to two aircraft accidents in the past. Boeing 737 accident at Palam, in 1995 and Dornier 228 accident in Kochi.
Shri Gurcharan Bhatura
Shri Gurcharan Bhatura specializes in Air Traffic Management and Airport Operations. After completing the ab-initio programme for Air Traffic Controller, he started his career at Delhi airport and acquired all the possible ratings. Director General Civil Aviation appreciated his services when he saved a Boeing 747 aircraft from landing on a wrong runway at Delhi Airport. Subsequently he specialised in airport operations and held the position of Airport Director at Chennai, Kolkata and Mumbai airports. He is also recognized for his analytical abilities and management skills. Prior to his retirement in 2005, he was Executive Director in AAI.
A fellow of the Aeronautical Society of India and Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, he is presently Director General of Foundation for Aviation and Sustainable Tourism – a think tank in Civil Aviation. With 42 year long association with Civil Aviation Industry, he has written several well-researched articles on related subjects.
Shri SN Dwivedi
Shri S N Dwivedi is Graduate in Electrical Engineering and Post Graduate in Management. Presently, he is working as Director of Airworthiness at DGCA Hqrs., New Delhi and has vast experience in Civil Aviation Department since 1986 till date. During his service in Civil Aviation Department, he has completed the various professional and technical courses covering Heavy Aircraft and Jet Engines including Boeing 737 and Airbus A – 320 aircraft.
Shri S N Dwivedi has been involved in Court of Inquiries for investigation of the following aircraft accidents:
? Indian Airlines Boeing 737-200 Aircraft VT-ECS accident on 2nd December, 1995 at IGI Airport, Palam, New Delhi, headed by Air Marshal (Retd.) JK Seth, PVSM, AVSM, VM.
? Archana Airways LET – 410 Aircraft VTC accident on 11th July, 1996 at Kullu, headed by Air Marshal (Retd.) S Ramdas, PVSM, AVSM, VM.
? High level inquiry committee into escalator accident on 13th December, 1999 at IGI Airport, Palam, New Delhi, headed by Shri RC Jain, IAS (Retd.)
? Alliance Air Boeing 737-200 Aircraft VT-EGD accident on 17th July, 2000 at Patna Airport, headed by Air Marshal P Rajkumar, PVSM, AVSM, VM.
Convening of the Court:
On the very next day of the Government Notification, the court convened on 4th June, 2010. The Court took stock of the situation and available information. The Chairman along with all the members met the officials of the Ministry of Civil Aviation regarding some of the administrative arrangements.
Investigation Process:
In an accident of such a nature, the DGCA appoints an Inspector of Accident immediately. This is done to take stock of all the activities relating to accident till the Court of Inquiry is instituted by the Government of India. The Inspector of Accident is required to submit his reports giving his observations / findings to the Court of Inquiry constituted by the Government of India. Thereafter, the Court of Inquiry takes over the charge of accident investigation.
Senior officers of DGCA reached Mangalore on 22nd May, 2010 itself for a first hand appraisal. The search for Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) known as ‘Black Box’ was initiated. CVR records the conversation of the flight crew among themselves and with ATC including any sound in the cockpit. DFDR records various parameters of the aircraft, engines and their systems. CVR and DFDR were recovered from the wreckage with the outer casing damaged due to heavy fire and impact during accident. However, the data storage module appeared to be intact. Since suitable facility to retrieve the data from partially damaged CVR and DFDR do not exist in our country, the Court of Inquiry decided to carry out decoding of these recorders at the facility of M/s National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Washington DC, USA.
Visit to the Accident Site:
The members of the Court of Inquiry visited Mangalore airport and the accident site from 7th to 9th June, 2010. The members of the court observed two minutes silence to pray for the departed souls at the crash site.
The members of the Court of Inquiry met with Emergency Response Team which took part in the post crash Search and Rescue (SAR) operation; and heard their observations of the fateful day. The court visited ATC Tower, Area Control, Fire Station, and Meteorological Office and met the personnel who were on duty on the day of the accident. The court also met and interacted with the officials of District
Civil Administration, City Police, City Fire Service, District Health Administration and Air India Express personnel at the airport, who were involved in the post accident search and rescue operation.
The Court also visited the city hospitals where two of the eight survivors are undergoing treatment. The Court interacted with the team of doctors treating them in the hospitals. The survivors narrated their experiences to the Court.
Interaction with Key personnel of M/s Air India Express:
The Court visited the facilities of M/s Air India Express at Mumbai and met its key officials in the evening of 9th June, 2010. The Air India Express officials made presentations regarding their Organisational Structure, Flight Operations, Maintenance and other facilities including Emergency Response Plans.
Brief of Boeing 737-800 aircraft:
Boeing 737-800 aircraft is an upgraded version of Boeing 737 aircraft family. The passenger seating capacity of this aircraft is 186 and is manned by 2 operating and 4 cabin crew. Its maximum take off weight is 77110 Kg. The aircraft is powered with two CFM-56 Jet Engines. The Manufacturer’s Serial Number (MSN) of the ill-fated aircraft is 36333, Line No. 2481 and it was manufactured during the year 2008. This Boeing 737-800 aircraft was delivered to Air India Express during January, 2008. This aircraft had accumulated 7189 Flight Hours and 2829 Landings, till the date of accident.
Brief of the Crew-members:
The Commander of the ill-fated aircraft was Capt Glusica Zlatko , of Serbian origin and British Nationality paired with First Officer HS Ahluwalia, an Indian National, as co-pilot. There were four cabin crew members namely Miss Sujata Survase, Miss Tejal Anil Kumar Kamulkar, Mr Yugantar Rana and Mr Mohammad Ali.
Capt Glusica Zlatko had a total experience of about 10,200 Flying Hours, out of which, he had total Command Experience of about 7630 Flying Hours. He had flown about 2770 Flying Hours as Pilot-in-Command (PIC) on Boeing 737 aircraft. He was examined by the DGCA and issued with authorization called Foreign Aircrew Temporary Authorization (FATA) to operate Indian registered aircraft.
First Officer HS Ahluwalia had a total flying experience of about 3650 hours. He had flown about 3350 hours as Co-pilot on Boeing 737 aircraft and operated 66 flights to Mangalore Airport.
Synopsis of the accident:
Air India Express Boeing 737-800 aircraft VT-AXV was operating scheduled Flight No IX-812 from Dubai to Mangalore on 22nd May, 2010 with 160 passengers and 6 crew members on board. This aircraft was given clearance to land on runway 24 by the Mangalore Air Traffic Control (ATC) Tower. However, during landing, the aircraft departed the paved surface including the Runway End Safety Area (RESA). The right wing impacted the localizer structure at the end of the RESA. Thereafter, the aircraft hit the boundary fence, fell into the gorge and caught fire. Due to impact and fire, the aircraft was destroyed. In this tragic accident, 152 passengers and 6 crew members lost their lives. Seven passengers sustained serious injuries and one person escaped with minor bruises.
Rescue Operations:
The rescue operation was initiated by the officials of Airport Authority of India (AAI). AAI and Air India Express were assisted by the officials of District Administration. Local population was involved in the rescue operation In full force and their involvement was appreciated by all concerned. The survivors were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment. Thereafter, Volunteers of Air India Emergency Response Team, commonly known as Air India Angels, worked tirelessly to provide succour to the injured and to the bereaved families.
Analysis of CVR and DFDR:
A team consisting of three members of the Court of Inquiry left for Washington DC, USA from 21st to 25th June, 2010 for analysis and decoding of the CVR and DFDR at the facilities of M/s National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Government of United States of America. All the activities were carried out under strict supervision of the Court of Inquiry.
The data recovered from these Recorders is being analysed by the Court along with other material evidence.
Notification:
A notification is being published in the News Papers inviting any information or evidence on this accident. Such information should reach the court by 20th July 2010 by Post, Fax or e-mail as per the details given below:
Shri SN Dwivedi
The Secretary to the Court of Inquiry – Boeing 737-800 aircraft VT- AXV accident at Mangalore
Office of DGCA, Technical Centre,
Opposite Safdarjung Airport,
New Delhi 110003
Tel. 011 24611357
Fax. 011 24692374
e-mail coi.voml@gmail.com
coivoml.moca@nic.in
sndwivedi@hotmail.com
Public Hearing:
The Court also plans to hold Public Hearings at Mangalore and Delhi for the convenience of those who wish to participate in the deliberations. Dates and Venue of these Public Hearings will be notified at a later date.
SEATTLE, July 26, 2010 — Boeing on July 16 successfully completed the final design review (FDR) for P-8I, India’s long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft. The P-8I, based on the Boeing 737 commercial airplane, is a variant of the P-8A Poseidon that Boeing is developing for the U.S. Navy.
Completion of the FDR locks in the design for the aircraft, radar, communications, navigation, mission computing, acoustics and sensors, as well as the ground and test support equipment. It also paves the way for the program to begin assembling the first P-8I aircraft.
“For P-8I, we are incorporating not only India-unique design features, but also India-built subsystems, so this agreement that the design addresses all customer requirements is a huge milestone,” said Leland Wight, P-8I program manager for Boeing. “It also leads us to the program’s next stage: We are on track to start fabricating the P-8I’s empennage section before the end of this year.”
During the five-day FDR held in Renton, Wash., Indian Navy officers met with Boeing representatives from Defense, Space & Security and Commercial Airplanes to review relevant design information and performance against specifications.
“The P-8I’s unique capabilities are tailored to India’s maritime-patrol requirements. It has the reach and capability to defend India’s vast coastline and maritime waters,” said Vivek Lall, vice president and India country lead, Boeing Defense, Space & Security.
Boeing will deliver the first P-8I to India within 48 months of the original contract signing, which took place in January 2009. India is the first customer for the P-8 outside the United States.
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Contact photographer Vivek Manvi
What: Jet Airways Aerospatiale ATR-72-500 en route from Indore to Ahmedabad India
Where: Ahmedabad
When: Jul 22nd 2010
Who: 57 passengers and 4 crew
Why: On landing in Ahmedabad, the nose wheel fell off. Passengers disembarked via stairs directly on the runway and were bussed to the gate.
Aviation is looking alive in India, according to Bombay’s * Economic Times.
The corporation running Air India, National Aviation Company of India (NACIL), is hiring experienced Boeing 737 commanders, and for its Budget division (Air India Express), they are looking for experienced and inexperienced co-pilots.
In this depressed global economy, jobs are always good news. Let’s hope that NACIL’s hiring practices involve some efforts at due diligence (hiring with a certain standard of care) and result in aviation excellence, even in its budget airlines Air India Express.
Hiring is good news…as long as cutting cost in tough times does not mean cutting safety. Even travelers with modest incomes deserve to make it to their destination in one piece.
“Recruitment gathers pace in aviation sector.” Economic Times. July, 2010.
Pictured: A GoAir Airbus A320-214
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Contact photographer Nisarg Vyas
What: Go Air Airbus A320-200 en route from Indore to New Delhi
Where: en route
When: Jul 17th 2010
Who: 134 passengers and 6 crew
Why: While en route, the Go Air Airbus encountered a bird. The plane returned to Indore and made a safe landing. Mechanical damage occurred to the plane, although it is not noted exactly where, or if the bird was ingested in the engine.
The flight was cancelled and passengers were rebooked.
What: Chartered flight en route from Chandigarh to Shimla
Where: Chandigarh
When: June 6, 2010
Who: pilot, co pilot
Why: The plane flew successfully to Shimla airport to pick up VIP passengers but could not land, so it returned to Chandigarh. The problem is reported to be an undisclosed problem in the engine–although the runway at Shimla has been damaged due to erosion and has shrunken from 4,100 to 3,800 feet. The crew made it safely back to Chandigarh for a safe landing
Pictured: An Air India Airbus A320-231
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Contact photographer Avinash – iPilot777
What: Air India Airbus A320-200 en route from Muscat Oman to Kozhikode
Where: Muscat
When: May 20th 2010
Who: 132 passengers
Why: One of the engine’s Exhaust Gas Temperatures rose too high according to indicators, prompting pilots to reject takeoff. Some of the tires popped, but the flight made a safe stop on the runway. The incident predated the Air India crash at Mangalore.
Another incident
Four days after the Mangalore crash, Air India flight flight IX-212 hit an air pocket (or perhaps this could be termed clear air turbulence) while on “auto pilot” while the pilot was apparently in the VC. The flight dived five thousand feet while over Mumbai (reported to be as much as 15,000 feet). 112 passengers and 6 crew members landed safely.
Ground crew and engineers of Air Corporation Employees union are on strike over the gag order issued by Air India, leading to over 40 cancelled flights. The Union had sent 75 members to assist with the critical Mangalore crash. Air India responded to the crash with a gag order to the staff over a Bangalore-Delhi Airbus 320 which had diverted to Mangalore the day of the crash when there was no engineer to certify it except a non-qualified Kingfisher engineer.
On arrival in Delhi, the Air India engineers would not re-certify the Airbus. The rule violation prompted the gag order.
Pictured: A SpiceJet Boeing 737-8GJ over Shannon Ireland
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Contact photographer Trevor Mulkerrins
What: Spicejet Boeing 737-800 en route from New Delhi to Srinagar India
Where: Delhi
When: May 24th 2010
Who: 188 passengers
Why: After a normal takeoff, the crew was advised to return due to debris on the runway. After a flyby during which tire damage was observed, the Spicejet flight made a safe landing. Repairs were made and the flight took off again four hours later. No indication is made of passenger accommodation.
Those involved have been disciplined for breaking India’s “no alcohol 12 hours before flying” rule. Individuals not passing breathalizer testing are grounded for a month.
Pictured: A Thai Airways International Airbus A330-321 over Bangkok
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Amorn PonJaroen
What: Thai Airways Airbus A330-300 TG-318 en route from Mumbai to Bangkok
Where: NSC Bose International Airport Kolkata
When: Mar 25 2010
Who: 238 passengers and 11 crew
Why: When the pilot detected a problem in the fuel dispenser affecting the rate of flow of fuel to the engine, he requested to make an emergency landing in Kolkata.
Ten technicians were flown in to provide maintenance on the plane.
Passengers were provided accommodations (hotel or international lounge), and later booked on a Kolkata-Bangkok flight.
What: JetLite en route from Mumbai to Nagpur
Where: Nagpur
When: Feb 20, 2010
Why: After landing, while the plane was taxiing towards the bay, one of the tires on the nose-wheel deflated. The plane was briefly taken out of commission for repair, inconveniencing some passengers on the scheduled return flight. The pilot appeared to be unaware of the tire’s condition until pointed out on the runway.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Alastair T. Gardiner
What: Air India Airbus A310-300 en route from Mumbai to Delhi
Where: Mumba
When: Dec 26th 2009
Who: not available
Why: When the Air India Airbus encountered a technical problem, the flight returned to make a safe landing in Mumbai.
However, passengers were held inside the plane for three hours; and the replacement flight did not arrive for those passengers for 7 hours.
Those are going to be some unhappy campers. Hopefully Air India will provide them compensation beyond peanuts and drinking water.
What: United Heli Charters BELL 212 en route from Chennai to Pondicherry
Where: Sulerikattukuppam, at Soolerikadu near Mahabalipuram on East Coast Road
When: 9.30am. 22 December 2009
Who: 2 pilots and an engineer
Why: After developing a fuel transmission system problem ( pilot noticed a leak in the transmission) while over the sea, the helicopter descended to a lower altitude. However, the low altitude made communication with ATC difficult, and communication from ATC was triangulated through available aircraft who were able to make contact.
The helicopter made an emergency landing described as “force-landing” and “successful” in the sands near the beach–which hopefully means no injuries.
Sulerikattukuppam is a fishing hamlet off the East Coast Road
