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    Disruptive Jet Blue Passenger Facing Federal Indictment

    What: Jetblue Airbus A320-200 en route from New York to Los Angeles
    Where: Denver
    When: Aug 19 2012
    Who: one disorderly
    Why: On August 22, Marcus Covington was charged with abusive sexual contact and interference with flight crew members and attendants.

    The August 19 flight where the infraction occurred was en route from NY to LA. The Captain diverted to Denver after Covington groped a pregnant woman, argued with flight attendants, and was taken into custody by a special agent who was aboard the flight. Covington, who had been seen taking eight pills of some kind, accosted the pregnant woman near the restroom.

    The complaint says “He then ran his hands up the front of her body going from her crotch up to her breasts. He started with the back of his hands, but turned his hands with his palms facing her as he ran his hands over her breasts. She pushed him away and she got behind the flight attendant that had come up behind her. She then went into the lavatory where she remained crying for approximately five minutes.”

    Covington left the plane in handcuffs.

    Criminal Complaint

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    Emergency Landing on Florida Interstate


    What: Piper PA 32 en route from Davis Island
    Where: I-75 at Gibsonton Drive, Florida
    When: August 23, 2012
    Who: 3 aboard
    Why: The pilot, Charles Pulliam took off from Davis Island en route to Opa Locka AIrport, but began losing oil and had to make an emergency landing. He struck a power line but managed to land on the shoulder of I-75 Northbound. His right wing was cut off halfway after striking a road sign, but neither Pulliam nor his two passengers were injured.
    See Video below

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    Mombasa Air Safari Crash in Kenya Preserve


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

    What: Mombasa Air Safari Let L-410UVP-EP en route from Ngerenge to Mombasa
    Where: Maasai Mara park, Kenya
    When: Aug 22nd 2012
    Who: 11 passengers, four fatalities, seven injured
    Why: The Mombasa Air Safari passenger plane crashed on takeoff at the Ngerende Airstrip. Narok district police chief Peterson Maelo said a middle-aged German man, an elderly German woman and two Kenyan pilots died from their injuries and “Those injured have been flown to Nairobi for treatment.” The ambulance service was Flying Doctors Service.

    Five German tourists, four Americans and two nationals from Czech Republic were aboard the flight.

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    Baton Rough Cockpit Meltdown

    Andrew Alessi was in an accident Interstate 10 and wanted police to kill him; then he bought a ticket, cleared security and when the flight was open for staff to get on board to clean the plane, stormed into the American Eagle jet just ahead of pursuit where he locked himself in the impregnable cockpit. No passengers were aboard.

    The ground crew disconnected the batteries so he couldn’t start the airplane. After three hours, FBI negotiators talked him out. Alessi was put into lockdown after being taken into custody by Baton Rouge Police and faces charges.
    Video Below

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    Cessna Crashes in Village Kindergarten yard

    What: Private Cessna
    Where: Annino, Russia
    When: August 22, 2012
    Who: 2 aboard, 2 fatalities
    Why: The light aircraft crashed and fell not far from St. Petersberg. The two pilots, 1st pilot Victor Ignatiev and 2nd pilot Alexei Syrchin died in the crash near the village of Annino.

    The pilots were taking the plane out just prior to a routine certification test. The pilots were attempted to land because they experienced engine problems, but they did not reach the runway and the plane impacted in the yard of a village kindergarten. No children were in the yard at the time of the crash.

    The plane ignited on impact. One pilot was ejected, and one is locked in the cockpit.

    42 people and 20 vehicles were involved in the rescue/recovery effort.

    The plane had undergone repairs in Poland in 2007.

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    Cessna Crash Cuts Bolivian Festival Short

    What: Servicio Aereo Elorza Cessna U206G Stationair 6
    Where: San Joaquin, Beni Bolivia
    When: August 21, 2012
    Who: 1 aboard, 2 fatalities, 1 injury
    Why: The festival commemorating the 303rd anniversary of the founding of San Joaquin was cancelled.

    A small stunt plane was performing at the event doing cartwheels when the the pilot crashed into a house. The pilot was killed along with a woman in the house. Another person on the ground was injured. Witnesses said Two planes were performing cartwheels when one of them made a turn. the plane’s right wing hit the fence of the cemetery, hit some trees and crashed into the roof of a residence.

    Pilot Ramón Bilbao Mayuve (45) was killed in the crash. The woman who died, Karina Angelica Robles (23) was in her house when it was struck by the aircraft. Sixteen year old Reich Guardia Sosa was seriously injured and hospitalized in the capital.

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    4 Die in Russian Chopper Crash

    What: Kazakhstan Mil Mi-17
    Where: Astana
    When: August 22, 2012, 8:00 a.m.
    Who: 4 aboard, 4 fatalities
    Why: The helicopter was on a training flight when it crashed. All four crew died in the accident. Kazakhstan’s Minister of defense announced that they selected a committee to investigate and “The causes of helicopter crash will be defined by the end of the commission’s work. Given the evidence, the Akmola garrison military prosecutor opened a criminal case on the grounds of an offense under article 392 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan (violation of safety and training.”

    Representatives of the Main Directorate of Flight Safety and state aircraft, the Ministry of Defense, and the Prosecutor’s Office are working at the scene in the military investigation of the Interior Ministry.

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    Tara Air Incident Report unconfirmed

    What: Tara Air de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter en route from Jomsom to Pokhara
    Where: Jomsom Airport, Nepal
    When: August 19, 2012
    Who: 19 aboard, no fatalities
    Why: On taking off from Jomsom airport, the plane slid off the runway and into a river bed.

    The Nepalese army performed the plane retrieval. No fatalities were reported.

    (Note: This item had only one report and was not verified.)

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    Embraer Collision in Brazil Kills 4, Victims Identified

    What: Embraer (Neiva) EMB-711C Corisco en route from Aeroporto Campo dos Amarais, Campinas to Condomínio Aeronáutico Fazenda Bonanza, Sorocaba

    Embraer (Neiva) EMB-711C Corisco
    Where: Santa Bárbara D’Oeste , São Paulo
    When: August 18, 2012 9:30 a.m.
    Who: 2 aboard 2 fatalities
    2 aboard 2 fatalities
    Why: On a training flight, two Embraers collided. This plane crashed in a sugar cane field. Four people died in the crash on the edge of the Bandeirantes Highway.

    Azul Araken de Oliveira Salamene, pilot Cassiano Ricardo Callegaris, flight dispatcher Voninho Souza Aguiar, and Vandeir Fábio de Lima.

    Seripa (Serviços Regionais de Investigação e Prevenção de Acidentes Aeronáuticos) is investigating.

    A witness, Ricaro Paulo Silveira de Souza, said he saw a wing falling. Another witness, Julio Cesar Prestes, said he saw two planes falling from the sky.

    Both planes were taking off from the same airport and going to the same destination but left five minutes apart. On impact, there was an explosion.

    Four burned remains were recovered.

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    Blown tire and Engine Down Leads to Emergency Landing in Newark


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

    What: United Boeing 757-200 en route from Newark to Berlin
    Where: Newark
    When: Aug 18 2012
    Who: 173 aboard
    Why: On takeoff, the plane blew a tire. Simultaneously, the plane gave feedback of problems with both engines, with witnesses seeing fire coming from the left engine. That engine was shut down. The plane managed to circle for two hours to burn off fuel before returning to make a safe landing in Newark.

    In George’s Point of View


    I should probably throw in my usual nag Maintenance! Maintenance! Maintenance! while at the same time praising the CRM and skill of the pilots. This could have certainly come out a much worse report, except that the pilots knew exactly what to do to have a safe outcome.

    –commenting from London

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    Alfa Airlines Plane Crash Kills 32

    What: Alfa Airlines Antonov 24/26 en route from Khartoum to Talodi
    Where: near Talodi
    When: August 19. 2012
    Who: 32 aboard, 32 fatalities, 6 crew, 26 occupants
    Why: Sudanese officials en route to a Muslim festival were aboard a flight that crashed into a hill near Talodi. According to some reports, the 35 year old plane crashed into a mountainside during a dust storm while on a second go-round on approach to the airport; other reports make no reference to mountains or dust and just say the crash occurred during seasonal rains.

    Talodi is a town in South Kordofan.

    Guidance and Endowments (religious affairs) Minister Ghazi al-Sadeq was killed in the crash, along with Mahjoub Abdel Raheem Toutou, state minister for youth and sports, and Eissa Daifallah, state minister for tourism, antiquities and wildlife were aboard the plane.

    Initial reports indicated there were 31 aboard but that number was increased to 32.

    The news video below says the accident occurred during the second go-round during a rain storm.

    Alfa Airlines is on the list of airlines banned within the EU. The captain who was from Russia had been flying with Alfa Airlines for five years, according to “Inquirer News” and was flying with a Sudanese co-pilot.

    See news video below

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    Fighter Jet Bird Strike in Belgium


    What: Belgian Air Force General Dynamics F-16AM Fighting Falcon en route from Kleine-Brogel air base
    Where: Belgium
    When: August 17, 2012, 3:01 p.m
    Who: no fatalities
    Why: About a mile from the Kleine- Brogel air base, the pilot of an F-16 fighter jet ejected after the jet suffered a bird strike. The accident occurred near the town of Peer. The pilot who has 500 hours was on a training flight, and after he ejected, ended up in a tree.

    The plane has been written off as damaged beyond repair. Residents of Peer were told to keep their windows and doors closed because the plane’s tank contained “hydrazine,” a flammable and toxic. News reports now say that the tank was recovered intact.

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    Two of four Lost in Brenda Mines Crash

    What: Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche en route from Pentiction to Boundary Bay
    Where: Brenda Mines, 22 kilometres west of Peachland Canada
    When: August 13, 2012
    Who: 4 aboard, 2 fatalities
    Why: The plane was off course when it crashed at 5 p.m. local time near Brenda Mines. One person died on the scene. Three passengers were hospitalized in Kelowna and Kamloops hospital, where one later died.

    A Cormorant helicopter responded to the emergency beacon and did a flyby over the wreckage before rescuers parachuted in. BC Air Ambulance Service transported injured to the hospital; one was flown to Royal Inland Hospital.

    The first victim was identified as Dallas Smith; the second victim to succumb to injuries was Lauren Sewell, 24. Smith was her boyfriend. The plane ride was a birthday present from Sewell to Smith.
    Video Below

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    Newfoundland Runway Overrun


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

    What: Ilyushin Il-76TD-90VD
    Where: St. John’s International Airport, Newfoundland
    When: Aug 13 2012
    Who: 9 crew
    Why: On landing at St Johns, the plane overran the end of the runway. The plane sustained some damage as well as runway lighting.

    The incident is under investigation. According to the the Canadian TSB, the accident is still in the “Field Phase” during which a team of investigators examine the occurrence site and wreckage, interview witnesses and collect pertinent information.

    Photos courtesy of St. John’s International Airport Authority

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    Andes Approach Is a Bumpy Ride

    What: Air France Boeing 777-200 en route from Paris to Santiago
    Where: Santiago Chile
    When: Aug 6th 2012
    Who: 306 aboard, 8 injured
    Why: While en approach to Santiago, the pilots encountered severe turbulence. The Andes area is well known area for turbulence (Aconcagua mountain (22,831 ft)

    The pilots made a safe landing. Six flight attendants were injured.

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    Dana Air Update (News)


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

    On August 9, 2012 at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, two months after the June 3, 2012 crash, after that all possible DNA testing was complete (only 52 of 149 bodies identified, the rest burnt beyond testability,) the Lagos Government announced that it would release bodies of Dana crash victims to the next of kin.

    Families were requested to contact the Funeral Director’s office on 01-8542254 at the teaching hospital 24 hours before they come to claim the bodies.

    One family trying to claim their loved one, Mr. George Moses, found he is missing. He was #22 on the list of 29 identified names at the Lekan Ogunsola Memorial mortuary in June. Mr. Achief Olajide, a family member said that after the June 3 crash, he saw Moses intact body, his ID card and wallet. The mortuary refused to let him claim the body, and now it is lost.

    Below, a retired Nigerian Air Force captain criticizes the Nigerian government’s handling of aircraft emergency.

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    Business Flight Ends in Field

    What: Beechcraft A36TC Bonanza 36 en route from Albany Int’l Airport
    Where: Clifton Park, NY
    When: August 15, 2012, 7:30 a.m.
    Who: 2 aboard, 1 fatality, 1 injury
    Why: After taking off, the plane stalled 12 miles north of Albany. The plane crashed in a suburb. passenger Walter F. Uccellini and his business partner, Jim Quinn were aboard. Uccellini died in the crash; Quinn suffered head trauma and was hospitalized at Albany Medical Center.

    The plane landed stopped between trees and did not strike any buildings. Quinn may have been attempting to land on the road. Before the land became a subdivision, it was an emergency landing field.

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    Uganda Helicopters Down in Kenya

    What: Ugandan helicopter Mil Mi-24 en route from Soroti to Garissa
    What: Ugandan helicopter Mil Mi-24 en route from Soroti to Garissa
    Where: Mount Kenya
    When: August 12, 2012
    Who: 7 aboard, 3 fatalities
    Why: Three Mi-24 were heading to Somalia. A fourth helicopter did not crash.

    Capt. William Letti and Lt. Patrick Nahamya were flying a peace-keeping mission when they crashed onto the side of Mount Kenya. They are calling it a “hard landing” i.e. in an “ungazetted” area. Two bodies were found on August 14. A third body was found a day later (August 15)

    One choppers made it to Garissa, North Eastern Kenya. 18 people from that helicopters safely evacuated.

    Two of the helicopters crashed, and were found burned.

    A pilot from one of the helicopters sent a message requesting assistance for ground troops and the grounded chopper crew.

    Video Below

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    Flats Cause Diversion to JFK for Boston-Kansas Flight


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

    What: Pinnacle Airlines Canadair CRJ-900 en route from Boston to Kansas City
    Where: JFK
    When: Aug 13th 2012
    Who: 73 passengers, 4 crew
    Why: On takeoff, both right main landing gears blew. Pilots diverted to JFK and made an emergency landing.

    After landing, the plane was stopped on the runway. A replacement jet was provided.

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    Tongariro Disruption

    National carrier Air New Zealand canceled or delayed domestic flights due to Mount Tongariro Volcano ash on Monday night.

    Gisborne, Rotorua, Taupo and Palmerston North May be affected.

    The aviation colour code around Mt Tongariro was downgraded from red to orange, but the volcanic alert level remains. The plume from the eruption last night was steam-driven and 7000 m high. The colour code is used to alert aviation carriers to volcanic activity.

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    APU Fire

    What: Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-900 en route from Seattle to Austin
    Where: Austin TX
    When: July 31, 2012 23:04:00
    Why: While passengers were deplaning at the gate, the APU of the 373 caught on fire.

    The fire was quickly extinguished. No injuries were reported. The wiring for the APU fan may have been involved.

    The incident reportedly occurred on the ground. THe extent of the damage is not known.

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    Dana Air History Comes Out at Inquest

    While testifying at the coroner’s inquest before Lagos State Coroner Mr. Oyetade Komolafe, Tony Usidamen of Dana Air revealed that the Dana plane (registration number 5N-RAM) that crashed in Lagos in June 2012 had its engine replaced after a bird strike while outbound from Lagos on April 19, 2010.

    Records indicate 5N-RAM also had hydraulic leaks on May 23 at Murtala Mohammed Airport.

    On the June 3rd, the plane was making it’s third round trip and crashed close to it’s destination airport.

    The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) investigator is Mr Emmanuel Dialla. His preliminary report said that the first sign of trouble came 17 minutes after the plane was airborne at 2.58pm, following a “non-normal” engine condition. According to the CVR at 1543:27 hours (3.43pm), the Captain informed the FO, “we just lost everything, we lost an engine. I lost both engines”…

    Read More

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    American Airlines Diverts to Dublin


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

    What: American Airlines Boeing 757-200 en route from London to Boston
    Where: Dublin
    When: Aug 3rd 2012
    Who: 172 aboard
    Why: The American Airlines flight diverted to Dublin when the plane developed hydraulic problems.

    The pilots managed to land safely but without hydraulics had to be towed. Passengers were provided local accommodations.

    The incident tied up the airport as planes were diveted until the affected 757 was removed and examined.