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    Canadair Jet Fuel Leak over Washington


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

    What: American Eagle Canadair CRJ-700 en route from Washington National to Chicago
    Where: Washington
    When: Aug 22nd 2011
    Why: After takeoff, smoke was observed coming from the right engine, and a fuel leak was observed from the right wing.

    The crew diverted to Washington International and made a safe landing.

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    Another Antonov Crashes in Siberia

    What: Sayanian Cedar Antonov 2 en route fron Petropavlovka to Toora-Kem
    Where: Tuva, Russia
    When: August 22, 2011
    Who: 9 aboard, 1 fatality
    Why: The Antonov 2 owned by a logging company made a hard landing in the Todzhi district of Tuva. The plane was on the way to Toora-Kem when it ended up on the island near the Choigan-Hol Lake.

    Passengers were reported to be fishermen en route to fishing sites. One passenger was killed in the crash. A Mi-8 chopper with a 3-person rescue crew was sent to the area.

    The injured were transported to area hospitals.

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    Mystery Boeing Crash in Nunavut Canada


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

    What: First Air Boeing 737-210C en route from Yellow Knife to Resolute
    Where: near Resolute Airport, Nunavut, Canada
    When: August 20, 2011
    Who: 4 crew, 11 passengers, 12 fatalities
    Why: On approach to Resolute Bay Airport, the plane impacted the hillside. The wreckage was found five miles from the airport.

    Three survivors were recovered. There were twelve fatalities, including the entire crew. Two survivors (a seven year old and a 48 year old) were taken to Ottawa hospital, and the third (a 23 year old woman) is reported to be stable at Qikiqtani General Hospital in Iqaluit where all of the survivors were originally taken. Two forensic teams are on the scene (one to identify the bodies, and one for accident investigation), and the black boxes have been recovered.

    The weather at the time of the crash was he weather was rainy with a low cloud ceiling, and reported to be patchy fog. A mock rescue military exercise was going on with 700 military personnel when the crash was reported. They responded to the crash with helicopters and medical personnel. Eleven RCMP personnel were also part of the rescue unit. The senior administrative officer, Ralph Alexander, said it wasn’t foggy enough in Resolute at the time of the crash to have caused the accident, and that planes landed there in worse visibility. However there have been reports of locals hearing the impact but not seeing anything because of dense fog. The charred wreckage is in three parts with smaller plane parts and remains scattered.

    The crash site is less than two kilometres west of Resolute, a small tight-knit community with many individuals directly affected by the twelve fatalities.

    The passenger manifest has not yet been made public but the owner of South Camp Inn, Aziz (Ozzie) Kheraj, reportedly lost a granddaughter on the crash, and one survived.

    First Air held a news conference at in Kanata, Ontario on Sunday at 11 a.m. ET.

    Transport Canada issued the following release:


    At approximately 12:30 EST, First Air Flight 6560 from Yellowknife to Resolute Bay crashed on approach to Resolute Bay. There were 15 passengers on board. At this time, 12 people are thought to be dead and three injured. Our thoughts go out to those affected by this tragic accident.

    Transport Canada has appointed a Minister’s Observer, who will keep TC informed of the investigation’s progress. We will cooperate fully with the Transportation Safety Board who is currently on site investigating this accident.

    The Canadian Armed Forces are in Resolute Bay for Exercise Operation Nanook 2011 and are responding in support of emergency operations to the situation.

    Contacts:

    Media Relations
    Transport Canada, Ottawa
    613-993-0055

    First Air published this:

    On Sunday August 21, 2011, First Air Vice President of Marketing and Sales, Chris Ferris, made the following statement to the media from the First Air Head Office in Kanata:

    As you are aware, yesterday at 12:40pm First Air experienced a tragic loss of
    charter flight 6560. We are deeply saddened by this tragedy and offer our sincere condolences to the families.

    The details we have at this time are as follows: a First Air Boeing 737-200 combi travelling from Yellowknife to Resolute Bay, went down 5 miles from the airport. The flight was carrying 11 passengers and four crew. There were 12 fatalities including all four crew members.

    Our first priority has been contacting and looking after the families of passengers and crew. Out of respect for the passengers, our crew, and their families, we are not releasing any names or passenger details.

    The three injured passengers were Medivac’d to Iqaluit for further treatment last evening. Two of the three passengers have since been moved to Ottawa, while the third remains in Iqaluit in stable condition.

    At this time the cause of the accident is unknown. The Transportation Safety Board is conducting their investigation and First Air is cooperating fully.

    Our thoughts and focus are with the families and friends of the passengers and crew; and the community of Resolute Bay. Field teams including counsellors, have been deployed to provide support in Resolute Bay, Yellowknife and other main stations in our network.

    We would like to thank the Canadian Military whose on-site presence and immediate response was instrumental in the rescue efforts.

    We will be providing further updates as they become available.

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    Onur Airbus Escorted Over Germany


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

    What: Onur Air Airbus A321-200 en route from Manchester to Cyprus
    Where: Germany
    When: Aug 20 2011
    Why: The airbus was a source of concern when it lost communication for a quarter of an hour while over Germany, during which time a sonic boom was heard.

    The two fighter jet “escorts” were the probable source of the sonic boom which disturbed residents’ peace of mind.

    Communications were restored and the flight continued to Cyprus as scheduled.

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    US Airways Fumes Hospitalize 5 in Charlotte

    What: US Airways en route from New York
    Where: Charlotte-Douglas International Airport
    When: Aug 18, 2011
    Who: 183 passengers, 5 crew
    Why: While en route, the crew declared an emergency.

    Passengers and crew were affected by fumes that spread from the cabin to the cockpit. The fumes aboard the flight seemed to be worse in the back of the plane. In addition to the odor, passengers felt confused and dizzy, and some had chest pains, and had to use on board oxygen masks. It was described as “a very unpleasant odor.”

    The flight diverted to Charlotte and made a safe landing. Maintenance inspected the plane, the third such incident in Charlotte in two weeks.

    Five people aboard the flight were hospitalized.

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    British Court Sentences Woman in Airborne Biting case


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

    What: Thomson Boeing 767-300, en route from Manchester to to Punta Cana Dominican Republic
    Where: Bermuda
    When: Occurred:Nov 5th 2010
    Sentenced: Aug 19th 2011
    Who: 45 year old British Citizen
    Why: While Charity worker Carol Close’s flight had been delayed for 30 hours in Manchester with technical problems, the depressed woman passed the time by drinking beer and two mixed drinks. Probably not a good idea.

    Six hours into the November 5, 2010 flight, the woman attacked her husband and other individuals aboard the flight. Her husband moved to another seat to get away from her, and Close then bit and kicked a flight attendant (or two) who attempted to restrain her. Then she started yelling.

    The captain diverted to Bermuda where Carol Close was arrested.

    On Aug 19th 2011, Close pleaded guilty to “two charges of assault and one of affray.”

    British Court sentenced her to a suspended 6-months jail term, £2700 British Pounds. (£200 compensation to cabin crew, plus £2,476 to Bermuda Police)

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    ABC News Crew Missing over Australia

    What: Australian Broadcasting Corporation chopper
    Where: Lake Eyre, Australia
    When: August 17, 2011
    Who: 3 staff
    Why: The Australian Broadcasting crew was en route in bad weather and lost contract with flight control around 7:30 pm on August 17 at 142km northeast of William Creek and 146km north-northeast of Marree. Lake Eyre was said to be clear at the time of the crash, with a few local showers. The crew had been on site for aerial photography and video work around Lake Eyre and Cooper Creek.

    They were supposed to be meeting people for dinner, and when they didn’t show up, according to The Telegraph, “the guys walked a few kilometres to the edge of Lake Eyre and found the wreckage.” Eyewitnesses saw the chopper go down in flames.

    The cause is unclear.

    The passengers included journalist Paul Lockyer and cameraman John Bean, who were confirmed missing last night and confirmed dead this morning at 5:30 am.

    Chopper pilot Gary Ticehurst, (Film Helicopters Australia) had over 14,000 chopper hours. Lockyer was a 39 year journalist and Bean had been with ABC over 22 years.

    Emergency services arrived at the crash site early today, August 18.

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    Italy: Windjet Emergency Loss of Control over Catania


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Pise – Roma Spotters Club

    What: Windjet Airbus A320-200 en route from Catania to Milan Italy
    Where: Catania
    When: Aug 16 2011
    Who: 164 passengers
    Why: While en route, the crew discovered the plane was unresponsive to certain controls.

    The crew returned to the airport and made a safe landing.

    A replacement jet was provided for the passengers.

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    VivaAerobus Loses Engine over US


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer André Du-pont

    What: VivaAerobus Boeing 737-300 en route from Monterrey to Las Vegas, NV
    Where: Las Vegas
    When: Aug 17 2011
    Why: More than half an hour prior to landing, the left engine began banging and vibrating.

    The crew shut down the engine, and continued on to land in Las Vegas minus the engine.

    The crew made a safe landing. No indication was made if the flight ingested a bird or if there was an other mechanical problem.

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    Chopper Down in Beijing, Search for Survivors


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

    What: Changhe CA109 (Agusta A109) Police helicopter
    Where: Beijing China
    When: August 17, 2011
    Who: 4 aboard missing, 1 rescued
    Why: In Beijing, five crew members were in a police helicopter returning from a drill when it crashed into a reservoir. One crew member was rescued.

    The drill occurred in a mountainous region of Miyun County that ended at 9:12 a m.

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    Lightning-struck Beech in NZ


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

    What: Eagle Air/Air New Zealand Beech 1900D en route from Wellington to Palmerston North
    Where: New Zealand
    When: Aug 15th 2011
    Who: 16 passengers and 2 crew
    Why: While en route, the plane was struck by lightning.

    The right winglet began smoldering after being struck. The flight crew returned to Wellington where they made a safe landing.

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    Webjet Engine Trouble over Belo Horizonte, Brazil

    What: Webjet Boeing 737 en route from Belo Horizonte to Sao Paulo
    Where: Belo Horizonte
    When: Aug 10, 2011
    Who: 108 passengers
    Why: After takeoff, the pilots received indications of problems with the right engine.

    Passengers reported hearing noise from the engine, which jarred the plane.

    Pilots shut down the engine and diverted back to Belo Horizonte where they made a safe landing. There is no indication if it was a bird strike or some other type of mechanical problem.

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    Batavia Lands Flat in Pekanbaru

    What: Batavia Boeing 737-400 en route from Jakarta to Pekanbaru
    Where: Pekanbaru Airport
    When: Aug 15 2011
    Why: On landing at Pekanbaru, the plane blew out its tires.

    Hard landing? Fast landing? We do not know. We do know the plane had to be towed off the runway. Injuries were not reported.

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    Planes Disappear after Airshow, No sign of Planes yet

    What: P166 Albatros ( Ex SAAF) x 2
    Registration: ZU-MM (NJX Partnership)
    Registration: ZU-ACI (owned by Gruar Brian)

    Where: Mountains South Of Tzaneen, South Africa
    When: August 14, 2011
    Who: 12 aboard
    Why: Two planes which had been flying in the Tzaneen Air Show took off afterwards to ferry passengers to Johannesberg.

    The flights were en route to Rand Airport in Germiston but did not arrive. The weather over Tzaneen was described as “bad.” The identities of the (missing)12-14 aboard have not been released and the planes have apparently not yet been found.

    The pilot of one of the missing aircraft is businessman Gruar Brian of Johannesburg. His wife and two young children are believed to be aboard and Mr Kevin Woolocott Ordinance program coordinator of the air show was one of the passengers. The copilot was Peter Oldenburg.

    Also presumed aboard are Mmes. Warden Louise Spence and Tess, photographer Frans Dely.

    The Wolkberg area near Tzaneen and George’s Valley in Limpopo are being searched. The search for the planes with six helicopters and military aircraft was delayed due to poor visibility due to fog, and has resumed. The mountainous terrain has made the search more difficult.

    Piaggio P166 planes are twin engine mediumsized aircraft, and ex air force planes.

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    Pia Emergency Landing at Rawalpindi airport

    What: Pia flight en route from Multan to Islamabad
    Where: Rawalpindi airport in Pakistan
    When: August 12, 2011
    Who: Eight injured, 300+ aboard
    Why: While en route from Multan to Islamabad, the flight encountered bad weather, and made an emergency landing in Rawalpindi.

    One person was seriously injured.

    We will update with further details.

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    AeroSur Flat in La Paz


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Mauricio Rocco Silva Sato

    What: AeroSur Boeing 737-400 en route from Santa Cruz to La Paz Bolivia
    Where: La Paz
    When: Aug 10th 2011
    Who: 147 passengers, 6 crew
    Why: On landing in La Paz, the right main gear tire blew out.

    Emergency services responded to the disabled plane stranded on the runway. Damage included a hydraulic leak. The plane was towed to the gate.

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    Lufhansa Emergency Landing in Frankfurt


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Pieter-Jan Van De Vijver

    What: Lufthansa Airbus A319-100 en route from Frankfurt/Main to Hamburg
    Where: Frankfurt
    When: Aug 10th 2011
    Why: After takeoff from Frankfort, the right engine made an explosive noise.

    The flight crew shut down the engine and diverted back to Frankfurt where they made a safe landing. No indication if fuel was dumped or emergency crew on standby. The problem has been initially attributed to either a fuel or air intake issue.

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    Belavia Diverts to Belarus


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

    What: Belavia Boeing 737-500 en route from Batumi Georgia to Minsk Belarus
    Where: Sochi
    When: Aug 12th 2011
    Why: While en route to Belarus, the plane lost cabin pressure. The cabin was not sealed.

    THe pilots descended to a safe level, and then obtained permission to divert to Sochi. The pilots made a safe landing in Sochi with emergency services on standby. No injuries were reported.

    A replacement 737 was provided.

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    Delta DC-9 Suffers Uncontained Engine Failure


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

    What: Delta Airlines Douglas DC-9-50 en route from Atlanta to Pittsburgh
    Where: Atlanta o
    When: Aug 6th 2011
    Why: On takeoff approach, the right engine made a banging noise, leading the pilots to reject takeoff, and stop on the runway, with locked up brakes and an uncontained engine failure (holes in the casing) and a disengaged fan blade. Passengers disembarked on to the runway and were ported to the terminal.

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    Turbulence Over Florida

    What: American Airlines Boeing 737-800 en route from Miami to Washington
    Where: Charleston SC
    When: August 9, 2011
    Who: 152 passengers, six injuries
    Why: After encountering turbulence over Florida, the pilots diverted to Charleston. Two flight attendants and one passenger were injured by turbulence, plus several others were hospitalized.

    Diversion delayed the flight as mechanics examined the problems aboard the plane.

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    Another Antonov Crash In Russia, Engine Fire, Cargo Flight, 11 lost


    Pictured: A KNAAPO Antonov An-12BP like the one that crashed

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

    What: Avis Amur AN12 AN-12 en route from Magadan to Keperveyem
    Where: Magadan
    When: Aug 9th 2011
    Who: 11 crew
    Why: While en route, the plane developed an engine fire and radioed that they would be returning to Magadan. The fire is being attributed to a fuel leak. The flight crashed on the way back, disappearing from radar. Fog and adverse weather prevented rescue teams from being able to fly in. The 9 crew and 2 attendants have been reported missing. The plane was carrying 16 tons of food.

    The cargo plane was being leased from KnAAPO. Rescuers took a ground route to the area of the crash. The emergency beacon went off 10 kilometers from the Omsukchan village. No survivors were found.

    Avis-Amur is being investigated for a maintenance of safety violations, and there may be criminal charges pending.


    Click to view full size photo
    Contact photographer Pavel Azernikov

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    Chopper Crash Kills 10

    What: PT Nyaman Air Bell 412 Chopper chartered by PT Nusa Halmahera Minerals en route from Manado Sulawesi Island in Indonesia to the Gosowong Mine
    Where: Manado, Bitung, North Sulawesi
    When: August 2, 2011, 2:30
    Who: 10 aboard, (8 employees and 2 flight crew)
    Why: The helicopter PK-FUG flown by pilot Edi Purnomo crashed into Mount Dua Saudara while en route. Nine aboard died in the crash, including two Australians, two South Africans and four Indonesians were passengers on the flight. The crew were Indonesian.
    The flight was missing initially. Foggy weather hampered the search until it was finally found at 2 a m August 3, with one survivor, who died en route to the hospital. Work has been suspended at Newcrest’s Gosowong gold mine in North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

    The chopper took off at 4:26 a.m. and lost contact with ATC shortly after takeoff.

    The chipper was a joint venture between Australia’s Newcrest Mining and Indonesian company Aneka Tambang.
    Contact information for the families:

    Callers from Australia – 1800 267 616 Callers from PNG – 0008 661 164 Callers from Indonesia
    o Landline – +62 21 7884 6956 ext 4005
    o Mobile – +62 816 237002 Callers from other countries
    o Landline – +61 3 9522 5562 o Mobile – +61 419 654 092

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    Airblue 202 A Year Later


    India’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has issued a statement which they are calling an interim report. It is not what we would call an interim report, but appears to be a report that there is a report that restates the facts as they were known already, not containing actual investigation output. The media has already highlighted the findings of the interim report several times. The report notes that the investigation covered system issues, fire, bird strikes, etc but does not mention causes or place responsibility, and promises a release when component manufacturers have responded.

    So basically, the families have waited a year for the Air Blue Interim report, on the July 28 flight from Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport to Benazir Bhutto International Airport and still have no satisfactory answers.

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    Antonov Overshoots Runway in Rough Weather

    What: IrAero Antonov An-24RV en route from Chita to Blagoveshchensk
    Where: Blagoveshchensk Airport, Russia
    When: August 08, 2011
    Who: 35 passengers, 5 crew, 10+ injuries
    Why: On approach to Blagoveshchensk airport, the plane encountered rough weather and overshot the runway.

    The plane encountered wind shear on approach, injuring ten passengers. The plane lost a wing in the landing, and the fuselage was damaged, coming to rest 200 meters from the runway. Three children were aboard.

    A passenger said (loosely quoted) “We were sitting closer to the wing. As soon as the plane touched the ground, it started to shake. Panic among the passengers, nobody knew what was happening. I heard children crying. When the plane finally stopped, I breathed a sigh of relief. Thank God, still alive!”


    Link to photographer, Sergey Makarov
    Email Sergey Makarov

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    Emergency Landing in Long Beach CA


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

    What: JetBlue A320 en route from Salt Lake City to Long Beach
    Where: Long Beach Municipal Airport
    When: Aug 5th 2011
    Who: 147 passengers, 5 crew
    Why: On approach to Long Beach, the crew saw a hydraulics/ brake problem and aborted their first approach; instead of landing they burned off fuel, then made a safe landing (with an undescended wheel).