What: US Airways commuter en route from Philadelphia to Islip
Where: Long Island MacArthur Airport
When: June 22, 2011, 1:10 p.m
Why: The 50 person commuter jet had to make an emergency diversion to MacArthur Airport when the flight developed a flap problem.
What: Delta Airlines Boeing 757-200 en route from Atlanta,GA to Brasilia
Where: Caracas
When: Jun 19th 2011
Who: 119 aboard
Why: En route near Caracas, the plane developed an issue with the right hand engine.
The crew diverted to Caracas where they made a safe landing.
A replacement jet was provided within 20 hours.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Alejandro Torres
What: Jetblue Airbus A320-200 en route from New York to Burlington,VT
Where: Burlington
When: Feb 19th 2011
Who: 2 injured
Why: On approach to Burlington, the plane encountered severe turbulence, which injured two flight attendants. The pilot continued, to make a safe landing in Burlington. Both attendants were hospitalized, one with bruises, and one with broken ribs.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Alexey Litvinov
What: Rusline/Rusair Tupolev TU-134A en route from Moscow to Petrozavodsk
Where: outskirts of the Besovets village, Petrozavodsk, Russia
When: Jun 20 2011 at 11:40 pm
Who: 43 passengers and 9 crew
Why: On approach to the airport, the plane struck the ground about 2600 feet shy of runway 2. On impact, the plane burst into flame, and skidded into the gardens of a residential area, although missing residences.
Eight passengers were retrieved alive from the wreckage, in conditions ranging from severe (6) medium severe (1), critical grave (1). 44 were killed. The injured were ported to Moscow via IL-76 with a full medical team aboard (15 doctors, 5 psychologists.) One crew member survived, Julia Skvortsova, an attendant, is struggling for survival.
The fire was under control by 1 a m on June 21. The investigation has just begun, and is cautioning the local papers not to jump the gun assuming runway lighting failure.
Metars: ULPB 201949Z 10002MPS 2100 RA BR OVC004 15 Q0993 TEMPO 1500 RMK QBB120 QFE741/0988 SC0, 6
ULPB 201900Z 15001MPS 3000 BR OVC005 15/14 Q0994 NOSIG RMK QBB170 QFE741/0989 SC0.6
The RusAir site expresses condolences to all who lost loved ones in the tragedy. The local family hotline numbers are:
8 (495) 626 37 07 ?oskva
8 (814) 256 16 34 ?etrozavodsk
What: SAR Aviation Bell 407 helicopter en route from Dehradun, Uttarakhand, to Sahastradhara India
Where: Ladpur Jungle near Raipur, India
When: June 19, 2011
Who: 2 aboard, 0 fatalities
Why: One of the choppers hired for porting Bharatiya Janata Party chief Nitin Gadkari and his family to Sahastradhara crashed, injuring a pilot and an engineer.
The weather was clear at the time of the crash, and a technical problem is presumed. Two of the three choppers in the party landed safely. The BJP chief and family were not aboard the Bell helicopter at the time of the crash.
The chopper broke in to pieces on impact and just missed Vigyan Vihar, a residential area. There were no casualties on the ground.
SAR is Swajas Aviation Company based in Chennai.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Svido Stanislav
What: Gazpromavia Boeing 737-700 en route from Moscow to Nadym
Where: Nadym
When: Jun 16th 2011
Who: 51 passengers and 5 crew
Why: Unruly passenger had hallucinations, threatened airline crew, claimed his phone was a bomb, etc. Emergency services met the flight when it landed and took the passenger off their hands, where he was taken to a mental hospital and diagnosed with “alcoholic hallucinosis.”
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Jason Whitebird
What: Delta Airlines Boeing 757-200 en route from Los Angeles to New York
Where: Las Vegas
When: Jun 16th 2011
Why: While en route, the right windshield of the Boeing developed a crack.
The flight crew diverted to Las Vegas where they made a safe landing. The disposition of the passengers is not known, though we presume that the passengers were provided alternative flights to Kennedy airport
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Galen Burrows
What: Air Europa Boeing 737-800 en route from Madrid,SP to Lanzarote,CI
Where: Lanzarote
When: Jun 16th 2011
Why: On approach to Lanzarote, the plane developed flap problems. The crew responded by entering a holding pattern, and shortly afterward landed with flaps up. Touchdown was lower and at a higher speed but a safe landing.
What: Air Europa Boeing 737-800 en route from Lanzarote,CI to Bilbao,SP
Where: Bilbao
When: Jun 16th 2011
Why: The same plane was on approach to Bilbao and suffered a reoccurrence of the flap problem.
The pilots diverted to Madrid. Touchdown was lower and at a higher speed but a safe landing.
In George’s Opinion
One can not help but wonder what was going on behind the scenes here–if they had an attempted-but-failed flap repair in maintenance, or if someone had a boneheaded thought process of flying a disabled plane.
We do not have a record here that this was a ferry flight, so whether or not there were commercial passengers aboard, someone else will have to enlighten us.
Hopefully the flaps problem will be repaired rather than continuing to subject the crew to a less-than-airworthy plane. Good on you to the flight crew of EC-III
.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Dn280
What: Air Mediterranee Airbus A321-200 en route from Nantes to Shannon
Where: Shannon
When: Jun 16th 2011
Why: On approach, the crew detected a failure in nose gear steering. They landed safely with emergency services on standby and was able to taxi (slowly.)
The plane made the return flight to Nantes.
What: Rans S-6 Coyote
Where: Letjelište Zvekovac, Croatia
When: June 16, 2011
Who: 2 fatalities, one injury
Why: A home built ultralight carrying two passengers on a training exercise crashed at an airfield two hundred feet from the runway between 10:00 and 10:15 pm. The plane fell from the sky, and exploded when it impacted the ground. A local farmer who was on site to cut the grass attempted to come to the aid of the pilots who were calling for help, and was injured by the fire.
The light aluminum frame burned quickly.
Apparently Vladimir Bodiš and Marinko Lovri? survived the impact but died in the fire. Bodiš was an Eagle test pilot with a commercial license, and Lovri? taught military pilots although a Croatian newspaper said they found no license for him.
What: Delta Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-88 en route from Jacksonville FL to Atlanta.
Where: Jacksonville
When: Jun 15th 2011, 10:30 p.m
Who: 135 aboard
Why: Taking off from Jacksonville, they had a compressor stall.
The pilots recovered the left engine, and made a safe landing back in Jacksonville, in spite of a loud bang that occurred. They stopped on the runway (which had been inspected for debris). A passenger told reporters that there was an engine sparking.
Emergency vehicles were on hand.
Passengers disembarked, and were provided an alternative flight.
What: Virgin Australia Boeing 737-700 en route from Brisbane to Launceston
Where: Hobart
When: Jun 16th 2011
Who: 56 passengers
Why: On approach to Launceton, the crew noted a flaps asymmetry, and aborted the approach. They burned off fuel, and diverted to Hobart where they made a safe landing. Passengers feared for their lives but apparently were not in as much danger as they feared.
Subsequently, due to Puyehue ash concerns, they took a bus to Launceston. The flight was carrying the Gold Coast Suns football team.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Ignatius
What: TRENK Contracting Pty. Ltd. Piper PA-46-310P en route from Doolgunna to Meekatharra
Where: Meekatharra Airport Australia
When: June 15, 2011, 9:00 am
Who: Pilot and passenger
Why: The pilot and passenger in a piper that was flying from Doolgunna to Meekatharra are both hospitalized today, after crashing short of the Meekatharra runway.
The plane’s right wing and undercarriage were smashed, and the hood was lost. Meekatharra voluntary brigade reported a fuel spill but nothing that would cause a fire.
Both pilot and passenger only had minor injuries, and one was already discharged from Meekatharra Hospital. One injured party was flown to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth.
The crash is under investigation by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau who declined to make a statement.
What: Inaer/Helland Helicopter en route to Juclar
Where: Estany de Juclá – Canillo, Andorra
When: June 15, 2011
Who: 6 aboard, 5 fatalities, 1 serious injury
Why: At 10:30 am, a flight transporting equipment and supplies to Juclar crashed in a mountainous area near the Andorran town of Canillo. Four bodies were immediately being recovered; one was missing, having been ejected from the chopper. One individual survived with serious burns on 70% of his body, and was evacuated to Barcelona by chopper to the Hospital Vall d’Hebrón de Barcelona..
The helicopter is reported to be of French origin and registered in Spain. Forensic and technical experts are on scene; and the investigation will include Spanish officials, and representatives of the French helicopter buildern.
A field hospital has been set up to care for the victims’ families whose names were not released but were all reported to be “members of the crew.”
Inaer, the company which owns the helicopter, stated the accident is due to bad weather and low visibility due to foggy conditions.
Although the original report lists one as missing, the body of the missing person was found.
Capture from video posted below
What: American Airlines MD-80 en route from Dallas/Fort Worth to Norfolk Virginia
Where: DFW airport
When: June 13 2011, 6:15 pm
Who: 122 passengers and 5 crew
Why: On takeoff from Dallas/ Fort Worth , Monday’s American Airlines flight struck a flock of (20+) pigeons, damaging the cone and right wing and requiring an emergency landing. The plane had to be taken out of service for repairs, and bird part extractions. Dead birds littered the runway.
Birds can be a problem at the 29 square mile airport. Attached you can view a wildlife management news clip demonstrating a wildlife expert’s noise system used to disrupt the birds.
View more videos at: http://nbcdfw.com.
It is June 15, three days after Eritrea’s Nabo volcano erupted, and traffic is still being disrupted. Ethiopian Airlines announced flights to Northern Ethiopia, Dijbouti and Kartoum are still disrupted by the ash cloud, although their other flights are running smoothly. Care is being taken because the ash, which is mainly made up of silicates melts at about 1100°C and fuses inside the engine, often to catastrophic results.
The Toulouse VAAC (Volcanic Ash Advisories) maps out the ash cloud:
And the official text advisory of June 15 from VAAC is below:
VA ADVISORY (text)
DTG: 20110615/1200Z
VAAC: TOULOUSE
VOLCANO: NABRO 0201-101
PSN: N1322E04142
AREA: AFRICA-E
SUMMIT ELEV: 2218M
ADVISORY NR: 2011/09
INFO SOURCE: METEOSAT IMAGERY
AVIATION COLOUR CODE: NIL
ERUPTION DETAILS: STRONGER ERUPTION MAINLY PRODUCING SO2
OBS VA DTG: 15/1200Z
OBS VA CLD: SFC/FL200 N1105 E03935 – N1240 E04130 – N1105 E04300 –
N1105 E03935 FL200/400 N1310 E04205 – N1255 E03715 – N1455 E03815 –
N1310 E04205
FCST VA CLD + 6H: 15/1800Z SFC/FL200 N1215 E04155 – N1105 E04420 –
N1105 E04035 – N1215 E04155 FL200/400 N1310 E04215 – N1215 E04040 –
N1225 E03705 – N1435 E03735 – N1310 E04215
FCST VA CLD + 12H: 16/0000Z SFC/FL200 N1240 E04200 – N1205 E04330 –
N1050 E04440 – N1050 E03950 – N1240 E04200 FL200/400 N1305 E04155 –
N1230 E03900 – N1235 E03515 – N1415 E03535 – N1305 E04155
FCST VA CLD + 18H: 16/0600Z SFC/FL200 N1225 E04205 – N1205 E04430 –
N1015 E04530 – N1020 E03905 – N1225 E04205 FL200/400 N1430 E03405 –
N1305 E04150 – N1155 E03930 – N1235 E03400 – N1430 E03405
RMK: VOLCANIC CLOUD MAINLY COMPOSED OF SO2
NXT ADVISORY: NO LATER THAN 20110615/1800Z
See our article Hot Volcanoes Cool Air Travel for more details.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Danny Fritsche
What: B-17 bomber (Boeing B-17G-105-VE Flying Fortress)
Where: Chicago
When: June 13, 2011, 09:30
Who: 7 aboard
Why: A working B-17 bomber which had been in a $3.5 million dollar restoration (Tim Reilly Vintage Aircraft conservators) for fourteen years, took off from Aurora Municipal Airport on a test flight—and caught fire. John Hess, the pilot, made an emergency landing in a cornfield.
Witnesses described a “cracking noise” before the plane landed in the field, streaming black smoke. Fire fighters were impeded by the muddy cornfield, and the plane burned.
This weekend the plane was grounded with a leak.
No one sustained serious injury although one person did have a minor head injury.
The plane was described as a “national treasure,” and one of a dozen B-17s still operable.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Santo Cuce
What: Carpatair Fokker 70 en route from Timisoara to Iasi Romania
Where: Timisoara
When: Jun 13th 2011
Who: 72 passengers, 4 crew
Why: After pressure problems were detected on board, the flight returned to Timisoara where it made a safe landing.
A replacement Fokker was provided, although passengers experienced a delay.
What: Mircea Chira’s Flight Design CTSW
Where: Baru Romania
When: June 13 2011
Who: pilot
Why: The ultralight took off from Deva airport, and crashed 60 kilometers away in rough topography between Pui and Baru Mare. The plane was loaned by the owner, Mircea Chira, to a businessman with more than 200 flight hours.
The wreckage was found in a a rocky and forested area in Hunedoara county.
The 47-year-old German pilot who lived in the Romanian town of Orastie apparently sent a farewell letter which some have interpreted as a suicide note.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Giovanni Verbeeck
What: Air New Zealand Boeing 767-300en route from Auckland to Perth,WA
Where: Auckland
When: Jun 9th 2011
Who: 206 passengers, 10 crew
Why: Just after takeoff, while climbing, the left hand engine shot flames and emitted engine backfire and banging noises. The pilots described an interruption to the airflow through the left hand engine. The pilot shut down the engine and returned to Auckland where they made a safe landing. No bird strike was found, although that was initially assumed to be the cause. The engine’s electronic control has been replaced, and the engine is being tested; and the engine’s electronic control has been shipped to the manufacturer for testing.
Passengers were provided an alternative flight to Perth. Some of them were shaken, although the airline says they were never in any danger.
What: Colombian Police Bell UH-1 Huey en route from La Salina to Yopal
Where: La Salina, Casanare Province Colombia
When: June 11, 2011
Who: 11 aboard, 8 fatalities
Why: In Bogata, a police Huey crashed on take-off when it became entangled with electrical cables (high voltage wires). Mechanical failure may have been involved. Seven died on the scene, and one en route.
The deceased included four helicopter crewmen (Pilot Captain Manuel Niño Nestor Acosta, co-pilot Lt. Fuentes Fabián Meneses and technical sub Leandro Mayor Sanchez) and four members of the police anti-narcotics service (Gutierrez Mendoza Eimer, John Contreras Lobo, John Jewel Delgado, Wilson Germain Medina Correa Delgado and Castillo). Four surviving narcotics officers (Miguel Ochoa Assistant Parrado, Domingo Gamarra Roso, Orlando Castillo and Jose Jaimes Torres Vesga) have been hospitalized.
The helicopter was completely destroyed.
The chopper’s registration number was PLC-0731
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Gabriel Widyna
What: Delta Airlines Douglas DC-9-50 en route from Atlanta Georgia to Melbourne Florida
Where: Melbourne
When: Jun 9th 2011, 6:30 pm
Why: On approach to Melbourne, the flight developed a flaps problem.
Brevard County hospitals were notified and emergency crews were on the scene in less than eight minutes.
The pilot declared an emergency, aborted the approach and thirty minutes later made a safe landing. There were no injuries, and locals commended the pilot’s performance.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Gerry Stegmeier
What: Iberia Airbus A319-100 en route from Madrid Spain to Frankfurt Germany
Where: Madrid
When: Jun 9th 2011
Who: 110 passengers
Why: After takeoff, one of the passengers undressed, and attacked the flight attendant who inquired about his naked condition. The pilot returned to Madrid. The plane was met at the gate by officials in Madrid, although no charges were filed.
What: N70FT Inc. Cessna 152 en route from Space Coast Aviation at the Merritt Island Airport
Where: Blue Cypress Lake, Indian River County, FL
When: June 9 2011
Who: 2 fatalities, Carly Beattie and Daniel Beattie
Why: A Cessna 152 chartered by Scottish visitors Carly Beattie and Daniel Beattie crashed in Indian River County southwest blue Cypress Lake. The plane crashed in mud and swampland in Blue Cypress Conservation area; the crash site is north of State Road 60 and east of Florida’s Turnpike, between Fellsmere and Yeehaw Junction, on land owned by the St. John’s River Water Management District. The rural area is home to venomous snakes and alligators, making recovery more difficult.
Carly was a student pilot, and not allowed to take passengers.
The plane apparently nosedived engine deep into the mud, splitting the fuselage behind the cockpit. The plane was lost on Thursday, reported Thursday at 11, and not found till Friday. Cell tower analysis helped to determine the location.
A crane will probably be used to recover the wreckage. An airboat was used to reach the site, and hikers were wearing waist-high boots. The NTSB is investigating.
What: Avianova Airbus A320 en route to Rostov
Where: Kuban region, Russia
When: June 3, 2011
Why: Pilots were approaching Rostov airport at (altitude) 300-400 meters when a green laser blinded one of the members of the flight crew.
The pilots managed to make a safe landing, then reported the laser situation.
