What: Continental Airlines Boeing 757-200 en route from Newark to Glasgow, SC Where: Glasgow When: Nov 24th 2010 Who: 158 passengers, 8 crew Why: On approach to Glasgow, a fuel leak was discovered in the right engine. The pilot landed safely in Glasgow, but the return flight was cancelled, and the plane was scheduled for maintenance.
What: Sun Way Ilyushin IL-76 freighter en route from Karachi Pakistan to Khartoum Sudan Where: Karachi When: Nov 27 2010, 1:53 Who: 8 crew members Why: While carrying 31 tons of supplies to the Sudan, the plane crashed near Dalmia. Everyone aboard perished in the crash and there were additional victims on the ground. Buildings in the Naval Housing Colony were on fire, 2 buildings destroyed.
Witnesses report that leaving Karachi, the right engine was on fire. The current report is 10 fatalities (The entire crew plus two persons on the ground.) Five bodies have been recovered.
What: All Nippon Network/Air Nippon Boeing 737-800 en route from Nagoya to Asahikawa Where: Asahikawa Japan When: Oct 26 2010 Who: 57 passengers and crew Why: A controller at the Sapporo Area Control Center apparently forgot about minimum altitudes and instructed pilots of the All Nippon Network/Air Nippon jet to drop to 1,500 meters.
Area aircraft are not allowed below 3,000 meters.
Thirty minutes outside of Asahikawa, the plane instigated a EGPWS terrain warning which directed the crew to climb. The pull-up alarm alerts 20-30 seconds prior to projected ground impact.
The minimum safe altitude warning was triggered because over 2,197-meter Mt Pippu in Hokkaido. The plane corrected its height from (up to as close as) 220 meters above the peak to a greater clearance and made a safe landing thirty minutes later.
The Japan Transport Safety Board is investigating the incident.
What: Air India en route from Delhi to Patna Where: IGI Airport When: Nov 25, 2010, 11:50 am (takeoff) 2 pm (landing) Who: 120 passengers Why: While en route, the plane developed technical problems, and returned to Delhi several hours later. The plane made a safe landing with no reported injuries.
What: Thomson Boeing 737-800 en route from Lanzarote to Newcastle Where: Newcastle When: Nov 25th 2010 Who: 189 passengers Why: It was snowing when the plane landed at Newcastle, and due to pavement conditions, the plane overran the runway. Passengers disembarked via stairs on the runway and were taken by bus to the terminal. Apparently no one was injured, but anyone who has been a passenger in a hydroplaning vehicle can sympathize with the passengers fear.
What: Emirates Airbus A340-300 en route from Zurich to Dubai Where: Zurich When: Nov 26th 2010 Why: On its takeoff run, pilots reported thrust reverser issues. They rejected takeoff and the flight was cancelled for maintenance.
What: NARZ Mi-8T helicopter RA-22376 en route from Kyshtovka Where: Strezhevoy, Omsk Region Krapivinskoye field When: Nov 25, 2010, 12:12 Who: 7 crew Why: It is reported that on approach, the helicopter went into uncontrollable rotation with subsequent separation of the end beam and the screw gear , then it fell on its side about 50 yards from the landing site. With tanks filled with fuel, they ignited, and the helicopter exploded. It was reported there were 7 crew fatalities and 3 surviving boat crew. Three survivors, who are in the hospital, are Chernov Stanislavski, Kosolapov Victor Ye, Laktyuhin Oleg. Two are stable, one has burns. The helicopter was carrying 1600 kg of food.
What: Vueling Airbus A320-200 en route from Barcelona to Paris Where: Paris When: Nov 26th 2010 Who: 96 passengers Why: While landing in snowy weather, the plane skidded off the runway. Passenger disembarked via stairs directly on to the runway, though they were taken by bus to the terminal.
What: Fuerza Aérea Mexicana Antonov 32B Where: Monterrey-General Mariano Escobedo International Airport, Monterrey Mexico When: November 24, 2010, 14:36 Who: three officials and two crew members Why: The Air Squadron 301 plane(#FAM-3101) attempted a takeoff from Monterrey-General Mariano Escobedo International Airport. The flight was to a military air base in Santa Lucia. After takeoff from runway 11, the plane crashed right of runway 16/34. The flight missed striking two jets.
The Mexican Department of Defense mourns Miguel Ángel García Posada, José passenger Carmen González Peña, the rider Victor Manuel Gabriel Martinez, Alberto Valenzuela electrical and mechanical Blanco José Luis Morales Hernández.
The original press release is below:
Lomas de Sotelo, D.F. a 24 de noviembre del 2010.
Se accidentó aeronave de la Fuerza Aérea Mexicana en Monterrey, N.L.
Lomas de Sotelo, D.F. a 24 de noviembre del 2010.- La Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional informa, que aproximadamente a las 1436 horas de esta fecha, el avión Antonov matrícula 3101 perteneciente a la Fuerza Aérea Mexicana, se accidentó en el aeropuerto internacional de la ciudad de Monterrey, N.L.
Dicha aeronave se encontraba destacada en el Escuadrón Aéreo 301 ubicado en la Base Aérea Militar No. 1, en Santa Lucía, Estado de México y cubría un vuelo logístico de Monterrey, N.L., con destino a la Base Aérea indicada.
El percance ocurrió al efectuar el despegue y lamentablemente fallecieron tres oficiales y dos elementos de tropa, integrantes de la tripulación.
El personal de Generales, Jefes, Oficiales y Tropa del Ejército y Fuerza Aérea Mexicanos, se suman a las expresiones de condolencias de nuestro Comandante Supremo, Maestro FELIPE CALDERÓN HINOJOSA, Presidente de la República, dirigidas a los familiares de nuestros compañeros de armas que perdieron la vida en el cumplimiento de su deber, a quienes se les proporcionarán los apoyos correspondientes y las prestaciones sociales a que tienen derecho.
What: Delta en route from New York to Moscow Where: New York When: Nov 21, 2010 Who: 193 passengers, 11 crew Why: After takeoff, ATC saw flames and smoke. The flight returned to JFK. No fire was found, but a compressor stall may have occurred. The left engine was shut down and the flight returned to the airport. Another flight was scheduled departing at 8 for Moscow, for the passengers.
What: DHL Air Boeing 757-200 freight flight en route from Valencia to Marseille Where: Marseille When: Nov 23rd 2010 Who: flight crew Why: On final approach, the plane indicated a gear problem. Pilots aborted the landing and entered a holding pattern. A fly by revealed the gear was down. The flight made a safe landing. Maintenance made minor repairs and the plane was back in service within hours.
What: 1968 Beechcraft Musketeer en route from Calexico to Torrance, Where: Upper Newport Harbor, NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. When: Nov 20, 2010 Who: Fatalities: 58-year-old Charles Alfred Chambers, 63-year-old Russell Urban of Palos Verdes Estate, 44-year-old Sean Kelly of Hermosa Beach. Why: Sunday Pilot Chambers was flying from Calexico on the U.S. Mexican border to Torrance, but diverted to John Wayne Airport when experiencing a fuel shortage. The plane crashed into the water off Newport Beach. The plane was recovered Monday.
What: An American Airlines Boeing 767-300 en route from Sao Paulo to Miami,FL Where: Sao Paulo When: Nov 18 2010 Why: After takeoff, the right engine made an explosive noise, suffered an engine surge and the pilots shut it down. The pilots returned to Sao Paulo and made a safe landing. Significant damage occurred in the engine, and it will have to be replaced.
What: Frandley Aviation Partnership Cessna 501 Citation I/SP en route from Belfast to Birmingham Where: Birmingham International Airport, UK When: Nov 19, 2010 Who: 2 aboard Why: On a mercy mission carrying a liver for transplant, the Cessna 501 Citation corporate jet was damaged while landing at Birmingham International Airport in heavy fog, striking the landing system glide path antennae and ending up 426 feet to the right hand side of the runway, while on fire. The plane was damaged beyond repair.
The crash closed the airport. 80 cancelled flights have affected up to 5000 passengers.
However, the liver was undamaged, and transplanted into the patient on Friday in a 4 hour operation at Queen Elizabeth Hospital. The transplant patient is reported to be in stable condition.
The pilot and passenger were injured; the 58 year old pilot suffered injuries to the chest, abdomen and pelvis. The passenger in his thirties suffered a back injury and flash burns. The Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance pilot entered the burning plane to cut the fuel supply so the fire service could extract the pilot. The airport is closed.
Police provided an escort to the ambulance carrying the transplant to QE.
What: Delta Airlines Boeing 757-200 Philadelphia to Paris Where: Shannon Ireland When: November 20, 2010, 6:30 am Who: 152 passengers 7 crew Why: While over the Atlantic, the right engine developed problems. Pilots shut it down, and diverted to Shannon where they made a safe landing. Passengers were provided an alternative flight.
George’s Point of View
I usually try just to get the facts. But when people read these alerts, it is not just the plane. Like on this flight. Can you imagine being aboard this flight, over the Atlantic—as on the infamous Air France Flight 447—and losing an engine? Can you picture your feelings at the moment you realize the failure, and every moment thereafter, until you were safely on the ground? Even with a capable functioning plane, and competent crew. Even with the knowledge that the plane could afford to shut down an engine. Having to sit politely in your row, and believing on some level, that you were placidly waiting to die while strapped in like a trapped like a Chilean Miner in a snow globe hurtling through space toward who knows what fate? Even if I do not write it, behind these lines, there is always a human element.
What: Indian Air Force MI-17 helicopter en route from Tawang to Guwahati Where: Bomdir area bordering China When: Nov 19 2010 Who: 11 aboard Why: The Indian Air Force helicopter that took off around noon from Tawang exploded not long after, and crashed in the Bomdir area bordering China. Three crew members, eight IAF personnel below officer rank and an Army Lieutenant Colonel were killed. No one survived the crash. All the bodies have been recovered but not identified yet. The crash is being attributed to weather and is under investigation by a Court of Inquiry.
What: Virgin Blue Boeing 737 en route from Melbourne to Sydney Where: Melbourne When: Nov 19 2010 7:16 a.m. Who: 122 passengers, 6 crew Why: Just after takeoff, the pilot noted a peculiar odor described as burning plastic (originally reported as smoke in the cockpit.) After being aloft for less than 30 minutes, the plane was met by 11 fire trucks on the landing which was safe; and the plane seemed to be operating as usual. Passengers were provided alternate flights as maintenance checked over the plane for the source of the smell, which may have been the new engine.
George’s Point of View
An electrical fire? or Old Spice? Avon? Brut? Body odor? Old Spice ON body odor?
What: A First Air Boeing 737-200 en route from Norman Wells, to Inuvik Where: Inuvik When: Nov 15th 2010 Who: 22 aboard Why: After takeoff, the right engine’s warning light came on. The crew declared an emergency but continued to Inuvik to make a safe landing.
On examination, the overheat detection mechanism was faulty.
What: Air India en route from Ahmedabad to Delhi Where: Sanganer airport, Jaipur India When: November 17, 2010, 7:15 am Who: 129 passengers Why: The pilot en route to Delhi did not have enough fuel to reach his destination, and diverted to Jaipur where he made a safe landing with emergency services on standby. The airport said he had enough fuel, but that the plane had developed a fuel leak. Passengers waited for six hours for the leak in the fuel tank was repaired and were provided hotel accommodations.
What: Ryanair en route from Fes, Morocco to Beauvais, France Where: Liege, Belgium When: Wed Nov 17, 2010 Who: 100+ passengers Why: After leaving Morocco three hours late, the plane was unable to land in Beauvais because the airport had closed due to foggy weather conditions. After they diverted to Liege, some passengers became disruptive and refused to leave the plane. After an hour trying to get the passengers out, the crew only left when the passengers became abusive.
The exit doors were open, the toilets were locked and the lights were out. Passengers (mostly French) would not leave the plane until 3:30am when police became involved. (Reports are that 100 passengers staged a sit-in lasting from five to eight hours and refused to leave.) Passengers were upset at landing in Liege without warning.
Three other flights to Beauvais were also diverted to Liege without incident.
Buses were provided to take them to their destination.
George’s Point of View
A plane, completely abandoned by pilots and crew fearing for their safety, professional negotiators called in to coax rude and abusive passengers out of a dark plane with locked bathrooms…
Sure, no passenger would be tickled pink over a plane ride that takes them so far out of the way that they have to take a 350 mile bus ride back, but would the passengers have preferred crashing on the foggy Beauvais runway? What is missing here? We need Paul Harvey to tell us ….the rest of the story.
Splashed across today’s international headlines is the news that the Indian Court of Inquiry probe report (which we have not yet seen) is final, and was submitted to the civil aviation ministry yesterday. The report says that “Air India pilot Zlatko Glusica, from Serbia, was asleep for much of the three-hour flight and was “disorientated” when the plane started to descend.” The experienced First Officer had fewer hours but was soon due for command, and had landed frequently at that airport. He called for a go-around which the Captain ignored.
Captain Z Glusica had more than 10,200 hours of flying experience—but not landing at that airport. He was the pilot in command and reacted late, and was suffering from “sleep inertia”. His heavy nasal snoring and breathing was captured on the CVR. Many standard operating procedures were not followed during landing. Co-pilot H S Ahluwalia repeated “abort landing” saying they didn’t have enough runway left, three times asking for a “go around”.
With less than 3,000 feet of runway left, the pilots tried to take off again and crashed in the gorge at the runway’s end.
The plane’s takeoff gear was found activated. Experts concluded if the pilots had not attempted to take off again, the plane emergency brakes could have brought the plane to a halt.
This is not the first time Air India has had exhausted pilots. What had their schedule been that week?
June 2008: Mumbai air traffic controllers woke two sleeping pilots with an alarm when they were 200 miles past their destination.
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: 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.
What: Qantas Boeing 747 en route from Johannesburg to Australia Where: Johannesburg When: Nov 16, 2010, 7:20 p.m. Who: 171 passengers Why: After takeoff around 6pm, the Qantas jet—reportedly the same plane which turned back from Sydney to Buenos Aires on Nov 15 2010_ingested a bird into the number 2 engine,which caused a drop in power. The pilot made an emergency landing (80 minutes after takeoff) in Johannesburg with emergency vehicles on standby.
Passengers will be provided hotel accommodations and are expected to have flight accommodations on one of three options within 24 hours.
The damage to the number 2 engine is said to be limited to a turbine blade.
George’s Point of View
While it is no doubt that the media is overreacting to the current series of Qantas incidents, the airline’s reputation of being the world’s safest airline should be untarnished. Consider how their fleet is being squeezed by having to pull six A380 superjumbos because of the engine problem that Rolls Royce admits is their problem.
The rest of Qantas fleet must be scrambling to make up for the temporary loss of the A380s. Such is the perfect scenario-pushing the remaining fleet to the max-that will inevitably stress the “weakest links,” should there be any.
But a bird strike is a routine event, routine in the sense of being an inevitable phenomenon. Bird strikes happen. And when they do, so far, the Qantas pilots have been able to handle every contingency.
What: Qantaslink Boeing 717-200 en route from Alice Springs to Darwin Where: Alice Springs When: Nov 16th 2010, 2:10 pm Who:115 passengers Why: Just after takeoff, the plane was struck by lightning. The plane returned to Alice Springs and made a safe landing. Operations were unaffected but here was minor damage to the plane’s exterior. Passengers were scheduled on an alternative flight with a six hour delay.
What: Qantas Boeing 767-300 en route from Perth to Melbourne Where: Perth When: Nov 12th 2010 3.15 pm Who: 234 passengers Why: After takeoff, while still near Perth, the left engine (GE) began emitting abnormal vibrations. The engine was not shut down, but the pilots decided on a a routine turnback, and returned to Perth and made a safe landing. Passengers were booked on to alternative flights with up to a five hour delay. This Qantas Boeing incident has nothing to do with the Qantas incidents related to a flaw in Airbus A380 engines.
What: Tulpar Air Yakovlev Yak-42 en route from Kazan to Moscow Where: Kazan When: Nov 12th 2010 Who: 41 passengers Why: Not long after take off, one of the engines had to be shut down. The pilot returned to Kazan where the plane made a safe landing. A replacement plane was provided for the passengers. This charter flight was to transport a soccer team, but they had to wait for the replacement jet.
