UK

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    Costly Mistake

    What: SAS Airbus 321 en route from London to Copenhagen
    Where: Heathrow airport
    Who: 175 passengers
    Why: The cart that crashed into an SAS plane at Heathrow caused £1 million worth in damage, all because driver Dennis Jackson had forgotten which vehicle he was driving when he drove a too tall vehicle under the plane’s too low tail. The SAS Airbus 321 impacted the rear of the craft near the fuel line and sliced through the plane. The plane was subsequently evacuated.

    Jackson’s employer Dnata gave him a written warning.

    It was, as one attorney said, an “expensive accident,” costing a fine of a week’s wages, £150(fees), £85 (costs) and £15 (victim surcharge).

    The official ATSB Report

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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.

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    11 Year-old Stowaway

    What: jet2.com Boeing 737-300 en route from Manchester to Rome (and back)
    When: Jul 24, 2012
    Who: 1
    Why: 11-year-old Liam Corcoran managed to fly to Rome on his own without a passport or a boarding pass, and his action has instigated a probe of procedures at Manchester airport.

    Corcoran ran away from his mother, went through full security screening, and boarded the flight while mingling with a family and was discovered while en route. He discussed with other passengers how he was running away. It was other passengers who notified the crew who notified the Captain who called his worried family. He stayed on the plane for the return flight to Manchester, and was returned safely to his family.

    A number of airport and Jet2 employees have been suspended as a result of the security breach. The breach has launched several high-level investigations.

    See Video below

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    El Al Tel Aviv Flight Returns to Heathrow on Three Engines


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

    What: El Al Israel Airlines Boeing 747-400 en route from London to Tel Aviv
    Where: London
    When: Jul 4 2012
    Who: 411 passengers
    Why: While en route, pilot Ilan Margalit felt that one of the right side engines was losing power as it reached 26,000 feet. He shut down the affected engine and returned to London where he made a safe landing at Heathrow.

    The Israel Times reported that the engine caught fire; however other sources say there was no actual fire. The plane landed safely on three engines. A replacement flight was provided on July 5.

    The affected engine was a Pratt & Whitney.

    In April of 2007 this plane was damaged when it “taxied over its pushback tractor.” No one was hurt in that incident either.

    Flight Tracking of ELY318 on O4-July 2012

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    Blue Island Runway Incident, Jersey


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

    What: Blue Islands ATR-42-320 en route from Guernsey to Jersey
    Where: Jersey-States Airport
    When: June 16, 2012
    Who: 43 passengers
    Why: According to Blue Islands, after making a safe landing, during taxi the left-hand landing gear suffered a suspected mechanical failure and resulted in the left wing contacting the ground. Debris was scattered down the runway.

    No-one was injured. Passengers disembarked through the main door, were assessed by medical staff, and left the airport with their baggage at around 1000. During the incident, the runway was closed. Flights were suspended for eight hours on June 16.

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    Flybe Returns to Isle of Man


    What: Flybe de Havilland Dash 8-400
    Where: Ronaldsway
    When: May 20 2012, 1.45pm.
    Who: 52 passengers
    Why: While en route, a Flybe jet headed took off from and returned to Ronaldsway and made a safe landing, with airport and Castletown, Port Erin and Douglas fire crews on standby.

    Passengers disembarked on the tarmac and were taken by bus to the terminal.

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    Air France Airbus Data Error Leads to Emergency Diversion to Cork


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

    What: Air France Airbus A340-300 en route from Paris Charles de Gaulle to Detroit
    Where: Cork
    When: May 2nd 2012
    Why: While en route, the plane developed a technical problem and had to divert to Cork and make an emergency landing.

    The technical problem involved transponder data. After maintenance, the plane was returned to service.

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    Virgin Airbus Emergency Landing in London


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

    What: Virgin Atlantic Airbus A330-300 from London to Orlando,FL
    Where: London
    When: Apr 16th 2012
    Who: 299 passengers and 13 crew
    Why: The flight had taken off from Gatwick when the crew reported an indication of a cargo fire. Pilots returned to the airport, and made a safe landing on flat tires. (Flat tires can result from a heavy or fast landing.)

    Passengers were evacuated by slide from the plane directly on the runway, at which time some scrapes and bruises occurred.

    No heat or fire was found in the plane. It is not uncommon for de-icing fluid burning off an engine may set off an alarm.

    In George’s Point of View


    Better safe than sorry! A safe landing is a good landing. Good job by the pilots.

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    American Airlines Flight Diverts to Shannon with Smokey Cabin


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

    What: American Airlines Boeing 767-300 en route from Paris to Dallas Ft. Worth
    Where: Shannon
    When: Mar 22nd 2012
    Why: While en route and over the Atlantic, the plane developed smoke in the cabin. Apparently there was also a mechanical glitch as well that helped the pilots determine they needed to divert.

    Pilots flew the 200 miles back to Shannon where they made a safe but overweight landing less than an hour later. Emergency vehicles were on standby.

    The source of the smoke was an oven in the galley.

    A replacement jet was provided as N392AN is inspected.

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    Main Gear Collapse after Isle of Man Landing

    What: Manx2/Links Air British Aerospace Jetstream 3102 en route from Leeds to Isle of Man
    Where: Isle of Man
    When: Mar 8th 2012
    Who: 12 passengers and 2 crew
    Why: While landing on the Isle of Man, the pilot veered off the runway at Ronaldsway Airport with damage to the main gear after making a hard landing.

    The Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) is investigating.

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    Thomas Cook Diverts Over Broken Radar Sys


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

    What: Thomas Cook Boeing 757-300 en route from Glasgow to Antalya
    Where: London
    When: Feb 15th 2012
    Why: The flight had taken off normally from Glasgow, but while en route, the weather radar system failed.

    The crew of flight MT-3614 notified London and were able to divert to Gatwick where they made a safe landing.

    One might say it was an overabundance of caution because weather radar might not be considered essential–but considering the distance covered and potential conditions en route and on landing in Antalya, it seems their caution was, in my opinion at least, justified.

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    Thomas Cook Makes Emergency Landing in Belfast

    What: Thomas Cook Airlines Airbus A320 en route from Belfast to Tenerife
    Where: Belfast International Airport
    When: Feb 8 2012
    Who: 175 passengers
    Why: After developing problems with the gear during takeoff, the pilots returned to Belfast where they circled for an hour and a half before landing back in Belfast.

    Emergency crews were on standby.

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    Landing Gear Cause Emergency Landing in Belfast

    What: Thomas Cook Airbus A320 en route from Belfast to Tenerife
    Where: Belfast
    When: February 7, 2012
    Who: 175 aboard
    Why: After taking off from Belfast, the plane developed a technical problem (problems with the landing gear.) Pilots returned to Belfast. They circled for over an hour. While they were in the air, a police helicopter came up and inspected the plane.

    The pilots dumped fuel before they made a safe landing.

    Passengers interviewed about the event said they were terrified. Flight attendants advised them to brace themselves, take off their shoes and use the emergency exits.

    Emergency services were on standby.

    Belfast International Airport said that the airline planes to repair the plane and use it this afternoon to fly out passengers at 3:00 pm. The airport spoke highly of the efficiency and emergency management performed by the staff.

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    Manchester-bound Airbus Struck by Lightning

    What: Easyjet Airbus A320-200 en route from Athens Greece to Manchester
    Where: Manchester
    When: Jan 27th 2012
    Why: On approach to Manchester, at 1300 feet the plane was struck by lightning, burning the fuselage under the cockpit window.

    The first approach was aborted due (apparently) to snow on the runway. The plane circled for less than half an hour before making a safe landing.

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    3 Survive Chopper Engine Failure by Crashing into a Fluffy Tree

    What: Cropspray Ltd. Westland (Aérospatiale) SA 341G Gazelle en route from Bath
    Where: Churchfields Industrial Estate in Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK
    When: Jan 10, 2012 09:40 GMT.
    Who: 3 aboard
    Why: When the chopper developed an engine problem, the pilot didn’t have much time to decide what to do..

    Businesssman/pilot Andrew Ridings, said in an interview that he only had an instant to choose whether to fall into the river or a tree; he chose a “fuffy” tree, made a 180 degree turn and landed on it 8 feet from the river, and fell through. A local worker cleared a path for emergency services to make a prompt arrival.

    Two of the injured were released from the hospital; one remains hospitalized with a back injury.

    The The Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) is investigating.

    Two aboard were taken by Great Western Ambulance Service to Southampton General Hospital and one was taken by ambulance. All three made it safely out of the helicopter, suffering a variety of injuries.

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    Lightheaded Pilots Make Emergency Landing at Heathrow


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

    What: British Airways A321 en route from London Heathrow to Glasgow
    Where: London
    When: Dec 20th 2011
    Who: pilot and co-pilot
    Why: After takeoff, pilots declared an emergency when they became lightheaded. They returned to Heathrow and made a safe landing. The problem was reported as a technical fault due to fumes or pressure problems in the cockpit. On declaration, pilots called for oxygen which was brought by cabin crew; and oxygen masks were apparently not released for the passengers. The flight made a safe landing. Paramedics were the first aboard, attending to the pilots.

    The replacement jet provided for the passengers took them to their destination with a three hour delay,

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    Blackpool Emergency Landing

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    What: Manx2 LET-410 en route from Isle of Mn to Blackpool Eng (UK)
    Where: Blackpool
    When: Nov 26, 2011, 11:38
    Who: 9 aboard
    Why: On landing at Blackpool, a tire burst.

    A replacement plane flew to Blackpool with spare and maintenance crew.

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    British Airways Says No Means No Flying High While Flying High, Drunk Businessman Does UK Time for Drunk and Disorderly

    Convicted of being drunk on an aircraft, and sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court in west London on September 23 after getting drunk on beer and bourbon with friends in Phoenix, and drunker aboard a British Airways Phoenix-London Boeing, Mortgage consultant Timothy Bradley propositioned a woman, shouted, verbally threatened the pilot, and brandished glass.

    Judge Richard McGregor-Johnson was not amused.

    In business class, no less.

    He was arrested when flight 288 arrived at Heathrow.

    He’s paying for it now, and is one month into his three month sentence.

    I only have one thing to say to Timothy Bradley (who may have to look into another line of work when he gets out.)

    Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.

    Mark Twain

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    ATR Takes Runway Tumble


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

    What: Aer Lingus/Aer Arann Avion de Transport Regional ATR-72-200 en route from Manchester to Shannon
    Where: Shannon
    When: Jul 17th 2011
    Who: 21 passengers, 4 crew
    Why: The pilot made a safe landing in turbulence but the front wheel collapsed (on landing or during taxi). The plane veered on to the grass.

    Passengers had to disembark on to the runway via stairs and were ported to the gate.

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    British Airways Emergency Diversion to Shannon


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

    What: British Airways Boeing 777-200 en route from London Heathrow to Boston,MA
    Where: Shannon
    When: May 23rd 2011
    Who: 221 passengers
    Why: En route over the Atlantic, smoke developed in the cockpit and the pilots declared emergency and diverted to Shannon.
    (There is some speculation that the smoke was ash drawn into the cabin.)

    The smoke increased on descent, but the pilot made a safe landing. The smoke is being blamed on an undesignated mechanical problem.

    Above FL200, the atmosphere was (reported as) clear of Grimsvotn ash.

    Passengers were provided hotel accommodations until the replacement flight arrived (May 24.)

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    Chopper Crashes on Devon Hotel Grounds

    What: 2 seat helicopter
    Where: Devon
    When: May 16 2011
    Who: 2 aboard
    Why: The 2 seat helicopter crashed on the grounds of the Gridleigh Park Hotel in Devon. The wind was reported blowing at about 30 plus knots.

    Devon and Somerset Fire Service responded, and used foam on the chopper which is said to have landed on its roof. The two aboard were injured, treated on the scene.

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    Flats in Cardiff

    What: Atlantic Airlines British Aerospace ATP en route from East Midlands to Cardiff
    Where: Cardiff
    When: Apr 9 2011
    Who: Crew
    Why: On a cargo flight from East midlands, on landing in Cardiff the plane blew out tires. The tire damage closed down the runway for several hours. No indication is made if it was a fast or overweight landing, or what may have contributed to the tire situation.

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    Survivors Have Rights Too


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

    What is a life worth?

    It appears that Manx2 Airlines doesn’t think a life is worth very much. Manx2 denied an advance payment of more than £15,000 to cover the costs of a crash survivor (Cork Airport) to fly by aircraft from Cork University Hospital to the U.K. They are trying to shift responsibility to BCN.

    On the second approach to runway 17 the right wing-tip of the Swearingen SA-227BC Metro III hit the runway, flipping the aircraft upside down. The plane slid 190 metres along the runway and came to rest in the grass adjacent to Taxiway C when fuel tanks leaking fuel in the right wing caught fire.The leased plane crashed on Feb 10, 2011, killing 2 crew members, and 4 passengers. There were 6 survivors.

    After a horrific accident like that, you’d expect Manx to step up to the plate.

    When someone dies in a crash the question is asked: what is this life worth? You may not hear it in that many words, but it is there. The value of a human being, translated into dollars and cents. When someone survives a crash as 6 did in this instance, it is difficult not to see Manx’s petty delay tactic as a slap in the face.