What: Delta McDonnell Douglas MD-88 en route from Flint Michigan to Atlanta Georgia
Where: Cincinnati
When: Oct 18, 2011
Who: 130 passengers, 6 crew
Why: While en route, the cabin began to smell “smokey.” The crew diverted to Cincinnati where they made a safe landing. They disembarked, and were able to leave Cincinnati around noon. The cause of the smokey smell was not released.
What: JetBlue Airbus 319 en route from San Juan, Puerto Rico to Boston
Where: Boston Logan International Airport
Who: 130 passengers and five crew members
What: Lufthansa Flight 429, which was traveling from North Carolina to Munich, Germany
Where: Boston Logan International Airport
Who: 245 passengers and 18 crew
The Jetblue flight, which arrived early, was en route when it encountered turbulence severe enough to injure 9 aboard with an assortment of neck and back injuries.
The Lufthansa flight had to land at Logan due to a turbulence encounter that injured 11 passengers on that flight.
The turbulence was severe enough that many aboard bumped their heads on the ceiling of the plane. Several people were treated for injuries but no one was hospitalized.
Passengers aboard both flights describe the trip as terrifying. They were certain they were going to crash.
What: Paul P. Dudley Bell 206B JetRanger
Where: East River, New York, NY
When: Oct 4, 2011
Who: 5 aboard, 1 fatality
Why: The Bell 206B JetRanger was en route with five people aboard when it took off to about 25 feet above ground, and spun, then crashed for an unknown reason upside down into the East River. The flight had just taken off from the riverbank launch pad. Two people were injured, one was missing. Four individuals were rescued from the water, including the pilot. While the helicopter was submerged, rescuers searched for the fifth passenger, Sonia Marra Nicholson, but did not find her until it was too late. The chopper had sunk 50 feet into the water. Nicholson had been visiting New York on the occasion of her 40th birthday.
THe passengers who were rescued were Nicholson’s partner Helen Tamaski, her mother Harriet Nicholson and her stepfather Paul Nicholson, all of whom are in stable condition at Bellevue and New York University Hospitals. Paul and Harriet Nicholson live in Portugal but are British citizens. Sonia Marra Nicholson and Helen Tamaski lived in Australia.
The pilot Paul Dudley also survived. The passengers were close personal friends. He manages the Linden, N.J., airport.
Rescuers included police officers who where on hand, running a drill on the East River, and who, still in uniform, jumped in to assist passengers.
NTSB briefing today at 5:00 PM (EDT) on investigation of helicopter accident in New York City
—
WASHINGTON – NTSB Board Member Mark Rosekind will brief the news media on the NTSB investigation into yesterday’s East River helicopter accident.
The briefing will be held at 5:00 PM EDT today at the
accident site.
NTSB Press Contact: Terry Williams (on-scene in New York)
202-557-1350
williat@ntsb.gov
What: Continental Airlines Boeing 757-200 en route from Newark,NJ to London
Where: Newark
When: Sep 19th 2011
Why: While en route, a cabin sidewall overheated. The crew shut down the local electricity but not before a passenger was burned by the heater. The passenger was treated for minor injuries.
The incident occurred over Charlottetown in Canada. The flight crew returned to Newark and made a safe landing. A replacement Boeing completed the flight fourteen hours later.
So, now I wonder why back in Newark, maintenance deactivated the heater instead of repairing the problem. If it was there in the first place to counter a cold spot, did it not need to be repaired? I am hoping this was just deferred until the plane reached the appropriate hub.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Joe Buvid
What: Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 en route from Seattle to Oakland
Where: Oakland
When: Sept 19, 2011
Who: 126 passengers, 6 crew
Why: While passengers were winging it from Seattle, a handwritten bomb threat note threatening the Oakland flight was found in an airport bookstore in San Francisco International Airport.
The flight landed at Oakland as planned—twenty minutes early, due to some background aviation networking. The fake crisis brought in some real FBI agents and real bomb sniffing dogs who got everyone out of the plane (and screened); and the plane was sent to an isolated location to (fortunately, not) blow up. No bomb was found.
A false report or threat of a bomb or harmful device is punishable by up to four years in prison, a $2,000 fine plus reimbursement of costs to government.
Sent from 37 thousand feet headed to NY
What: Aero-Trans Corp. DBA North American P-51D-15-NA Mustang (mod.)
Where: Reno Stead Airport, Nevada
When: 16-SEP-2011
Who: 11 fatalities, 1 aboard (2 on the ground)
Eleven people have died so far in the Reno air show crash:
Stewart was a paid staff member at the airshow, and Salerno was a volunteer. Spectator Cherie Elvin is missing, and her husband, two sons, and daughter in law each lost part of a leg.
The names of the seventy injured (and all of the fatalities) have not been released, but there are hundreds of stunning accounts of the accident.
The FAA requires airports have a practice drill very three years. Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport had a disaster drill last week, practicing saving the 129 passengers and 5 crew (including 100 volunteers and 500 participants) of a simulated Airbus 320 crash.
Emergency responders in the drill included Red Cross, Medical workers from ten hospitals, Police from from Hebron and Elsmere and airport personnel. A triage area was set up, just like in an actual event.
Photos of the 2008 at the airport are published at http://coroners.ky.gov/Incident+Response+Team.htm
The scenario presented an Airbus 320 involved in an accident, forced to land.
What: Aero-Trans Corp. DBA North American P-51D-15-NA Mustang (mod.)
Where: Reno Stead Airport, Nevada
When: 16-SEP-2011
Who: 3 fatalities, 1 aboard (2 on the ground)
Why: The Reno air race show was the site of unexpected carnage today. The famous movie stunt pilot and racer nosedived near the spectator’s box seats, veering into the tarmacs apron (likely to avoid the crowds.) Witnesses say there was a problem with the tail or elevators. Perhaps the investigation will make it clear.
“The Galloping Ghost” the North American Racer, piloted by Jimmy Leeward crashed in the crowd just before 4:30 p.m. during the National Championship Air Races. In the race, pilots fly an oval path around pylons. Leeward had apparently experienced a technical problem on the third lap which caused the plane to go out of control. It flew up before it nosedived.
Leeward, and two bystanders were killed, and 75 were injured. The grandstand holds 10,000 but 7,500 were in attendance.
Pilot Jimmy Leeward had a reputation of being one of Reno’s best pilots. His highly modified “Galloping Ghost” purportedly lost a elevator tab which made his sad demise inevitable. We don’t always say it in every post, but we always wish deepest heartfelt condolences to the families.
Statement from the Reno National Championship Air Races
“The National Championship extends their deepest sympathies and condolences to all of the families involved in today’s tragic accident. The Air Races are truly one big family and our thoughts are with all of our aviation family members, immediate and extended. While we can’t confirm the number of casualties or fatalities, local hospitals and emergency response organizations are beginning to release this information.
“At this point, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the communications and investigation of this incident and the representatives from the National Championship Air Races will not be granting any further interviews tonight or early tomorrow morning. We will work with the NTSB to hold a press update at some point tomorrow, though no time has been established. Should the National Championship Air Races have any additional information to release tonight or tomorrow morning, we will issue a statement and post this on our website.
“Those wishing to check on the status of loved ones should call 775.337.5800 or locally dialing 211. We appreciate all of the thoughts and support that have been extended from around the world this evening.”
What: Continental/Expressjet Embraer ERJ-145 en route from Knoxville to Houston
Where: Jackson, Mississippi
When: Sept 14 2011
Who: 52 passengers on board
Why: After takeoff, there was a popping noise in the cabin, and smoke ensued.
The pilots diverted to Jackson where they made a safe landing.
What: Continental Express flight from Knoxville to Houston
Where: Jackson- Evers International Airport
When: Sep 12, 2011, 11:45 am
Who: 52 aboard
Why: The flight was en route to Houston when it developed problems including smoke in the cockpit.
The crew heard an audible pop when they began smelling (but not seeing) smoke. The pilots diverted to Jackson- Evers International Airport and made a safe landing. Emergency services were on standby during the landing. THere were no reported injuries.
Repairs were made to the plane and the flight resumed by 12:30 pm.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Dan Miclea
What: Virgin America Airbus en route from San Francisco to New York City
Where: Grand Junction Colorado
When: September 8, 2011, 2:00 a.m.
Who: 111 passengers and 6 crew
Why: While en route, the Virgin America flight experienced problems, described by one passenger as “the engine quit” and by another as “a giant flame from the engine.” While en route, passengers were awakened by a loud noise, and according to one passenger, flight attendants rushed to the cockpit.
Pilots shut the engine down and continued the flight. Individuals with military experience were asked to assist in case of emergency.
(We don’t usually get this much detail, but it is clear that the passengers were terrified. Pilots always say these huge jets with multiple engines are built to fly without one, in case of emergency; but personally I can relate more to the anxiety of the passengers than the confidence of pilots in their machines. Though one has to admit, knowing a pilot confident in his plane is flying is more comforting to a passenger than a pilot who is hysterical.)
Pilots explained the situation to the passengers. Forty minutes later landed safely in Grand Junction.
Passengers were provided hotel accommodation, $150 for another flight, and another flight was provided within ten hours. The incident is under investigation.
What: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 en route from Dallas to Little Rock to Baltimore
Where: Little Rock Arkansas
When: Sept 7 2011,
Who: 103 aboard
Why: While en route, an overhead light fixture in the Flight 871 cockpit caught on fire.
The crew put out the fire and informed Little Rock Airport ATC to assemble emergency teams as they made an emergency landing in Little Rock.
The plane made a safe landing with no injuries.
An alternative flight was arranged for the next leg of flight to Baltimore.
What: Cessna 210
Where: Blackburn Canyon, Tehachapi, California
When: Sept 4, 2011
Who: 2 aboard, 2 fatalities
Why: A Cessna that crashed in Blackburn Canyon, Tehachapi, California killed both people aboard the flight and ignited a fire that caused the evacuation of hundreds of homes south of Bakersfield. Two were confirmed dead in the crash, and it has not (yet) been confirmed if there were more than 2 aboard.
As of Monday, the number of evacuations had grown from 100 to 650 to about 1,500 homes homes. The threatened area was the mountains around the crash and a seven square mile burn area, all threatened by a raging forest fire. Firefighters concentrated on creating a fire-break.
A DC-10 water tanker has been part of the firefighting team, including 600 firefighters and more than a dozen aircraft.
Tehachapi, with a population of 8,000, has some renown as an area with wind farms. Smaller fires spread to San Bernardino National Forest and rural areas of San Bernardino County.
The fire has been 95% contained.
raw video
Early news report
What: Atlantic/Southwest Airlines Bombardier CRJ-200 en route from Atlanta to Baton Rouge
Where: Baton Rouge Metro Airport
When: September 1 2011, 4:35 pm
Who: 50 passengers, 3 crew
Why: Outside of Baton Rouge, the crew notified ATC of problems with the left wheel assembly, and circled over Baton Rouge. Fifteen minutes from the airport, the crew announced the emergency to passengers.
Passengers were warned to exit immediately on landing.
The pilot made an emergency landing in Baton Rouge with emergency services from metro Baton Rouge and Airport on standby.
On touchdown, the left wing collapsed. Passengers exited promptly as the plane filled up with smoke. Airport spokesman Jim Caldwell said that there were no injuries.
This was not the first problem the passengers encountered. They had boarded this plane in Atlanta after leaving another plane that encountered mechanical problems.
It is a strange, sad phenomenon how tragedies live on.
On August 31, 1986, a Piper and a Douglas DC-9-32 collided over Cerritos California. The Piper, carrying the pilot and two passengers was going from Torrence to Big Bear. They departed Torrence at 11:46. The DC-9 from Mexico City was approaching Los Angeles with 58 passengers and 6 crew aboard. At 11:52 am, the DC-9’s left horizontal stabilizer sheared through the Piper’s cockpit like a can-opener.
The Piper crashed in the Cerritos Elementary School playground; the DC-9 in a Cerritos neighborhood destroying five houses, damaging seven more and killing an additional 15 on the ground.
Descriptions of the collision still fill me with horror.
The accident predates some of the precautionary measures we have now. Now, the Piper would have a Mode C transponder, which would indicate that it was too high, breeching LAX Terminal Control area; LAX was not at that time equipped with automatic warning systems.
It has been twenty-five years since that accident happened. A memorial ceremony now is being held commemorating the tragedy in the Cerritos Sculpture Garden, and another in Loreto, Mexico. The tragedy is being remembered by at least 30 US families, 20 Mexican families, in at least one home in Colombia, and one in El Salvador. It is being remembered in the neighborhood the wreckage demolished, where families neither need nor want a plaque to remind them of their loss.
There is a reminder of this crash in every light plane, and every jet. In fact, everyone who flies now, everyone who has flown and not died in a crash owes a debt to the victims of this senseless tragedy, because this was the event that spurred the FAA to require “Mode C” transponders that could report three-dimensional positioning on light aircraft. This was the event that spurred the FAA to require TCAS on airliners.
I still live to breathe the smoggy air of Los Angeles. And as long as I still have the breath of life, I will remember the day when these 82 souls breathed their last.
Aviation tragedies shatters lives like broken glass, and there is no lawsuit, no settlement, no “all the kings horses, nor all the kings men” who can ever put families back together again.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Jens Breuer
What: Jetblue Embraer ERJ-190 en route from Fort Lauderdale to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Where: Fort Lauderdale
When: Aug 29th 2011
Why: After takeoff, the plane lost cabin pressure.
Although they did not declare emergency, the crew did alert ATC, and descended to a safe altitude before returning to the Fort Lauderdale airport.
Passengers were provided an alternative flight with an alternative jet flown in.
What: Air Methods Corp Eurocopter AS-350 en route from a hospital in St. Joseph, MO
Where: a field a mile north of Midwest National Air Center. Missouri
When: April 26, 2011, 7 pm
Who: 3 crew and one patient
Why: The St. Joseph Missouri medical chopper was on the way to Liberty Kansas about to refuel at Midwest National Air Center in Mosby when it went down in a Clay County field. There is no indication what went wrong that caused the crash and skies were reported to be clear. The wreckage is reported to be mangled. According to the video below the wreck might have been a failed landing, hitting the skids, then flipping.
There were no survivors. The crew lost in the crash were Randy Bever, Flight Nurse, 47, of Savannah, Mo., Chris Frakes, Flight Paramedic, 36, of Savannah, Mo. and James Freudenberg, Pilot, 34, of Rapid City, Sd.
The name of the 58-year-old female passenger has not yet been released.
The helicopter was certified in 2005, good until 2013. Key Equipment Finance Inc. out of Boulder, CO.holds the lien and it was being operated by LifeNet, a subsidiary of Air Methods Inc. of Englewood, CO.
The NTSB is investigating.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Hector A Rivera-
What: Jetblue Embraer ERJ-190 en route from Stewart International Airport, Windsor ,NY to Orlando,FL
Where: Orlando
When: Aug 23rd 2011
Who: 95 aboard
Why: While en route, a hydraulic system failed.
With brake failure pending prior to landing, the crew requested emergency services, which was on standby as the Jet landed in Orlando.
The flight made a safe landing, and was towed off the runway.
What: single engine Beechcraft Musketeer on student flight
Where: East Palo Alto’s Ravenswood Open Space Preserve
When: 08/23/2011, 9:30 am
Who: instructor and student pilot
Why: While practicing touch and go maneuvers at Palo Alto Airport, the plane’s engine failed.
When the engine failed, the plane went down in the Ravenswood Open Space Preserve. A plane crashed there in Feb of 2010, which shook the neighborhood, but many locals were unaware of when this incident happened. This was an emergency landing, although the plane went off course after glancing against a tree.
Both Instructor Jassen Todorov and student pilot David Shoemaker survived.
What: American Airlines Boeing 757-200 en route from Lousiville to Los Angeles
Where: Los Angeles
When: Aug 21st 2011
Who: 197 aboard
Why: This was a double trouble flight, en route from Boston to Los Angeles, when they had to divert to Louisville when a passenger had an emergency. After three hours in Louisville, the plane was back in the air. However, on approach to LAX, the crew experienced gear problems and performed a flyby.
Tower observers noted a main gear tire was missing.
The crew continued to make a safe landing, with the tireless gear shooting sparks. There were no injuries reported.
But…where’s the tire?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
