USA

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    Southwest Flight Lands in Emergency with Blown Tire

    southwestboeingSouthwest Airlines flight 1359 had to land in emergency at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Phoenix, Arizona, shortly before 1:30 p.m. on October 6.

    The flight was on its way from Phoenix to Newark when a blown tire was observed on the aircraft’s main landing gear. The plane was then diverted to making an emergency landing.

    Southwest spokesperson Dan Landson said that the plane landed uneventfully after burning off extra fuel. All 135 passengers and 5 crew members were shifted to another aircraft.

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    2 Killed as Gyroplane Crashed into Colorado River

    SeaA two-seater Xenon Gyroplane crashed into a river near Loma in western Colorado, shortly after 6 p.m. on October 4.

    The yellow colored helicopter went down after it took off from the Grand Junction Airport with 2 people aboard.

    Mesa County chief deputy coroner Victor Yahn confirmed that both people aboard the helicopter died in the crash. They were identified as Mark Shook, 61, of Peyton, Colorado, and Rebecca Jane Molle, 50, of Grand Junction, Colorado.

    The FAA and the NTSB are investigating the cause of crash.

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    Southwest Airlines Flight Makes Unscheduled Landing at LAX

    southwest_airlines_logoSouthwest Airlines flight 1429 en route from Sacramento to Bob Hope Airport, Burbank, made an unscheduled landing at Los Angeles International Airport in the afternoon of October 5.

    The pilot of the Boeing 737 decided to divert after he noticed a warning light indicating a potential issue with the aircraft’s flaps. The airline later released a statement saying that the decision to land at LAX was made “out of an abundance of caution.”

    The flight landed safely and all 123 passengers onboard were transported to Burbank with a delay of few hours from the schedule. The pilot informed that the situation did not require any emergency protocols, therefore, no emergency vehicles were called on the scene at the time of landing.

    A Southwest spokesperson confirmed that aircraft is being examined by the mechanics.

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    JetBlue Flight Returned to JFK due to Bird Strike

    JetBlueJetBlue flight 683 had to return and make an emergency landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, on the morning of October 4.

    The plane was on its way to Orlando, Florida, with 144 people aboard, when the pilot reported a bird strike. It was then turned back to JFK where it landed uneventfully.

    A spokesperson of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey confirmed that no injuries were reported and that the aircraft remained undamaged.

    The passengers were transferred to another aircraft which departed at 8:45 a.m. to take them to their destination.

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    Medical Helicopter Crashed in Wichita Falls; Patient Killed, Crew Members Seriously Injured

    Crash fireA medical helicopter, on its way to United Regional Health Care, Wichita Falls, Texas, went down just a few blocks away from its destination, shortly before 2 a.m. on October 4.

    The Air Evac Lifeteam helicopter crashed when it was transporting a patient from Waurika, Oklahoma to the North Texas hospital.

    There were 3 crew members, including a pilot, a flight and a paramedic, aboard the aircraft, along with the patient.

    The authorities confirmed that the patient lost his life in the accident, while the crew members sustained serious injuries. The pilot is admitted in United Regional Health Care where his condition is believed to be serious but stable. The paramedic and nurse are being treated at a burn unit in Dallas, however, both of them are in critical condition.

    The incident is being investigated.

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    Bird-Struck Helicopter Makes Emergency landing Along Hudson River

    HelicopterA bird-struck helicopter had to land in emergency at the West 30th Street heliport on the Hudson River, New York City, on the afternoon of October 3.

    According to the FAA, the Bell B407 helicopter was hit by a bird while it was some 6 miles west-southwest of LaGuardia Airport.

    The helicopter belongs to an aerial tour company. According to the General manager Kathleen Wiig, the incident happened when the helicopter was flying at around 1,500 feet and that the protocol requires immediate landing in such situations.

    There were 7 people on-board at the time of incident, none of them required any medical attention.

    The FAA is investigating.

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    American Eagle Flight 3052 in Emergency Landing at DFW

    American eagleAmerican Eagle flight 3052 had to make an emergency landing at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, Texas, on the afternoon of October 2.

    The pilot of the flight, en-route from Waco to DFW, declared emergency after smoke was discovered in the cabin.

    The plane landed uneventfully and all 47 passengers and 3 crew members were shifted to the terminal via buses.

    According to some reports, 3 passengers were treated for minor injuries.

    The cause of smoke is not known at the moment.

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    American Airlines Flight Returns to DFW Airport

    American AirlinesAmerican Airlines flight 1654, bound for Baltimore, had to return and make an emergency landing at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Texas, shortly before 7 p.m. on September 29.

    The McDonnell Douglas MD-80 twin-engine aircraft departed from DFW just after 5 p.m. but was turned back shortly afterwards due to an issue with landing gear.

    The plane landed safely after circling around to shed extra fuel. None of the 140 passengers and 5 crew members was hurt.

    The passengers were evacuated through rear staircase and were taken to the terminal via buses.

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    Small Plane Crashed in San Jacinto County; 1 Killed, 1 Injured

    A 2-seater plane crashed near Lake Water Wheel Airport on FM 223 in San Jacinto County, Texas, at around 4:30 p.m. on September 27.

    According to initial reports, the plane crashed into a tree while it was attempting to land at Lake Water Wheel Airport.

    There were 2 people aboard the plane at the time of crash. One of them, identified as the pilot, Marcus Schmitt, 44, of Shepherd, was killed while the other person, identified as Rene Weatherford, 35, from Houston, sustained serious injuries. He is currently being treated at Memorial Hermann, Houston.

    The spokesperson of the Texas Department of Public Safety, Stephanie Davis said, “It was a self-made plane, and I don’t know exactly where they were coming from.”

    The cause of accident is under investigation.

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    WestJet Flight Returns to Las Vegas on Suspicion of Fuel Leak

    WestJet flight 1709 returned to McCarran International Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada, and made an emergency landing at around 3:31 p.m. on September 25.

    The flight, on its way from Las Vegas to Victoria in British Columbia, Canada, was returned after the crew suspected a fuel leak in the Boeing 737 aircraft.

    The plane landed uneventfully and all 126 people aboard remained unhurt.

    According to WestJet spokesman Robert Palmer, the examination of the aircraft confirmed that there was no leak.

    The flight again departed at 6 p.m.

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    Sun Country Airlines Flight Makes Emergency Landing at Boise Airport

    Sun Country Airlines Flight 123 had to make an emergency landing at the Boise Airport, Idaho, at around 4 p.m. on September 25.

    According to the airport authorities, the decision for emergency landing was made after a warning light indicated an engine fire. The charter flight was en-route from Lewiston, Idaho, to Laughlin, Nevada, at the time.

    The Boeing 737 landed uneventfully and no one was injured.

    The investigation confirmed that there was no evidence of engine fire. The aircraft’s warning light indicator is being repaired.

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    Small Plane Crash Lands in Ocean Just Off Oahu Beach

    SeaA small single-seater aircraft made a crash landing in the ocean just off a beach located on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, on September 24.

    The pilot, Greg Harding, 59, who is a former Alaska bush pilot, reported that he had to make crash landing because the plane ran out of fuel. He said that he was on its way to Dillingham Airport, when “the engine just quit.”

    According to Harding, he first thought of landing on the beach but there were about a dozen people on the shore.

    The Piper PA-25-260 plane landed safely in around 5 ft of water. Harding remained uninjured.

    The aircraft belongs to North Shore Aircraft Leasing Co. The company’s owner Ana “Suzy” Gromacki admired Harding’s skills and noted that he was not likely to survive of the plane had overturned.

    The FAA is investigating.

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    Southwest Flight Lands in Emergency at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

    southwest_airlines_logoSouthwest Airlines Flight 481 returned to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, located in Austin, Texas, for emergency landing on the morning of September 23.

    The flight, headed to Dallas, was diverted after the crew reported odor in the cabin.

    The plane landed safely however, as a precaution, passengers were evacuated through evacuation slides. None of the 107 passengers and 5 crew members was hurt.

    The passengers were accommodated in other flights while the aircraft was taken for maintenance.

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    Delta Flight Dumps Thousands of Gallons of Fuel before Landing in Emergency at Atlanta Airport

    DeltaA Delta Airlines flight had to return and make an emergency landing at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, on September 21.

    The plane was on its way to Narita, Japan, with 316 people aboard when one of its 4 engines failed. The pilots then turned the faulty engine off and decided to return to Atlanta for emergency landing.

    The aircraft dumped thousands of gallons of fuel in the air over Lake Allatoona to shed off extra weight, before it safely landed at the airport. No one was injured.

    The passengers were transferred to another plane which took them to their destination.

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    American Eagle Flight Lands in Emergency with Cracked Windshield

    American eagleAn American Eagle flight, operated by Express Jet, had to divert and make an emergency landing at Mid-Continent Airport in Wichita, Kansas, just after 8:30 a.m. on September 22.

    The Flight 2539 was on its way from Sioux Falls, South Dakota to Dallas, Texas, with 49 passengers and 3 crew members aboard, when its windshield cracked midair.

    The pilots then decided to divert to Wichita where it made an uneventful emergency landing. Everyone aboard remained unhurt.

    Investigators are looking into the cause of crack.

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    Two AA Flights Make Emergency Landing at DFW Within Minutes of Each Other

    American AirlinesTwo American Airlines flights landed in emergency at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, Texas, within minutes of each other, on September 22.

    The first in the series was American Airlines Flight 1359, which was heading from DFW to Fresno, California. The MD-80 aircraft, carrying 140 passengers, returned and made a safe emergency landing at 12:21 a.m., due to some unspecified mechanical issue. The passengers were shifted to another plane.

    Just 2 minutes afterwards, i.e. at 12:23 a.m., another outbound American Airlines flight landed back at DFW in emergency. The Boeing 777 was on its way to Buenos Aires, Argentina, with 233 passengers aboard, when a warning light in the cockpit pointed out a pressurization problem. The plane landed safely and was expected to take off again at around 9 a.m.

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    Southwest Airlines Plane Lands in Emergency at LAX

    southwest_airlines_logoSouthwest Airlines Flight 1704 had to divert and make an emergency landing at Los Angeles International Airport on September 20.

    The plane, en-route from Sacramento to Bob Hope Airport, Burbank, was diverted after its flaps malfunctioned during the flight.

    The plane landed safely and no one was injured.

    The airline said the plane “has been taken out of service for inspection and repairs”.

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    Global Aviation Facing Critical Issues; Conclude Panelists at 20th World Routes Development Forum

    Renowned panelists in the first panel discussion at the 20th World Routes Development Forum, which was held in Chicago on September 21, concluded that the global aviation industry is currently facing 5 critical challenges.

    As per the results of live polling moderated by BBC World News presenter, Aaron Heslehurst, the delegates regarded infrastructure as the most critical challenge, with aviation profitability, safety/security, taxation and oil price stability being the other 4.

    At the start of the session, the issue of safety and security was discussed, particularly in context of the recent incidents of MH17 and MH370. Managing director of Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB), Datuk Badlisham Ghazali appreciated the actions taken by the ICAO and other bodies in order to improve aviation safety, however, he emphasized on the need of enhanced visibility from global aviation bodies regarding the industrial developments aimed at increasing safety. Referring to MH17 tragedy, he said, “The industry needs to move forward in more visible way. Response has not been as visible as what I had hoped for.”

    The issue of aircrafts flying over conflict area in eastern Ukraine was also brought up during the discussion. Thomas Windmuller, SVP airports, passenger and cargo services at IATA, asked why some airlines had the vital information not to fly while the others were not aware.

    Profitability was another point of discussion in the forum and according to Windmuller, “We are in a period of sustained growth in volume, but not necessarily profitability. The number of airlines that recover their capital cost is very small… The problem is not just airlines, it is aviation. There are very few parts and components that are making big money. These include airports, and air navigation services, who do not make a profit, and do not cover their long-term capital costs.”

    The delegate voting regarded Infrastructure challenges as the most serious issue being faced by the aviation industry today. The current investment in aviation infrastructure development projects vary a great deal from country to country. In some countries like China, big investments are being made for infrastructure development while in some other countries this trend is non-existent.

    Trey Urbahn, the chief strategy officer of Azul Brazilian Airlines, said that the most pressing issue being faced by Brazilian aviation industry today is taxation. Giving example of Azul Brazilian Airlines, he said that 36% of the company’s profit go on taxes and that the company is working with the government to address this serious issue. He suggested that the taxation garnered should be re-invested for infrastructure development.

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    Biplane Crashed in Liberty Township, 2 Killed

    A two-seater aerobatic biplane crashed in the backyard of a house near Sunrise View Circle in Liberty Township, Ohio, at about 8:54 a.m. on September 20.

    The plane immediately caught fire after crash and both men aboard were killed. The identities of victims have not yet been released.

    The authorities believe that the plane took off from the Butler County Regional Airport.

    The cause of crash is under investigation.

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    Small Plane Crashed at Virginia International Raceway; 2 Killed

    A World War II, T28-C single-engine plane crashed in a large field at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) in Halifax County, Virginia , at about 5 p.m. on September 19.

    The witnesses saw the plane flying low over the field before it went down.

    Two people, including the pilot and his passenger, were killed in the accident. Their identities are not yet known.

    No one was injured on the ground.

    The owner and CEO of VIR, Connie Nyholm said, “We deal with the possibility of motorsports incidents every day… Motorsport is a dangerous sport. We are fully prepared to deal with it. We have never experienced something like this.”

    The FAA and the NTSB have been informed.

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    2 Killed in Monroe County Plane Crash

    A Hurricane ultralight plane crashed during at attempt to land at the Monroe County Airport in Bloomington, Indiana, at about 12:45 p.m. on September 18.

    There were 2 men aboard at the time of crash; both of them were killed. Their identities have not yet been disclosed.

    According to Indiana State Police Sgt. Joe Watts, one of the men reported a mechanical issue to the Monroe County Airport control tower shortly before 1 p.m. and sought permission for landing. “While approaching the airport from the north traveling south, the plane lost altitude and crashed into a small shed and wooded area behind a residence. The plane was immediately engulfed in flames and there were no survivors,” he said.

    The police and the FAA are investigating.

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    JetBlue Flight Returns to Long Beach Airport

    jetBlueJetBlue flight 1416 had to return and make an emergency landing at Long Beach Airport, California, at about 9:30 a.m. on September 18.

    According to airport spokesperson, Kerry Gerot, the plane, heading to Austin, Texas, was diverted for landing back after its second engine got overheated and the pilot reported smoke in the cockpit.

    The Airbus A320 landed uneventfully and all 142 passengers and 5 crew members exited through emergency slides.

    According to local fire department officials, 4 passengers suffered from medical issues and one of them was shifted to hospital with complaint of shortness of breath.

    Actor Jackson Rathbone was also aboard the flight along with his wife and son. He tweeted “I grabbed my son and jumped down the inflated ramp, my wife following… We left all our personal effects onboard. Who cares. We were alive.”

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    Southwest Flight Returns to Chicago Midway Airport

    southwestnySouthwest Airlines Flight 321 had to return and make an emergency landing at Chicago Midway International Airport, at about 1:35 p.m. on September 16.

    The flight was on its way to LaGuardia Airport when shortly after taking off, an engine warning light turned on in the cockpit. The pilots then decided to return to Chicago for an emergency landing.

    The aircraft landed safely and all 118 passengers aboard remained unharmed.

    The passengers were accommodated in other flights.

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    Helicopter Makes Emergency Landing in Everglades Holiday Park

    helicopterA helicopter landed in emergency on a levee in Everglades Holiday Park, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on the afternoon of September 13.

    The helicopter was carrying the pilot and a passenger at the time of incident. According to the officials, the pilot decided to make an emergency landing after he lost contact with the control tower.

    The spokesperson for Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue, Mike Jachles, confirmed that none of the 2 persons aboard were injured.

    Further details are not yet available.

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    Cargo Plane in Emergency Landing at Chicago Rockford International Airport

    UPSA UPS cargo plane, en-route from Ontario, California to Louisville, Kentucky, had to make an emergency landing at the Chicago Rockford International Airport, Illinois, at about 11 p.m. on September 10.

    The pilot decided to land in emergency after a hydraulic fault was discovered in the aircraft.

    The plane landed uneventfully and all 4 people aboard remained unhurt. The cargo packages were transferred to another plane for timely delivery.

    The plane was taken for inspection.

    The FAA is investigating.