What: SAS Scandinavian Airlines Boeing 737-800 en route from Tromso to Longyearbyen Where: Tromso When: Apr 30th 2012 Who: 180 aboard Why: On taking off from Tromso, the flight suffered a number of bird strikes. Pilots returned to the airport and made a safe landing.
Passengers were able to leave within an hour and a half.
What: Kelowna McDonnell Douglas DC-10 en route from Calgary to Hamilton Where: Calgary When: Apr 29th 2012 Who: 3 crew Why: A flight from Calgary to Hamilton returned back in Calgary after an engine was shut down with a faulty “thrust reverser” part.
What: PIA Pakistan International Airlines Avion de Transport Regional ATR-42-500 en route from Karachi to Bahawalpur Where: Karachi When: Apr 27th 2012 Who: Belligerent Passenger, 52 aboard Why: While en route, economy class passenger Javed Ansari had words with a flight attendant. Those words included threats that sounded like hijack attempts to someone. The passenger told authorities that he “hurled a threat after a quarrel with attendants Sadaf Mansoor and Mehreen Fatima, but had no intention to hijack the aircraft.” Ansari was offloaded in Karachi and escorted away by Airport Security Force commandos and handed off to police. The flight was delayed almost three hours.
Xinhua news reported that Urdu TV channel ARY News said Ansari followed the attendants into the cockpit and asked the captain to divert the flight. This was reported as a foiled hijack attempt, where the pilot tricked the hijacker by claiming the plane had to return to Karachi for an emergency landing. Ansari says he was “joking.”
What: SAS Scandinavian Airlines Airbus A330-300 en route from Oslo to Newark,NJ Where: Faroe Islands When: Apr 22nd 2012 Who: 264 passengers Why: While en route, the plane developed engine problems in one engine. Pilots shut it down, and diverted to Bergen Norway. Pilots made a safe landing in Bergen over an hour later, and passengers were delayed eight and a half hours.
What: Lufthansa Boeing 747-400 en route from Shanghai to Frankfurt Where: Ufa When: Apr 18th 2012 Who: 311 passengers Why: While en route, the cabin developed smoke which was reported as an unusual odor. Pilots diverted to UFA and made a safe landing. No fire was found. There’s no indication of how Lufthansa is handling passengers, baggage or compensation for inconvenience, but we hear passengers were in for a long wait.
What: Virgin Australia Boeing 737-800 en route from Coolangatta/Gold Coast,QL to Melbourne,VI Where: Coolangatta When: Apr 15th 2012 Who: Essendon Football Team Why: The flight was en route when a problem developed with the fuel. Pilots diverted to Brisbane and made a safe landing. Emergency services met the plane on the tarmac. Virgin’s public statement said the problem was a minor maintenance issue.
The football team won against the Gold Coast Suns on Saturday night but ended up stranded in Brisbane. The spokesman for Essedon said “There was definitely no emergency. It’s probably been overplayed a bit.”
What: Malaysia Airlines Boeing 747-400 en route from Kuala Lumpur to London Where: Kuala Lumpur When: Apr 17th 2012 Who: 351 passengers, 21 crew Why: After taking off from Kuala Lumpur, the engine exploded.
Or at least that’s what passengers felt when they heard a backfire or some other kind of explosion from one engine, and saw sparks and flames.
Pilots dumped fuel and returned to Kuala Lumpur where they made a safe landing.
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.
What: United Boeing 777-200 en route from San Francisco to London Where: San Francisco When: Apr 12th 2012 Who: 195 passengers aboard Why: After taking off from San Francisco, the left side of the United Boeing 777 was struck by lightning. Passengers described the flash of light and the big bank. Oxygen masks deployed. No one was injured. Weather suspended other flights taking off from that airport until the storm blew through.
Pilots informed ATC, and dumped fuel before returning to land safely. The plane remained on the runway as officials inspected the aircraft. Passengers were put up in local hotels and scheduled to take an alternate flight Friday afternoon.
What: Ural Airlines Airbus A320-200 from Nizhniy to Prague Where: Nizhniy Novgorod When: Apr 14th 2012 Who: 100+ passengers Why: The plane had taken off when systems indicated a technical problem.
Radio Vesti FM said that pilots diverted to Ekaterinburg where they made a safe landing. The departure from Ekaterinburg occurred seven hours later.
What: Korean Airlines Boeing 777 en route from Vancouver to Seoul Where: Comox air base When: April 10, 2012 5:30 p.m Who: 149 passengers, 12 crew members Why: After a bomb threat was made in a telephone call to the Korean Airlines Los Angeles office, the flight was diverted to Canada’s Comox air base, which is 70 miles outside Vancouver.
The flight was escorted by U.S. Air Force F-15 fighter jets. Three hours after the flight took off, it landed in Comex safely.
Officers checked passengers and luggage, Royal Canadian Mounted Police were investigating. Police, fire trucks and B.C. Ambulance paramedics were also on the scene.
I doubt that April is any worse a month for medical emergencies, but just to give you a snapshot at how common it is—at least this past week—
April 5 American Airlines New York to Buenos Aires Diverted to Caracas Venezuela with a sick man-
April 6 (April 5-6) Cathay Pacific Chicago-Hong Kong An undisclosed medical emergency occurred; flight diverted to Anchorage for the medical emergency. (The flight had a second diversion, probably for a crew change before arriving at their destination.)
April 7 Air New Zealand London to LAX A diabetic ten year old boy received assistance from crew as pilots diverted to Minneapolis. The boy was hospitalized in Minneapolis.
April 8 Egyptair Cairo to Nigeria Infant became ill; crew returned to Cairo and made a safe landing. The infant was hospitalized.
April 9 Delta Japan- Honolulu passenger suffered an attack 2 hours outside of Honolulu; cabin crew and nurse/passenger attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation but pronounced DOA.
April 10 LAN Airlines Santiago to Arica male passenger suffered a stroke. A doctor provided first aid; Flight diverted to Copiapo where the passenger was hospitalized.
In George’s Point of View
These medical incidents really don’t differ from how many we usually see–maybe its just spring fever, but I’m just sayin’…make sure you’re a-ok before you set foot on board!
What: Ryanair Boeing 737-800 en route from Milan, Italy to East Midlands Where: Frankfurt When: Apr 4th 2012 Who: 134 passengers Why: Fifteen minutes after takeoff, while over Lugano Switzerland, the cabin lost pressure, deploying oxygen masks. Pilots made a Mayday announcement heard by passengers on the public address system, and descended to 9000 feet. Passengers were alarmed as they watched the alps approach at a rapid rate. In five minutes, they descended four miles. They diverted to Frankfurt Germany where they made a safe landing at at 12:00 local time.
A replacement jet was provided.
Three passengers were injured and hospitalized with ear problems. A news report said there were ten passengers with minor injuries. Some passengers told reporters they were panicking, but no one was screaming.
What: Expressjet/United Express en route from Memphis to Houston Where: Memphis International Airport When: March 30, 2012 Who: 44 passengers Why: The Expressjet had such a rocky take-off the pilot announced to the passengers he was flying over the tower to see if there was something wrong.
There was something wrong. He had a flat, the tower observed.
The jet landed safely at Memphis International Airport with emergency services on standby. After passengers disembarked, they were provided overnight accommodations until the replacement flight arrived (Saturday.)
What: Jetblue Airbus A320-200 en route from New York to Las Vegas Where: Amarillo When: March 27 2012 Who: 1 medical emergency, 135 passengers, six crew Why: While en route, the pilot of the JetBlue Airbus suffered a panic attack. He was locked out of the cockpit and restrained, and another JetBlue pilot who was aboard assisted the first officer in the cockpit as they diverted to Amarillo and made a safe landing.
The pilot had walked to the back of the plane, and when he returned to the cockpit and found he was locked out, he began yelling “Let me in” and raving about a bomb.
After landing in Amarillo, the captain was taken off the plane into an ambulance that sat on the tarmac for thirty minutes before he was taken to an Amarillo hospital.
Jet Blue’s Official Statement
“Flight 191 departed New York’s JFK airport at 7:28 am ET (was scheduled to depart 6:55 am ET). At roughly 10 am CT/11 am ET, the pilot in command elected to divert to Amarillo, TX for a medical situation involving the Captain. Another Captain, traveling off duty, entered the flight deck prior to landing at Amarillo, and took over the duties of the ill crewmember once on the ground. The aircraft arrived Amarillo at 10:11 am CT, and the crewmember was removed from the aircraft and taken to a local medical facility.
Customers remain on board at this time. JetBlue is working with local authorities and airport officials for the safe deplaning of the aircraft and will send a new aircraft to continue the flight to LAS.”
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.
What: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-300 en route from Baltimore,MD to Hartford,CT Where: Baltimore When: Mar 22nd 2012 Who: 108 aboard Why: On takeoff from Baltimore, the flight encountered a bird.
The bird strike damaged the #1 engine which began vibrating.
Pilots returned to Baltimore and made a safe landing. Passengers disembarked on the runway, and were ported to the terminal.
What: Aeromexico Connect Embraer ERJ-145 en route from Veracruz to Monterrey Where: Tampico When: Mar 17th 2012 Who: 48 passengers and 3 crew Why: The flight developed a cabin pressure problem. As the aircraft (and oxygen masks) descended and temps in the plane ascended, pilots diverted to Tampico. Passengers responded with alarm but were reassured by the flight crew.
The pilots made a safe landing in Tampico.
Passengers disembarked, and were provided an alternative flight.
What: Air Europa Boeing 737-800 Tallinn to Tenerife Where: Santiago de Compostela When: Mar 15th 2012 Why: While en route, the Boeing developed undisclosed technical problems.
Pilots diverted to Santiago and made a safe landing.
Whatever the problem was, it filled the back of the plane with smoke, and made a “roaring” sound as passengers disembarked in Santiago.
A replacement jet was provided for the passengers.
What: United Express/Skywest Canadair CRJ-200 en route from Denver to Tulsa Where: Denver When: Mar 17th 2012 Who: 49 passengers, 3 crew Why: After takeoff from Denver, the flight was still above Denver when smoke was indicated in the lavatory.
The pilot returned to make a safe landing with emergency services on standby. Passengers disembarked safely with no reported injuries (and no fire found) and were ported to the gate.
Needful Maintenance? Smoke alarm? Fumes burning off the engine? Someone smoking in the bathroom? Inquiring minds want to know.
What: Cathay Pacific Boeing 777-300 en route from Hong Kong to Toronto,ON Where: Taipei When: Mar 15th 2012 Who: 275 passengers Why: While en route, the left engine developed problems and had to be shut down. Pilots returned to Hong Kong where they made a safe landing. A replacement jet was provided.
What: American Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-83 en route from Portland,OR to Dallas Ft. Worth,TX Where: Portland When: Mar 13th 2012 6:25 Who: 132 aboard Why: The plane was en route when pilots developed a problem with the engine compressor. Port of Portland Emergency services were on standby on the flight’s return to Portland (as seen in the video.)
What: Air Bashkortostan/VIM Airlines Boeing 757-200 en route from Tenerife to Moscow Where: Frankfurt When: Mar 10th 2012 Why: When the flight was en route over Paris, the flight developed engine problems.
Pilots shut down the affected engine, and diverted to Frankfurt Germany where they made a safe landing.
Air Bashkortostan/VIM Airlines used the layover in Germany to make repairs, and completed the flight less than 48 hours later.
What: Jetblue Embraer ERJ-190 en route from Boston to Chicago Where: Buffalo When: Mar 12th 2012 Who: 83 passengers Why: After a female caller phoned in from Boston that a passenger aboard Jetblue flight B6-923 was possibly carrying a bomb, the flight diverted to Buffalo. After maintaining a holding plan over the airport, the flight landed safely after 8 a m. THe jet was taken to an isolated area of the airport and all the passengers were assisted off. Officers and canine patrol made a sweep of the plane, luggage and passengers and nothing was found. The incident shut down the airport until 8:30 am.
The FBI said there was no threat and that the entire incident was a domestic dispute. The NTSB made this statement:
“JetBlue flight 923 (BOS-ORD) diverted to Buffalo Niagara International Airport at the request of the flight crew because of a telephonic bomb threat. The plane landed safely at 8:25 a.m. and has since been cleared of any possible threats. A passenger is being interviewed by law enforcement authorities.”
What: Air France Airbus A340-300 en route from Paris to Bogota Where: Guadeloupe When: Mar 11th 2012 Who: 224 Why: While en route, a valve of the anti-ice system failed. Pilots diverted to Guadeloupe, where they stayed long enough to make repairs, before continuing on to Bogota less than four hours late.
