What: American Airlines MD-80 en route from Dallas to Calgary
Where: Oklahoma City
When: June 2, 2011
Who: 56 passengers 5 crew
Why: While en route, emergency indicators came on in the cockpit. The pilot diverted to Oklahoma City and landed at Will Rogers World Airport.
(Latitude 35.396 Longitude -97.597 )
The flight made a safe landing and passengers disembarked without problems. Maintenance is examining the plane
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Gerry Stegmeier
What: United Airlines Boeing 767 en route from Chantilly Virginia to Ghana
Where: en route
When: May 29 , 2011
Who: 144 passengers
Why: After passenger one reclined his seat into passenger two’s lap, passenger two objected
and slapped passenger one in the head. Apparently passenger one retaliated. This escalated into a fight, which had to be broken up by passenger 3 and a flight attendant.
The fight that erupted between passengers resulted in a fighter escort from Andrews Air Force Base being sent in to shadow the flight on its return/diversion to Washington.
No one was arrested and no charges were filed, but police did meet the UA flight on its arrival. The flight was delayed for eighteen hours.
What: Ryanair Boeing 737-800 en route from Lanzarote Spain to London
Where: Porto
When: Jun 2nd 2011
Why: The flight was east of porto when the pilot saw an indication of engine problems (technical malfunction.) The pilot diverted to Porto and made a safe landing at Porto.
Passengers disembarked normally on the apron, without emergency slides.
Media reported smoke although Ryanair said there was no smoke.
A replacement jet was provided.
What: Kingfisher Airlines en route from Delhi to Bangkok
Where: NSC Bose International Airport, Kolkata, India
When: May 29, 3011 4:00 am
Why: The flight made an emergency landing at NSC after what is called a “technical snag.”
Passengers were provided another Kingfisher flight.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Michael Priesch
What: Austrian Airlines Boeing 767-300 en route from Vienna Austria to Washington DC
Where: Vienna
When: May 27th 2011
Why: After takeoff, the gear would not retract.
The pilot returned to make a safe landing in Vienna; repairs were made and the flight left again less than an hour later.
Anonymous Expert Opinion
One common occurrence in Commercial Aviation is when a maintenance person forgets to remove the Landing Gear Safety Pin that is connected before starting the push back procedure during the aircraft start-up. It happens that that pin prevents the hydraulic system to actuate the nose gear allowing the tractor to freely steer the aircraft free from the gate. However that pin also locks the landing gear in the “down” position preventing the hydraulic system to retract in when commanded by the pilots. The result is that the aircraft is prevented from retracting its landing gear (one pin prevents them all) and returning is mandatory.
If the airplane is engaged in an intercontinental flight (thus carrying a huge amount of fuel) the crew invariably must dump a great amount of fuel in order to reduce the weight to within the manufacturer’s certified maximum landing weight in order to perform a safe landing. After dumping the fuel as the aircraft’s weight reaches its maximum allowed for landing the crew land the airplane. Unfortunately it causes delays and it is a nuisance, although not a harmful one. The worst part is for the maintenance crew whom was responsible for the tow out procedure to explain to his (or hers) superiors the quite expensive forgetfulness.
What: Allegiant McDonnell Douglas MD-83 en route from Youngstown to Orlando
Where: Pittsburgh
When: May 26 2011
Who: 142 passengers and 5 crew
Why: While en route, the right engine was running hot and low on oil. They shut down the engine and diverted to Pittsburgh where they made a safe landing. Maintenance examined the leaky engine.
A replacement jet was flown in.
Maintenance, maintenance, maintenance!
What: Spicejet Boeing 737-800 en route from Mumbai to Hyderabad
Where: Mumbai
When: May 27th 2011
Who: 140 passengers
Why: While en route, the cargo hold indicated a fire. The crew followed procedures (checklists) and returned to Mumbai where they made a safe landing half an hour after take off. A replacement jet was provided.
No actual fire was located.
What: TUIFly Boeing 737-800 en route from Alicante to Nuremberg
Where: Alicante
When: Mar 15th 2011
Who: 144 passengers
Why: After takeoff, the pilots and crew of the flight felt dizzy and impaired. Passengers also reported feeling dizzy after the ground power unit started the engines. The pilot reported the emergency and returned to Alicante and made a safe landing.
We don’t see a statement from the ministerio de fomento regarding this incident.
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.)
Pictured: Delta DC-9 Similar to the one in the incident
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Christopher Weyer
What: Delta Airlines DC-9 en route from Detroit to Minneapolis
Where: Ashwaubenon
When: May 21, 2011
Who: 81 passengers, 5 crew
Why: The plane was en route when the pilot smelled smoke from burning plastic in the cabin, and announced to passengers they would be diverting to Green Bay with rescue services from De Pere, Allouez, Ashwaubenon, Hobart and Howard on standby.
They made a safe landing in Green Bay at Austin Straubel International Airport at 2:25 pm
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Rainer Bexten
What: Qantas Boeing 747-400 en route from Bangkok (Thailand) to London Heathrow,EN
Where: Bangkok
When: May 20th 2011
Who: 308 passengers
Why: After takeoff from Bangkok, the engine vibration and temperature increased beyond the norm in one engine and the engine is reported to have salled. That (Rolls Royce) engine was shut down, and the pilots returned to Bangkik to make a safe landing with the remaining three engines. It has not yet been announced if the problem is due to the internal pipe irregularities which were indicated in an airworthiness directive just released, but with problems that go back several years.
By the look of cursory evidence, it appears this could be the same manufacturing defect in an oil pipe, which led to an internal oil leak in the Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engine that failed in a Qantas A380 in 2010 causing a midair explosion, but investigators will have to reveal the details.
What: Chartered Bombardier Challenger 300 en route from Manila to Caticlan, Aklan
Where: Manila
When: May 19 2010, 12:36 p.m.
Why: The pilot reported engine problems just after takeoff, and requested an emergency landing at Ninoy Aquino International Airport. The flight landed safely, with one engine shut down. The flight landed safely with emergency teams on standby.
Mechanics began working on fixing the problem.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Agustin Anaya
What: Delta Airlines Boeing 767-300 en route from Detroit to Sao Paulo
Where: Atlanta,GA
When: May 15th 2011
Why: While en route, over Daytona, the plane developed an issue with their airspeed indication. Although the issue was fixed, the flight diverted to Atlanta where they made a safe landing. A fresh crew with adequate duty time flew them to Sao Paulo.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Bui Tuan Khiem
What: Cathay Pacific Airbus A330-300 en route from Singapore (Singapore) to Jakarta
Where: Singapore
When: May 16th 2011
Who: 136 passengers
Why: After takeoff, the right engine developed problems. Twenty minutes into the flight, the plane started to shake, and the plane was “plunged into darkness.” There was a stall in the #2 engine, which banged twice and filled the cabin with the scent of burning. Passengers prayed aloud.
Captain Bradley Chic shut down the affected engine.The crew reported the emergency and returned to Changi Airport to make a safe landing with emergency vehicles on standby.
Passengers disembarked normally, after which they joined hands in the airport and shared a prayer.
Six fire vehicles put out a fire in the right engine.
What: Delta Air Lines en route from Daytona to Atlanta
Where: Orlando
When: May 15, 2011
Why: The Delta flight diverted to Orlando after experiencing engine problems. Passengers were provided alternative flights to Atlanta.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Jonathan Morgan
What: American Eagle Embraer ERJ-145 en route from Montreal to Chicago O’Hare
Where: Toronto
When: May 13 2011
Who: 49 passengers and 3 crew,
Why: When an electrical odor was detected aboard the plane, the pilots diverted to Toronto where they made a safe landing. Passengers did not have to disembark using slides. There were no injuries.
The source of the smell was an overheated fluorescent light
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Christopher Weyer
What: US Airways Airbus A319-100 en route from Atlanta to Charlotte
Where: Atlanta
When: May 13 2011
Who: 128 passengers
Why: After takeoff from Atlanta, the plane was climbing and unable to retract the gear. The pilots returned to Atlanta and made a safe landing.
What: Air New Zealand/Eagle Airways Beech 1900D from Gisborne to Auckland New Zealand
Where: Gisborne
When: May 8th 2011
Who: 9 passengers
Why: Ten minutes into the flight, while flying over Opotiki, the pilots shut down an engine because of readings they were getting; and they announced to passengers they were going to make an emergency landing.
The pilots then returned to the airport. Everyone aboard clapped when the nineteen seat plane landed safely.
The engine of the Eagle Airways Beech was examined and no problems were found.
What: Continental Airlines Boeing 737-800 en route from Houston to Chicago
Where: Saint Louis
When: May 8th 2011
Who: disruptive passenger
Why: While en route, a passenger attempted to open a plane door, saying he had to get out of the plane. He was subdued and restrained, as the flight diverted to Lambert International Airport, where the passenger in question was released into police custody. Charges may be pending.
What: American Airlines Boeing 757 en route from Miami to San Francisco
Where: Las Vegas
When: May 6 2011, 11:00 am.
Who: 159 passengers, 6 crew
Why: While en route, the pilot reported that there was smoke in the cockpit.
The flight was diverted to Las Vegas, and made a safe landing at McCarran International Airport
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer George Canciani
What: Air New Zealand Boeing 737-300 en route from Auckland to Wellington
Where: Hamilton
When: May 8, 2011
Who: 101 aboard
Why: While en route, the pilots shut down the right engine. Low oil pressure is suspected to be the problem.
Passengers heard the right engine make an explosive noise. In the plane, passengers panicked as they dropped for several seconds—screaming, crying, praying, panic attacks.
The plane rolled right, then straightened.
After a few moments, the pilot came out and reassured the passengers, explaining that they’d lost an engine, but it was a routine procedure they practiced all the time and that everything was under control.
Pilots diverted to Hamilton, where they made a safe landing. As passengers exited, the pilot told them “this was the first time an Air New Zealand 737 had had a total loss of engine.”
Passengers were bused or rented cars to go back to Auckland and engineers examined the downed plane.
What: Air Tran Boeing 717-200 en route from Charlotte to Atlanta
Where: Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport
When: May 4 2011
Who: 115 passengers
Why: After taking off, the left engine compressor stalled. The pilots shut down the left engine and returned to the airport.
Spartanburg EMS, and Boiling Springs, Greer, Pelham and Tyger River fire departments were on the scene
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Ron Carter
What: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-500 en route from Houston to Phoenix
Where: El Paso Texas
When: May 4, 2011, 5 pm
Who: 138 aboard
Why: While en route, an electrical smell was detected. Oxygen masks were deployed.
The flight diverted to El Paso and made a safe landing. Passengers did not have to use emergency slides. They were provided an alternate flight to Phoenix while the plane was ferried for inspections.
What: Bahrain Air en route from Dubai to Bahrain
Where: Bahrain
When: April 30, 2010
Why: Those aboard the Bahrain Air Flight included passengers bumped from an earlier flight which had been cancelled without explanation.
On approach to Bahrain, the flight encountered turbulence described by passengers as severe, nightmarish and insane. The pilot performed a go around and made a second attempted landing. The turbulence was even worse, leading to the pilots to decide to divert to Doha.
Meanwhile, passengers were apparently screaming, crying, fainting and in general having public panic attacks. At some point, the pilot announced the diversion to passengers, although some passengers said they were unaware of what was going on, perhaps because they were too terrified to be listening. They could have used a soothing word from the cabin, but apparently that was not forthcoming.
As if being bumped from one flight, enduring turbulence at the destination and then having to divert to Doha wasn’t bad enough, a lot of flights were diverted to Doha due to the weather; and once they landed safely at Doha at 11:45 pm, the Qatar airport refused to allow the passengers to disembark. It was an hour before they were provided water. Around 3:00 a.m. the passengers were promised flights on the 7:00 am, 9:00 am, or 5:00 pm flights to Bahrain.
Some of these passengers are considering legal action for their treatment.
What: US Airways Boeing 737-300 en route from Reno, to Phoenix
Where: Las Vegas
When: May 1st 2011
Who: 90 passengers
Why: After takeoff, the right engine developed problems. The pilot shut down the engine and diverted to McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas where they made a safe landing.
Passengers were provided alternative flights. There were no injuries.
