Emergency

Under FAA JAA IKO rulings, it is mandated that if and when an emergency is declared by an airborne plane, ATC immediately diverts all incoming traffic and gives priority to the emergency situation. Most, if not all, of the events we have described as emergency are official emergencies. However, sometimes they are incorrectly reported as emergencies by our sources, have been downgraded from official emergency status, or are believed to be emergencies by passengers in fear for their lives.

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    FedEx Cargo Plane Makes Emergency Landing in Houston

    FedExA FedEx cargo plane made an emergency landing at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, on the morning of July 1.

    The Fedex Federal Express McDonnell Douglas MD-10 was heading from Memphis, Tennessee to Harlingen, Texas when it was diverted due to cargo smoke indication.

    The plane landed uneventfully. There were 2 crew members aboard at the time; both of them remained unharmed.

    Inspection team found no evidence of smoke, fire or heat. The plane resumed its journey with a few hours delay.

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    China Southern Airlines Plane Makes Emergency Landing in China

    China SouthernChina Southern Airlines flight CZ3081 had to make an emergency landing at Sanya Phoenix International Airport in Sanya, China, on the afternoon of July 3.

    The plane, carrying 132 passengers and 7 crew members, was travelling from Guangzhou, China to Bangkok in Thailand, when an engine fire indicator lit up and the pilot decided to land in emergency.

    According to the airline, 14 passengers sustained minor scratches while 2 others had ankle injuries during evacuation.

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    New York Mets’ Flight Diverts to Detroit Due to Medical Emergency

    New York MetsA plane carrying New York Mets’ team made an emergency landing in Detroit, Michigan, on the night of July 2.

    The flight, en-route from New York to Los Angeles, was landed in emergency after Howie Rose, the radio play-by-play broadcaster, fell sick on-board.

    Rose was taken to a hospital in Detroit while the flight continued to Los Angeles after delay of an hour.

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    Delta Airlines Flight Diverts to Shannon Airport

    250px-Delta_logo.svgDelta Airlines flight DL-73 had to divert and make an emergency landing at Shannon Airport in Ireland, at around 2:48 p.m. on July 3.

    The Boeing 747-400, en-route from Amsterdam, Netherlands, to Atlanta, Georgia, declared emergency after an alarm sounded in the cockpit, warning about a possible fire in the cargo hold.

    The plane landed uneventfully. All 392 passengers remained safe.

    Inspection team found no evidence of fire in the cargo hold. The cause of alarm is under investigation.

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    Maldivian Plane Sinks while Attempting Emergency Landing near Kuredu Island Resort

    Maldivian Air Taxi de Havilland DHC-6-300 Twin Otter partially sank into sea while attempting an emergency landing near Kuredu Island Resort in Maldives, on July 2.

    The plane was flying from Komandoo Resort to Kuredu Island Resort when it touched down hard on the surface of the ocean and sustained considerable damage.

    All 11 passengers and 3 crew members remained safe.

    The Accident Investigation Coordination Committee and the CAA are investigating the accident.

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    United Airlines Flight Makes Emergency Landing at London Heathrow Airport

    United airlinesUnited Airlines Flight UA914 had to make an emergency landing at London Heathrow Airport, United Kingdom, on July 1.

    The Boeing 767-300 was en-route from Paris to Washington when it was diverted due to a “maintenance issue.”

    Airport authorities confirmed that the plane landed safely. None of the 209 passengers and 10 crew members reported any injuries.

    The plane was taken for inspection.

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    Kuwait Airways Flight Diverts to Heathrow Airport Due to Medical Emergency

    Kuwait airwaysKuwait Airways Flight 118 had to divert and make an emergency landing at London Heathrow Airport in United Kingdom, on June 27.

    The plane, heading from New York to Kuwait, had to be diverted after a passenger fell sick on-board.

    According to an airport spokesperson, “KU118 from JFK to Kuwait was diverted to Heathrow after a passenger was taken ill on-board… The passenger was looked after London Ambulance Service and the flight is resuming its journey shortly.”

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    Emirates A380 Plane Makes Emergency Landing in Sri Lanka

    EmiratesEmirates flight EK413 had to make an emergency landing at Bandaranaike International Airport, Sri Lanka, on June 26.

    The Airbus A380, carrying 471 passengers and 30 crew members, was travelling from Sydney to Dubai when the pilot reported smoke in the cockpit and requested an emergency landing.

    According to the airline, “Emirates flight EK413 from Sydney to Dubai…was diverted to Colombo due to a technical fault… The aircraft landed safely at the Bandaranaike International Airport and passengers were transferred to other Emirates flights.”

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    ‘Suspicious Bag’ Prompts Turkish Airlines Emergency Landing in Copenhagen

    Turkish airlinesA Turkish Airlines jet had to make an emergency landing at Copenhagen Airport, Denmark, on June 25.

    The Boeing 777-300ER was en-route from Istanbul to New York when it had to be diverted due to a suspicious old bag.

    The plane landed safely and none of the 292 passengers was harmed.

    Bomb squad thoroughly inspected the bag but nothing suspicious was found. Authorities believe it was an old camera bag possibly left behind by a previous passenger.

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    Bristow Chopper Makes Emergency Landing at Aberdeen Airport

    BristowA Bristow-operated offshore helicopter had to return and make an emergency landing at Aberdeen International Airport in Scotland, United Kingdom, on June 26.

    The company released a statement saying, “Bristow Helicopters Ltd can confirm that one of its helicopters requested priority landing at Aberdeen Airport today… A caution light falsely displayed causing the false alarm. The airport emergency services attended as per standard practice, but no assistance was required.”

    The aircraft safely landed at 1:40 p.m. There were 6 passengers and 2 crew members aboard at the time; all of them remained unharmed.

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    United Airlines Flight Diverts to Belfast After Passenger Demanded More Nuts

    United airlinesA United Airlines flight had to divert to Belfast International Airport in Northern Ireland, on the evening of June 20.

    The plane was on its way from Rome, Italy to Chicago when a 42-year-old passenger Jeremiah Mathis Thede asked for nuts or crackers. Authorities said he was given some nuts but he kept-on demanding for more and showed an erratic behavior. The pilot became concerned due to situation and decided to make an emergency landing.

    The plane landed safely and all 282 passengers were flown to Chicago next day.

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    Irish Prime Minister’s Plane Makes Precautionary Landing in Dublin

    A plane, carrying Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny, made a precautionary landing at Baldonnel Aerodrome in Dublin, Ireland, on the afternoon of June 22.

    Prime Minister Enda Kenny was travelling to Brussels, Belgium from Ireland West Airport Knock, when a warning light came on in the cockpit and the pilot decided to make a precautionary landing.

    The plane landed uneventfully.

    Everyone aboard remained unhurt and the flight continued to Brussels after resolving the issue.

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    Piper Saratoga Makes Emergency Landing at Lake Mead Beach

    A Piper Saratoga had to make an emergency landing on a beach in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada, at around 5 a.m. on June 22.

    The plane was en-route from North Las Vegas Airport, Nevada, to El Paso, Texas, when the its engine stopped working and the pilot decided to land in emergency. The plane landed between two portable bathrooms on the beach.

    There were 4 people aboard the plane, including the pilot and 3 female passengers. Only two of them were treated for minor injuries.

    The National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA are investigating.

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    Taxiing Plane Crashed at Modesto City–County Airport; Pilot Injured

    A Navigator 600 aircraft crashed at Modesto City–County Airport in Stanislaus County, California, at around 2:15 p.m. on June 22.

    According to the airport manager, Mark Germanowski, the plane was taxiing when it suddenly crashed into the airport’s fence.

    The pilot, who was the only person aboard, sustained minor injuries and was taken to hospital.

    The plane was significantly damaged.

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    Ryanair Flight Diverts to France Due to Medical Emergency

    RyanairRyanair flight FR7322 made an emergency landing at Paris Beauvais Tille Airport in France, at around 10:35 a.m. on June 22.

    The plane, en-route from Frankfurt–Hahn Airport in Germany to Alicante, Spain, was diverted after a passenger fell sick on-board.

    The plane landed uneventfully and the patient was rushed to hospital.

    The flight continued towards Alicante after a brief delay.

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    Jetstar Plane Makes Emergency Landing at RAAF Base Williamtown

    JetstarJetstar flight JQ 413 had to make an emergency landing at the Royal Australian Air Force base in Williamtown, New South Wales, Australia, on the afternoon of June 22.

    The pilot declared emergency after the crew reported a bizarre smell in the aircraft’s cabin. The flight was en-route from Gold Coast, Queensland to Sydney at the time.

    All 190 passengers aboard remained unharmed and were taken to Sydney by buses.

    The plane was taken for inspection. Authorities believe it was cigarette smoke coming out of toilet.

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    LAN Airlines Flight Returns to Los Angeles due to Smokey Cabin

    LAN airlinesLAN Airlines flight 601 returned and made an emergency landing at Los Angeles International Airport, California, on the afternoon of June 21.

    The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, en-route to Lima, Peru had to return after smoke was noticed in the cabin. Authorities said the smoke was due to a defective food warmer in the kitchen.

    The plane, carrying around 230 passengers and 17 crew members, landed safely and everyone aboard remained unhurt.

    The passengers were accommodated in another flight next day.

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    Cargo Fire Diverts Singapore Airlines Flight to Kuala Lumpur Airport

    Singapore airlinesSingapore Airlines flight SQ425 made an emergency landing at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia, at around 3:55 p.m. on June 21.

    The plane, en-route from Mumbai, India to Singapore, declared emergency after fire broke out in the cargo hold.

    The plane landed uneventfully. According to Selangor Bomba operations Chief Mohd Sani Harul, “The fire had already been put out by the plane’s fire-fighting mechanism when it landed.”

    The cause of fire is being investigated.

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    Scandinavian Airlines Flight Makes Emergency Landing at SFO

    SASScandinavian Airlines Flight 0936 had to return and make an emergency landing at San Francisco International Airport, California, at around 8 p.m. on June 19.

    The plane was diverted after the pilot reported smoke coming out of the cockpit. The flight was heading to Copenhagen, Denmark at the time.

    The plane landed uneventfully. Authorities said the smoke had vanished before landing.

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    Russian Plane Makes Emergency Landing due to Singing Passenger

    A Russian plane had to make an emergency landing at Chelyabinsk Airport in Russia, on June 19.

    The plane took off from Irkutsk, Siberia and was heading to Moscow when it had to land in Chelyabinsk due to a psychotic woman, who was singing songs and throwing water on the passengers.

    The plane landed safely.

    The woman, who is believed to have Russian and Israeli citizenship, was taken to a local psychiatric hospital.

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    EasyJet Flight Returns to Liverpool after Suspected Electrical Fault

    EasyjetEasyJet flight EZY 7045 had to return and make an emergency landing at Liverpool John Lennon Airport in England, on June 19.

    The airbus A320 was en-route from Liverpool to Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris when the crew reported a possible electrical fault and decided to make an emergency landing.

    The plane landed safely and none of the 176 passengers reported any injuries.

    The passengers were accommodated in a replacement flight while the plane was taken for inspection.