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.

  • | | | | |

    Malaysia Airlines Emergency Diversion to Penang


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Raymond Wang

    What: Malaysia Airlines Airbus A330-200 en route from Chennai to Kuala Lumpur
    Where: Penang International Airport
    When: Sep 15 2012 8:04
    Who: 195 passengers
    Why: While en route, the plane developed cabin pressure issues. The Free and Independent News site reported that the pilot dropped the Airbus rapidly from 39,000 to 10,000 feet. Passengers aboard the flight were screaming, crying.

    Apparently the crew wasn’t in much better shape. (Panic mode)

    Apparently an automated voice announced the emergency to passengers. (I wonder if it was the automatic pilot?) In the chaos, some of the oxygen masks failed. (That source also indicated 120 passengers aboard. Maybe people in a panic can’t count?)

    Also this item was twittered: Samy Vellu was on board troubled Chennai-KL flight

    Pilots diverted to Penang and made a safe landing. There were twitters by passengers swearing it was the worst flight ever

  • | | | | |

    Emirates Emergency Landing in Kochi



    What: Emirates Airlines Airbus A330-200 en route from Dubai to Kochi
    Where: Kochi
    When: September 14 2012
    Who: 275 aboard
    Why: According to IBN Live, an Emirates flight from Dubai to Kochi developed hydraulic problems and had to make an emergency landing in Kochi.

    ATC said “Precautions were taken.” We assume this to mean that emergency services were on standby, but have no indication if any services were actively engaged.

    The flight made a safe landing.

  • | | | | |

    American Airlines Medical Emergency Diversion to Iqaluit

    What: American Airlines Boeing 777 en route from London to Los Angeles
    Where: Iqaluit
    When: Sept 4, 2012
    Who: 1 medical emergency
    Why: The flight was en route when one passenger developed a medical emergency. The flight made a safe landing and the passenger was taken to Qikiqtani General Hospital.

    After spending 4 hours on the tarmac with the passengers all aboard, the 777 had to be inspected (for the overweight landing) before it continued to Los Angeles

  • | | | | |

    Air New Zealand Makes Emergency Landing

    What: Air New Zealand Boeing 767 en route from Honolulu to Auckland
    Where: Auckland
    When: August 5, 2012
    Who: 230 passengers
    Why: When the landing gear light (which should indicate landing gear are in place) did not come on during approach, the pilot told Auckland ATC, and performed a flyby confirming the gear were down. The pilot went on to make a safe landing.

  • | | | |

    XL Airways Boeing Smoked out at Cologne-Bonn airport


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Markus Adank

    What: XL Airways en route through Boeing 737-800 from Hanover to Bonn
    Where: Cologne-Bonn airport
    When: Sept 3 2012
    Who: 186 passengers, 6 crew
    Why: An XL Airways plane at Bonn was evacuated when smoke filled the cabin. Seven passengers were treated on the scene and eleven in all were injured. Some passengers described an odor like kerosene.

    Passengers disembarked via the stairway on to the tarmac with emergency services on standby.

    In 2008, the same plane had an engine problem forcing an emergency landing.

  • | | | | |

    Pia Emergency Landing


    What: Pakistan International Airlines ATR-42-500 en route from Islamabad to Lahore
    Where: Lahore
    When: August 31, 2012
    Who: 46 aboard
    Why: While landing in Lahore in heavy rain, the plane’s right main gear collapsed, and the plane ran off the runway.

    There were no injuries but the plane was damaged. Pia reported that the main gear collapsed and denied earlier reports of injury. No one was hospitalized.

    Passengers disembarked via stairs on the runway shoulder and were provided transportation to the gate.

  • | | | | |

    Horizon Air Loses Engine, Lands Safely in Seattle

    What: Horizon Air Dash 8 en route from Vancouver to Seattle
    Where: Seattle
    When: August 31, 2012
    Who: 80 aboard
    Why: While en route, the Horizon Air/Alaska Airlines flight developed engine trouble (it was running hot).

    The pilot shut down the affected engine and made a safe landing in Seattle. None of the 76 passengers or 4 crew were hurt.

  • | | | | |

    Air China Security Diversion

    What: Air China Boeing en route from Beijing to NY
    Where: Beijing
    When: August 29, 2012
    Why: Passengers aboard an Air China Flight were flown back to Beijing and told there was a “map display error or due to turbulence.” On landing, the captain told passengers there had been a threatening message. Passengers disembarked through security and were provided an alternative flight.

    Air China posted the following message:

    “Due to threatening information received about flight CA 981, to ensure the safety of passengers, this flight has returned to Beijing Capital International Airport.”

  • | | | |

    VIRGIN Australia Emergency Landing

    What: VIRGIN Australia Boeing en route from Brisbane to Los Angeles
    Where: Los Angeles
    When: August 27, 2012
    Who: 416 passengers
    Why: The flight made an emergency landing in LA when it developed problems with its landing gear.

    Emergency services were on standby during the landing. Fortunately, pilots made a safe landing with no injuries reported.

  • | | | | | | | |

    Blown tire and Engine Down Leads to Emergency Landing in Newark


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Andrew Compolo

    What: United Boeing 757-200 en route from Newark to Berlin
    Where: Newark
    When: Aug 18 2012
    Who: 173 aboard
    Why: On takeoff, the plane blew a tire. Simultaneously, the plane gave feedback of problems with both engines, with witnesses seeing fire coming from the left engine. That engine was shut down. The plane managed to circle for two hours to burn off fuel before returning to make a safe landing in Newark.

    In George’s Point of View


    I should probably throw in my usual nag Maintenance! Maintenance! Maintenance! while at the same time praising the CRM and skill of the pilots. This could have certainly come out a much worse report, except that the pilots knew exactly what to do to have a safe outcome.

    –commenting from London

  • | | | | |

    Flats Cause Diversion to JFK for Boston-Kansas Flight


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Andrew Compolo

    What: Pinnacle Airlines Canadair CRJ-900 en route from Boston to Kansas City
    Where: JFK
    When: Aug 13th 2012
    Who: 73 passengers, 4 crew
    Why: On takeoff, both right main landing gears blew. Pilots diverted to JFK and made an emergency landing.

    After landing, the plane was stopped on the runway. A replacement jet was provided.

  • | | | | | |

    American Airlines Diverts to Dublin


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Joe Heeney

    What: American Airlines Boeing 757-200 en route from London to Boston
    Where: Dublin
    When: Aug 3rd 2012
    Who: 172 aboard
    Why: The American Airlines flight diverted to Dublin when the plane developed hydraulic problems.

    The pilots managed to land safely but without hydraulics had to be towed. Passengers were provided local accommodations.

    The incident tied up the airport as planes were diveted until the affected 757 was removed and examined.

  • | | | | |

    Denver Birdstrike under Investigation


    What: United Boeing 737-900 en route from Dallas to Denver
    Where: Denver
    When: Jul 31, 2012, 9:00 a.m.
    Who: 151 aboard
    Why: The Boeing was on approach when it suffered a bird strike in the nose cone. The bird strike did not affect the engine or landing gear.

    No one was injured. The birds remains are being identified by an ornithologist.

    The NTSB is investigating.

  • | | | | |

    2nd Emergency Landing on CA Highway


    What: Piper PA-28R-180 Arrow en route from Mammoth Lakes to Palomar Airport
    Where: I-15 & W. El Norte Pkwy, Escondido, CA
    When: July 22, 2012, 11:25 p,
    Who: 4 aboard
    Why: After the plane was rented, it ran out of gas en route. The pilot, Pilot Ken Gheysar, managed to make a safe landing on a highway in light traffic.

    No one was injured, but a 1996 Dodge Dakota pickup clipped the plane’s left wing while the plane was sitting on the shoulder.

    The pilot and his family were returning home from a weekend in Mammoth Lakes.

    It was towed by 8:20 a.m. with damage too severe to fly out.

  • | | | | | |

    Emergency Landing on Route 67

    What: Homebuilt Europa en route from Gillespie Field
    Where: Route 67 in Santee
    When: July 21, 2012
    Who: Pilot
    Why: When his engine locked up in a turn after taking off from Gillespie Field, pilot Wayne Oehler of El Cajon made an emergency landing on to the freeway near Riverton road. A California Highway Patrol officer saw the plane in distress and flying low, and cleared the road.

  • | | |

    Cessna Lands in Canadian Marsh

    What: Cessna 337 en route from Fort McMurray to Buffalo Narrows, Sask.
    Where: Fort McMurray
    When: June 28, 2012 3:45 pm
    Who: 2 aboard
    Why: When the Cessna they were in developed engine trouble, the pilots made an emergency landing in a marsh south of Fort McMurray. No injuries were reported.

    Canada’s TSB is investigating.

  • | | | | | |

    Delta Tire Blows at Salt Lake


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Paul Jongeneelen

    What: Delta Boeing 767-300 en route from Salt Lake City to Paris
    Where: Salt Lake International Airport
    When: June 16, 2012. 7 pm
    Who: 198 aboard
    Why: On takeoff from salt Lake City, a left tire on the Delta flight blew. Pilots circled, performed a flyby and dumped fuel before they made a safe landing.

    The plane was examined in the hanger, and passengers returned home when the flight was cancelled.

  • | | | | |

    Air India Pilot Lands Safely Minus Nose Wheel


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Frank-Thomas Klütsch

    What: Air India Avion de Transport Regional ATR-42-300 en route from Silchar to Guwahati
    Where: Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoli International Airport in Guwahati
    When: Jun 10th 2012
    Who: 48 passengers, 4 crew
    Why: On takeoff from Silchar, the (left) nose wheel detached.

    The crew was en route when the pilot received a message that one of the plane’s nosewheels had been found on the Silchar runway by someone at ATC.

    There were five wheels remaining on the plane-one remaining nosewheel, and two pairs of main wheels.

    Passengers were alarmed when the crew removed heavy items from the cockpit to shift the center of gravity further back in the plane, and when landing, keep the nose up as long as possible.

    The pilot, Captain Urmila Yadav performed a flyby for visual confirmation, circled to burn off fuel and made a safe landing. She and co-pilot Yashu were later commended for her skill by the DGCA. Yadav has 4,000 hours in the cockpit.

    Emergency crews were on standby during the landing.

    An inquiry into the emergency has been initiated.

    In George’s Point of View


    Whoever found that fallen nosewheel left on the runway should also be commended. Without that crucial information, the outcome of this incident may have been different.

    And while there are many pilots who consider this a “routine” emergency, and the fact that the 4,000 hr pilot is a woman is irrelevant because as long as she is in the Captain seat, she is a pilot first, we do believe in recognition for a job well-done. Good job, Captain Urmila Yadav. Maybe the good captain agrees with us that someone should give maintenance a slap on the wrist.

  • | | | |

    Smoke From Airbus in Emergency Jammu Landing

    What: IndiGo Airbus A320-200 en route from New Delhi to Jammu
    Where: Jammu
    When: Jun 13, 2012 9 am
    Who: 130 passengers
    Why: The Indigo flight arrived in Jammu with smoke coming out of an engine. The flight was given priority to make an emergency landing. There were no injuries reported. Passengers were evacuated promptly from the plane.

    The grounded plane A320 is undergoing examination. On Flight Aware, the return status is reported as scheduled/delayed, with the departure delayed from 11:10AM to 06:55PM IST

  • | | | | |

    Egypt Air Skids in Kenya


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Szabo Gabor

    What: Egyptair Airbus A320-200 en route from Cairo to Nairobi
    Where: Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi
    When: June 6, 2012, 3.36am
    Who: 143 aboard
    Why: While landing at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, the plane veered off the runway on to soft ground, shutting down the airport and causing delays for the rest of the day. Passengers were evacuated with no injuries reported. Flights were diverted to Mombasa and Entebbe.

    Passengers disembarked on the soft ground and were ported to the gate.

  • | | | | | | | |

    Dubai -Toronto Flight, First Ever A380 Diverts to and Lands in Ottowa


    What: Emirates airbus A380 en route from Dubai to Toronto
    Where: Ottowa
    When: June 1, 2012
    Who: 530+ passengers
    Why: After taking off from Dubai, the pilot encountered problems. In fact, pilots circled Toronto before they diverted to Ottowa, where they made a safe landing with firefighters and paramedic emergency services on standby. The plane, the first A380 ever to land at Ottawa International Airport, touched down at 5 pm.

    Pilots diverted to Ottowa because Ottawa International Airport has a 10,000-foot runway. An A380 requires at least 9,875 feet.

    According to Global Toronto, the jet nearly ran out of fuel after being rerouted due to torrential rains in Toronto.

    The flight eventually made it to Toronto at 9:00 pm.

  • | | | | | |

    American Eagle Emergency Landing in Chicago

    What: American Eagle Embraer EMB-145LR en route from Chicago to Tulsa
    Where: Chicago
    When: May 31, 2012
    Who: 31 aboard
    Why: The flight took off, but received a gear disagree message. After a flyby determining the gear were down, the pilots made an overweight landing. No injuries were reported. There were apparently no stairs provided on exit.

    Passengers eventually arrived in Tulsa after 1 pm.

    The same plane had just made a prior emergency landing at O’Hare.


    Pilot’s audio provided by http://www.liveatc.net

  • | | | | | | | | |

    Munich Emergency Landing by Lufthansa/Air Dolomiti

    What: Lufthansa/Air Dolomiti Avion de Transport Regional ATR-72-500 en route from Munich to Venice
    Where: Munich
    When: May 17th 2012, 13:35
    Who: 58 passengers and 4 crew
    Why: While en route ten minutes into the flight, the plane developed smoke in the cockpit and cabin. The crew returned to Munich. On approach to Munich, the crew had to shut down the right engine.

    On landing, the plane veered off the runway on to the grass, ran into some obstructions and stopped with a collapsed nose gear. During rescue, twenty flights were diverted. The plane is presently sinking into soft round.

    The passengers were evacuated. Other than one person with back injuries, no injuries were reported.

  • | | | | | |

    Far Eastern Air Transport Runway Overrun


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer K.L.Yim

    What: Far Eastern Air Transport McDonnell Douglas MD-82 en route from Taipei to Makung
    Where: Makung
    When: May 16th 2012, 10:45am
    Who: 165 aboard
    Why: On landing in Making in rain and wind, the plane exceeded a stop line on the runway which was abbreviated due to construction. Minimal damage occurred to the plane but runway lights were damaged.

    Although a Taipei news report calls into question the pilot’s braking, the weather and the fact that the runway was shortened due to construction should be mentioned.

    The Aviation Safety Council has begun an investigation into the incident.