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.

American Airlines | Diversion | Emergency | engine trouble | McDonnell Douglas | oil pressure | USA

Engine Problems Land Plane in Little Rock instead of Memphis
March 5, 2012March 7, 2012

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Contact photographer Vik S

What: American Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-82 en route from Dallas to Memphis
Where: Little Rock Arkansas
When: Mar 5, 2012
Who: 129 passengers, 5 crew
Why: While en route, one of the plane’s engines developed an oil pressure issue. Pilots diverted to Little Rock and made a safe landing there. Another plane took passengers from Little Rock to Memphis.
Airbus | All Nippon Airways (ANA) | Anti-ice system failure | Diversion | Emergency | Japan

Emergency Landing in Oita
March 5, 2012March 5, 2012

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Contact photographer Kazuchika Naya

What: ANA All Nippon Airways Airbus A320-200 en route from Oita to Tokyo
Where: Oita Japan
When: Mar 2 2012
Who: 85 passengers, 6 crew
Why: The All Nippon Airways flight had taken off when the anti-ice system on the left engine failed.

The pilots returned to the airport.

Passengers were provided an alternative flight to Tokyo.
ATR | Emergency | engine trouble | India | United Airlines

Emergency Landing in Bangladesh
February 20, 2012

What: United Airways ATR en route from Dhaka to Chittagong
Where: Hazrat Shah Amanat International Airport
When: Feb 20, 2012 8:20pm
Who: 50 aboard
Why: The pilot was en route to Chittagong when the plane developed a problem with one of the engines. On advice from ATC, the pilot was able to land safely ten minutes early.

Examination has not uncovered the engine problem.

A replacement jet has been provided for the return flight.

ATC adviced
airliners.net | American Airlines | Boeing | Emergency | engine shut down | engine trouble | New York

American Airlines Emergency Landing in NY
February 18, 2012

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Contact photographer Peter Heck

What: American Airlines Boeing 757-200 en route from Miami to New York
Where: New York
When: Feb 17th 2012
Why: On approach to New York, the plane developed problems with the left engine and pilots shut down the engine.

They made a safe landing with emergency services on stand-by.
Airbus | Austria | Emergency | Iberia | lightning

Iberia Flight Lightning-struck
February 16, 2012

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Contact photographer Javier Bravo Muñoz

What: Iberia Airbus A319-100 en route from Madrid to Vienna
Where: Vienna
When: Feb 15th 2012
Why: On approach to Vienna, the plane was struck by lightning.

Pilots landed the plane safely and handed off to maintenance where it will be inspected. Another plane was called in to handle the return flight.
airliners.net | ATR | Czech Airlines | Czech Republic | Emergency | Medical emergency

CSA First Officer Lands Alone after Captain Succumbs
February 15, 2012

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Contact photographer Borut Smrdelj

What: CSA Czech Airlines Avion de Transport Regional ATR-42-500 en route from Warsaw to Prague
Where: Prague
When: Feb 15th 2012
Who: 1 fatality
Why: After a normal flight, on approach to Prague, the first officer informed ATC that the captain was incapacitated. The f.o. landed the plane.

Emergency services responded, but the captain was pronounced dead. He as 58 years old.
Canadair | Emergency | PSA Airlines | U.S. Airways | unidentified noise | USA

Charlotte Emergency landing
February 13, 2012

What: US Airways/PSA CRJ2 Charlotte to Charleston,WV
Where: Charlotte-Douglas International airport.
When: Feb 12, 2012
Who: 44 passengers 3 crew
Why: A flight from Charlotte to Atlanta had just taken off when the plane began making unidentified noises. In about an hour after take-off, pilots returned to the airport to make a safe landing with emergency services on standby.

Passengers were provided alternative flights.
airliners.net | Boeing | Czech Airlines | Emergency | flap problems | Macedonia

Czech Airlines Emergency Landing
February 12, 2012February 13, 2012

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Contact photographer Jannik Femerling

What: CSA Czech Airlines Boeing 737-500 en route from Prague to Skopje
Where: Skopje
When: Feb 11th 2012
Why: The plane developed a flaps problem on first approach to Skopje, which was aborted, but they made a successful second approach. The pilots burned off fuel and made a fast landing, but did not drive off the pavement.

The plane was operable for the return flight.
American Airlines | Boeing | Emergency | engine shut down | fire | USA

Boeing Makes Emergency Landing after Engine Fire
February 11, 2012February 13, 2012

What: American Airlines Boeing 767
Where: New York
When: 02/08/2012 16:15
Who: no fatalities
Why: The flight was en route when crew reported a fire in engine one.

Pilots shut down the engine and made a safe landing. Passengers were provided alternative flights.
Australia | Bombardier | cabin odor | Emergency | Qantas | smell of burning | smoke

Moranbah Ferry Flight Makes Emergency Landing
February 9, 2012

What: QANTAS Dash-8
Where: Moranbah Airport
When: Feb 9 2012, 12:30 pm
Who: 3 crew, no passengers
Why: While ferrying the plane, the crew made an emergency landing at Moranbah Airport after circling.

They reported smoke in the cockpit, but on landing, no fire was found. Queensland Fire and rescue crews stood on standby during the landing. The ATSB is investigating.
Airbus | airliners.net | Emergency | Landing Gear | Thomas Cook Airlines | UK

Landing Gear Cause Emergency Landing in Belfast
February 7, 2012

What: Thomas Cook Airbus A320 en route from Belfast to Tenerife
Where: Belfast
When: February 7, 2012
Who: 175 aboard
Why: After taking off from Belfast, the plane developed a technical problem (problems with the landing gear.) Pilots returned to Belfast. They circled for over an hour. While they were in the air, a police helicopter came up and inspected the plane.

The pilots dumped fuel before they made a safe landing.

Passengers interviewed about the event said they were terrified. Flight attendants advised them to brace themselves, take off their shoes and use the emergency exits.

Emergency services were on standby.

Belfast International Airport said that the airline planes to repair the plane and use it this afternoon to fly out passengers at 3:00 pm. The airport spoke highly of the efficiency and emergency management performed by the staff.
Airbus | airliners.net | Batavia | Emergency | Indonesia | runway overrun | weather

Storm Slickens Jayapura Runway Causing Overrun
February 7, 2012

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Contact photographer Angara

What: Batavia Air Airbus A320-200 en route from Makassar to Jayapura
Where: Jayapura
When: Feb 7th 2012
Who: 148 passengers and 6 crew
Why: On landing in Jayapura, the flight encountered a strong storm.

Landing in rain, the plane overran the runway but did stop on pavement. The plane was towed to the gate where passengers disembarked normally.

No passengers were injured. The plane did not end up mired in soft ground, but abrasions on the plane’s skin, and lights on the runway were reported as the extent of the damage.
Airbus | ANN All Nippon Network | Emergency | Japan | tail strike

Japan: Tail strike and Go-around
February 5, 2012

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Contact photographer Kazuchika Naya

What: ANA All Nippon Airways Airbus A320-200 en route from Osaka Itami to Sendai
Where: Sendai
When: Feb 5th 2012
Who: 166 aboard
Why: The Airbus was landing when a sudden gust of wind caused pilots to abort the landing, and leaving scrapes of white paint on the runway.

While performing the go-around, the tail of the plane struck the runway. Pilots circled and made a second approach, which resulted in a safe landing.

Damage to the underside of the tail was significant, and the bulkhead was also damaged The local weather service did not have any indication of wind, and the investigation is underway.
Aerolineas Argentinas | bird strike | Boeing | Brazil | Emergency

Aerolineas Bird Strike Leads to Emergency Landing in Sao Paulo
February 3, 2012

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Contact photographer Simón Blaise

What: Aerolineas Argentinas Boeing 737-700 en route from Sao Paulo Brazil to Buenos Aires Argentina
Where: Sao Paulo
When: Feb 2nd 2012
Why: After takeoff from Sao Paulo, the flight suffered an bird strike, which disabled it. The vibrating engine had to be shut down. Pilots returned to Sao Paulo a quarter of an hour after leaving.

Passengers were provided alternative transport.
Airbus | EasyJet | Emergency | lightning | snowy runway | UK

Manchester-bound Airbus Struck by Lightning
January 31, 2012

What: Easyjet Airbus A320-200 en route from Athens Greece to Manchester
Where: Manchester
When: Jan 27th 2012
Why: On approach to Manchester, at 1300 feet the plane was struck by lightning, burning the fuselage under the cockpit window.

The first approach was aborted due (apparently) to snow on the runway. The plane circled for less than half an hour before making a safe landing.
Emergency | engine trouble | Florida | Piper | private | unresolved | USA

Disabled Piper Quietly Lands on Palm Beach
January 29, 2012

image capture from youtube

What: Secure Aviation Inc Piper PA-31-310 Navajo C
Where: North Ocean Boulevard, West Palm Beach, FL
When: Jan 28 2012 2:46 pm
Who: 1
Why: After having engine problems, a pilot quietly landed his twin-engine Piper Navajo on the beach south of the Palm Beach jetty. He said “The plane didn’t want to run anymore, so it landed.”

The pilot was not injured but the plane suffered some damage and will have to be dismantled to be removed from the beach.

The 1974 plane is registered to Secure Aviation, 10218 SE Banyan Way in Tequesta.
airliners.net | De-Havilland | Diversion | Emergency | engine shut down | explosion | Horizon Air | USA | Video

Horizon Air Dash 8-400 Limps back to Portland on One Engine
January 29, 2012January 29, 2012

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Contact photographer Tsuyoshi Hayasaki

What: Horizon Air de Havilland Dash 8-400 en route from Portland,OR to Seattle,WA
Where: Portland
When: Jan 26 2012
Who: 55 passengers, 4 crew
Why: While en route, the right engine was shut down. According to wptv witnesses aboard the flight, “there was an explosion. Then, all of a sudden, everything stopped, and it just got totally quiet, and everyone started to panic.” Passengers took photos of the plane’s stopped propellor; and then the plane began shaking, and they could feel the weight on the left side.

Pilots returned to Portland and made a safe landing. An inspection of the plane is underway.

A replacement jet was provided.
Airbus | airliners.net | Emergency | engine failure | engine shut down | engine trouble | Etihad Airways | Nepal

Kathmandu Emergency landing by Etihad Airways
January 25, 2012

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Contact photographer Pieter-Jan Van De Vijver

What: Etihad Airlines Airbus A330-200 en route from Kathmandu (Nepal) to Abu Dhabi
Where: Kathmandu
When: Jan 17th 2012 9:15 pm
Who: 168 aboard
Why: While taking off from Kathmandu, the engine developed problems. THe crew shut it down and returned within minutes to land at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu.

Another source says the flight circled for an hour to burn fuel to lighten the landing.

Passengers were provided accommodations. Etihad engineers from Abu Dhabi arrived to handle the problem on January 21.
airliners.net | Canadair | Delta | Diversion | Emergency | New York | Pinnacle | smoke

Smoked Out Cockpit Claims Pinnacle Flight
January 22, 2012

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Contact photographer André Dias de Albuquerque

What: Delta Airlines/Pinnacle Airlines Canadair CRJ-440 en route from New York JFK,NY to Lewisburg,WV
Where: New York
When: Jan 21st 2012, 3:00 pm
Who: 4 passengers and 3 crew
Why: On takeoff from JFK, the cockpit developed smoke.

Pilots put on their oxygen masks and reported smoke in the cockpit. ATC had to negotiate the flight’s return with other flights coming and going, but managed to get them back on the ground about twelve minutes after takeoff.

By the time maintenance examined the plane, smoke had dispersed. The smoke is being attributed to fluid burn-off.

Passengers were provided alternative transportation.

This week an article in Business Week discussed cost-cutting measures that might be taken by Pinnacle after a 12% decline following the 2009 Colgan Air crash and a $1.89 million fine from the FAA over unfinished flight attendant training.
Airbus | airliners.net | Emergency | Landing Gear | Rossiya | Russia

Airbus Sticky Gear over St. Petersburg
January 20, 2012January 20, 2012

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Contact photographer Gergely Molnar

What: Rossiya Airbus A320-200 en route from St. Petersburg to Ekaterinburg Russia
Where: St. Petersburg
When: Jan 20th 2012
Why: On takeoff, the main gear failed to retract.

Pilots returned to St. Petersburg and made a safe landing. A replacement jet was summoned for the passengers.
airliners.net | ATR | Emergency | engine shut down | engine trouble | Romania | Tarom Romanian Airlines

Tarom Romanian Airlines Shuts Down Engine, Returns to Iasi
January 19, 2012January 19, 2012

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Contact photographer Goran Canic Cane

What: Tarom Romanian Airlines Avion de Transport Regional ATR-42-500 en route from Iasi to Bucharest
Where: Iasi
When: Jan 19th 2012
Who: 25 aboard
Why: Just after takeoff, the plane was still over Iasi when the pilots had to shut down the right engine.

The crew made a safe landing in Iasi, delaying but not postponing the flight.
airliners.net | Canadair | Delta | Diversion | Emergency | fuel | fuel system | New York | Pinnacle | USA

Fuel gauge Issues Lead to Albany Emergency Diversion
January 19, 2012

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Contact photographer Bruce Leibowitz

What: Delta/Pinnacle Airlines Canadair CRJ-200 en route from Detroit to Portland
Where: Albany
When: Jan 18th 2012
Who: 51 passengers and 3 crew
Why: While en route, the plane developed problems with the fuel gauge.

Pilots diverted to Albany where they made a safe landing. The problem took two hours to repair, and the flight resumed.
Air Greenland | airliners.net | De-Havilland | Diversion | Emergency | fumes | Greenland | smell of burning | smoke

Greenland Flight Cancels Due to Smoke, Chemical Fumes
January 19, 2012

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Contact photographer Robbie Shaw

What: Air Greenland de Havilland Dash 7-100 en route from Ilulissat to Upernavik
Where: Ilulissat
When: Jan 11th 2012
Who: 27 passengers and 3 crew
Why: After takeoff from Ilulissat, smoke developed in the lavatory, cabin and cockpit and the fire detector went off The flight returned to Ilulissat where they made a safe landing.

No smoke or fire was detected in the cabin, but on inspection, the high pressure bleed air on both left engines did not work.

Additionally, unidentified chemical fumes evaporated in to the air conditioning system.

Maintenance believes the problem has been corrected.
airliners.net | Boeing | Czech Republic | Delta | Emergency | flap problems

Delta Flaps Flap in Fast Prague Landing
January 15, 2012

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Contact photographer Tamas Martenyi

What: Delta Airlines Boeing 767-300 en route from New York JFK,NY (USA) to Prague
Where: Prague
When: Jan 14th 2012
Why: On approach to Prague, the plane developed a flaps problem. Pilots could not correct the problem, and aborted the landing. Still unable to correct, the flight made a fast landing with emergency services on standby.

Apparently the problem was fixed, as the plane only was an hour late on its return flight.

In George’s Point of View
Canadair | Diversion | Emergency | fumes | PSA Airlines | U.S. Airways | USA

Fumes Provoke Emergency Landing in Charleston
January 13, 2012

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Contact photographer Jay Selman

What: PSA Airlines/US Airways Canadair CRJ-200 en route from Nashville,TN to Washington National,DC
Where: Charleston
When: Jan 12th 2012
Who: 23 passengers and 3 crew
Why: While en route, the crew noted cargo smoke and diverted to Charleston.

The flight was cancelled.

After landing, the plane was inspected by emergency services, who found a closed system to be leaking.