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.
What: Pia flight en route from Multan to Islamabad
Where: Rawalpindi airport in Pakistan
When: August 12, 2011
Who: Eight injured, 300+ aboard
Why: While en route from Multan to Islamabad, the flight encountered bad weather, and made an emergency landing in Rawalpindi.
One person was seriously injured.
We will update with further details.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Agustin Anaya
What: American Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-83 en route from Los Angeles to Dallas Texas
Where: Abilene
When: Aug 2 2011, 11:30 pm
Who: 112 passengers
Why: While en route, the engine developed problems. The pilot diverted the flight to Abilene, and made a safe landing. Mechanics inspected the engine. Some passengers waited in the airport, and others at local hotels. The replacement jet arrived 11 hours later.
What: American Airlines MD 80 en route from Dallas Texas to Ontario, California
Where: Dallas Fort Worth Airport
When: July 26, 2011
Who: 133 passengers, 5 crew
Why: After eight minutes in the air, the plane indicated some kind of problem. Passengers reported hearing some kind of explosion. The crew confirmed this, declaring an emergency and reporting an engine failure.
What: American Airlines Boeing 777 en route from Dallas to Sao Paolo, Brazil
Where: Dallas
When: July 31, 2011
Who: 264 passengers, 14 crew
Why: Indicators convinced the pilots of Flight 963 that an engine caught on fire. The pilots returned to Dallas and landed the 777 safely. The brakes locked up and a tire blew out, but that kind of thing is not unusual for an overweight landing.
Onlookers saw the flight dumping fuel, described as fuel streaming from its jets. If they were alarmed, just think how the passengers felt.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer
What: Air Mauritius Airbus A340-300 en route from Johannesburg S Africa to Mauritius
Where: Mauritius
When: Jul 28th 2011
Who: 65 passengers, 13 crew
Why: On approach to Mauritius, the flight encountered turbulence that injured 6 crew members and one passenger.
The injured were hospitalized.
What: Air Canada Boeing 777 en route from Sydney to Toronto
Where: Sydney
When: Jul 27 2011
Who: 262 passengers
Why: The plane was en route when crew members smelled smoke in the aft galley. The pilots turned around and returned to Sydney where they made a safe landing.
Initial reports indicated fire but no fire was found. No injures were reported, and there was no need for Emergency services who were on standby as they were landing.
Crews are examining the plane.
What: Flybe/Loganair Saab 340B en route from Glasgow,SC to Stornoway,SC
Where: Stornoway
When: Jul 27th 2011
Who: 37 passengers
Why: On approach to Stornoway, the plane developed issues.
The crew shut down an engine and made a safe landing.
What: United Airlines en route from New York to Los Angeles
Where: McCarran International Airport
When: July 23, 2011 1:30 pm
Who: 111 passengers
Why: While en route, a light indicated a mechanical emergency, leading the crew to divert to Los Angeles. They made a safe landing at McCarran International Airport.
Firefighters said there was a problem with the cooling equipment.
The plane’s departure was delayed.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Richard Vandervord
What: Sunexpress Boeing 737-800 en route from Antalya Turkey to Aarhus Denmark
Where: Antalya
When: July 14 2011
Who: 180 passengers
Why: While en route, the plane developed vibration.
The crew returned to Anatalya and made a safe landing. The issue was reported by official spokesmen as being a hydraulic problem (hydraulic pump failure), although a hydraulic problems would not cause vibration.
Passengers were provided an alternative flight.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Joop Stroes
What: Air France/Cityjet Fokker 50 en route from Antwerp to Manchester
Where: Antwerp
When: July 20 2011
Why: On takeoff out of Antwerp the flight developed complications.
The crew made an emergency landing, due to a cargo fire alarm, and the flight
was cancelled.
What: American Eagle Embraer ERJ-135 en route from Denver CO to Los Angeles
Where: Hayden
When: July 19 2011
Who: 36 passengers and 3 crew
Why: While en route, the crew detected an electrical odor. They reported the issue to ATC.
The flight made a safe landing at Yampa Valley Airport. Maintenance is examining the plane.
Passengers were provided bus transportation to Denver where they were provided alternative flights.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Bill Shull
What: Mesa Airlines Canadair CRJ-700 en route from Portland to Chicago
Where: South Bend
When: July 22 2011
Who: 57 passengers
Why: Some time after taking off from Portland, the flight developed hydraulic issues. The pilots diverted to South bend, and made a safe landing.
Passengers were provided transport to Chicago via bus.
What: Kingfisher en route from Colombo
Where: Chennai
When: July 19, 2011
Who: 132 passengers, 6 crew
Why: While en route, the plane ran out of gas. The pilot was supposed to circle the airport but that was not possible.
The pilot explained his situation and ATC gave him permission to land although the runway was closed for maintenance work. Mintainers were informed of the landing and cleared the runway.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer
What: Ural Airlines Airbus A320-200 en route from Bourgas to Ekaterinburg
Where: Ekaterinburg
When: Jul 19. 2011 0:20 Moscow time
Who: 119 passengers
Why: While en route from Bourgas to Ekaterinburg, the plane developed a hydraulic problem. (Specific details about the hydraulic problem have not been released.)
The flight continued to Koltsovo Airport in the Urals where it made a safe landing.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Manuel Fernandez
What: Air Transat Airbus A330-300 en route from Toronto to Dublin
Where: Toronto
When: Jul 15th 2011
Who: 314 passengers
Why: During takeoff, a tire was damaged. The tire caused damage to several parts of the plane, which initially had been attributed to a bird strike. Tire debris (tread) was found on the runway.
The flight continued to Dublin, where the plane made a safe landing on a tire which had lost tread. On inspection, it was found that a wing panel and a landing gear door needed repair, having been damaged on takeoff by tread.
A replacement flight was sent to Dublin to make the return flight.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Tamas Martenyi
What: Tarom Romanian Air Transport Avion de Transport Regional ATR-42-500 en route from Hungary to Romania
Where: Budapest
When: June 17, 2011
Who: 34 passengers and 4 crew * corrected
Why: After taking off from Budapest, the right engine made abrasive noises, and began smoking. The engines power turbine failed followed by the gearbox. The plane was stopped on taxiway. * corrected
The pilot shut down the engine, and returned to the airport where they made a safe landing. The plane was shut down on the taxiway.
Passengers were provided an alternative flight.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Johan Knijn
What: Qantas Boeing 747-400 en route from Johannesburg South Africa to Sydney
Where: Johannesburg
When: Jul 15th 2011
Why: While en route, the plane developed engine problems with engine 3. Passengers reported hearing a bang before the captain announced returning to Johannesburg.
The pilot dumped fuel and returned to Johannesburg, where he made a safe landing. A replacement flight was provided, delaying the flight by a day.
On board was the SA Springbok Rugby team.
What: Jetblue Airbus A320-200 en route from Boston to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Where: Bermuda
When: Jul 13th 2011
Who: 129 passengers
Why: While en route NW of Bermuda, the plane indicated smoke in the electronic bay, and did a flyby for emergency services to view the right side of the plane. There was no visible smoke.
The pilot diverted to Bermuda and made a safe landing. The plane underwent an inspection prior to leaving for Punta Cana.
Replacement Plane pictured
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer guweishi
What: Air India Boeing 777-300 en route from Delhi to New York JFK,NY
Where: Delhi
When: Jul 17th 201
Why: After takeoff from Delhi, the right engine developed problems. The pilot returned to Delhi and made a safe landing.
Passengers disembarked, and were provided a different plane and crew twelve hours later.
The engine is suspected to have ingested a bird.
What: Thomas Cook Boeing 757 en route from Glasgow to Heraklion
Where: Frankfurt
Who: not available
Why: The flight was en route over Holland when one of the planes engines developed engine failure. The pilot shut down engine two and diverted to Frankfort, where they made a safe landing. Emergency services were on standby when the plane landed.
Passengers were provided accommodations and flew out the next day, although there was no Thomas Cook affiliate there, and they were not kept informed of their situation.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Trevor Mulkerrins
What: Aer Lingus/Aer Arann Avion de Transport Regional ATR-72-200 en route from Manchester to Shannon
Where: Shannon
When: Jul 17th 2011
Who: 21 passengers, 4 crew
Why: The pilot made a safe landing in turbulence but the front wheel collapsed (on landing or during taxi). The plane veered on to the grass.
Passengers had to disembark on to the runway via stairs and were ported to the gate.
What: Continentavia Tupolev TU-154 en route from Barnaul to Norilsk, Russia
Where: Abakan
When: Jul 16th 2011
Who: 56 passengers, 7 crew (also reported as 46 passengers)
Why: The Continentavia TU-154 developed engine vibration and diverted to Abakan.
The pilot shut down engine number two and made a safe landing in Abakan. The flight took 40 minutes on two engines.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Ilgaz Deger
What: Saudi Arabian Airlines Airbus A330-300 en route from Jeddah to Paris
Where: Athens
When: Jul 14 2011
Who: 168 (?) 187 aboard
Why: While en route, the Airbus experienced instrument failure. The pilot decided to divert to Greece.
The pilot made an visual (ILS?) approach to Athens airport, with its instruments inoperable.
The plane made a safe landing with no injuries reported. After maintenance went over the plane, it was back in the air within five or six hours.
On July 12, a Saudi Arabian Airlines Boeing 777 en route from Washington to Riad made an emergency landing in Athens due to instruments indicating a fire in the luggage compartment. (No fire was found.) according to Thailand News Agency.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Matheus Netto de Lima
What: Pantanal Linhas Aereas Avion de Transport Regional ATR-42-300 en route from Sao Paulo to Sao Jose de Rio Preto Brazil
Where: Sao Paulo
When: Jun 30 2011
Who: 44 passengers
Why: After takeoff, the plane’s right engine made an explosive noise and began emitting smoke and sparks, and the propeller stopped.
The crew shut down that engine and returned to Sao Paulo. The pilot made a safe landing in Sao Paulo. Passengers were rebooked on another flight. Maintenance confirmed a leak in the right hand engine.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Oleg Chaplin
What: Vladivostok A320 en route from Novosibirsk to Krasnodar
Where: Novosibirsk
When: Jul 3rd 2011
Who: 152 passengers and 8 crew
Why: After takeoff from Novosibirsk, the plane’s right engine ingested a hawk.
The pilot burned off fuel and made a safe landing three hours later with engine vibration.
