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.

Boeing | cargo | cargo fire alert | Emergency | USA | Virgin Atlantic

Virgin Atlantic Flight Makes Emergency Landing at JFK Airport
September 18, 2018

Virgin Atlantic flight VS-128 had to return and make an emergency landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, on September 15th.

The Boeing 747-400 plane took off for Manchester, England, but had to turn back due to an issue with the cargo fire detection system.

The plane landed back safely. All passengers and crew members remained unharmed.
Airbus | Croatia | Emergency | smoke | Wizzair

Wizz Air Flight Diverts to Zagreb due to Smoke in Cockpit
September 18, 2018

Wizz Air flight W6-4263 had to divert and make an emergency landing in Zagreb, Croatia, on September 15th.

The Airbus A320-200 plane heading from Nis, Serbia, to EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg, France, was diverted due to smoke in the cockpit.

The plane landed safely. Medical teams examined two passengers and a crew member after landing.
Airbus | Emergency | indicator | unsafe gear | XL Airways

XL Airways France Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Fort-de-France
September 18, 2018

XL Airways France flight SE-1670 made an emergency landing in Fort-de-France, Martinique, on September 15th.

The Airbus A330-200 plane flying from Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe, was on final approach to Fort-de-France when the crew went around due to an unsafe gear indication.

The plane subsequently landed safely. All passengers and crew members remained unharmed.
Boeing | Delta | Emergency | engine shut down | Japan

Delta Airlines Flight Returns to Narita International Airport due to Engine Issue
September 17, 2018

Delta Airlines flight DL-166 had to return and make an emergency landing at Narita International Airport, Japan, on September 15th.

The Boeing 767-300 plane took off for Seattle, Washington, but had to turn back after the crew needed to shut down one of the engines.

The plane landed safely. All two hundred and thirteen people aboard remained unharmed.
Airbus | Emergency | Jet Blue | mechanical failure | Puerto Rico | USA

JetBlue Flight Makes Emergency Landing in San Juan
September 17, 2018

JetBlue flight B6-949 made an emergency landing in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on September 15th.

The Airbus A320-200 plane heading from John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, to St. George’s, Grenada, was diverted due to a mechanical issue.

The plane landed safely. All passengers and crew members remained unharmed.
Belgium | bird strike | Boeing | Emergency | TUIFly

TUI fly Belgium Flight Diverts to Brussels After Bird Strike
September 17, 2018

TUI fly Belgium flight TB-5697 made an emergency landing in Brussels, Belgium, on September 14th.

The Boeing 737-800 Max plane heading from Ostend, Belgium, to Palma de Mallorca Airport, Spain, was diverted due to a bird strike.

The plane landed safely. All passengers and crew members remained unharmed.
Airbus | Emergency | Eurowings | flap problems | Spain

Eurowings Flight Makes Emergency Landing due to Flaps Problem
September 17, 2018

Eurowings flight EW-598 made an emergency landing at Palma de Mallorca Airport, Spain, on September 14th.

The Airbus A320-200 plane flying from Cologne, Germany, was on final approach to Palma de Mallorca Airport when the crew went around due to an issue with the flaps.

The plane subsequently landed safely. Everyone aboard remained unharmed.
Emergency | gear door | Malaysia Airlines | UK

Malaysia Airlines Flight Makes Emergency Landing at Heathrow Airport
September 16, 2018

Malaysia Airlines flight MH-1 had to return and make an emergency landing at Heathrow Airport, England, on September 13th.

The plane took off for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, but had to turn back after a main gear door remained open.

The plane landed back safely. Everyone aboard remained unharmed.
Airbus | Emergency | Medical emergency | Russia

Cham Wings Airlines Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Moscow
September 16, 2018

Cham Wings Airlines flight 6Q-421 made an emergency landing in Moscow, Russia, on September 12th.

The Airbus A320-200 plane flying from Damascus, Syria, was descending toward Moscow when the captain became incapacitated, prompting the first officer to declare an emergency.

The plane continued for a safe landing. The captain was taken to a hospital.
Boeing | British Airways | Emergency | nose gear | USA

British Airways Flight Returns to Chicago due to Landing Gear Issue
September 15, 2018

British Airways flight BA-294 had to return and make an emergency landing in Chicago, Illinois, on September 12th.

The Boeing 747-400 plane took off for Heathrow Airport, England, but had to turn back after the crew failed to retract the nose gear.

The plane landed safely. All passengers and crew members remained unharmed.
Boeing | Emergency | fuel | fuel system | Hawaiian Airlines | USA

Hawaiian Airlines Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Oakland
September 15, 2018

Hawaiian Airlines flight HA-43 had to divert and make an emergency landing in Oakland, California, on September 12th.

The Boeing 767-300 plane heading from San Jose, California, to Honolulu, Hawaii, was diverted due to a fuel distribution problem.

The plane landed safely. Everyone aboard remained unharmed.
Boeing | British Airways | Canada | Emergency | technical difficulty | technical fault

British Airways Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Iqaluit, Canada
September 15, 2018

British Airways flight BA-103 had to divert and make an emergency landing in Iqaluit, Canada, on September 12th.

The Boeing 787-900 plane heading from Heathrow Airport, England, to Calgary, Canada, was diverted due to a technical issue.

The plane landed safely.
Boeing | Emergency | LOT Polish Airlines | Poland | Vibration

LOT Polish Airlines Flight Returns to Warsaw due to Engine Vibrations
September 15, 2018

LOT Polish Airlines flight LO-91 had to return and make an emergency landing in Warsaw, Poland, on September 11th.

The Boeing 787-800 plane took off for Beijing, China, but had to turn back after the crew received indication of engine vibrations.

The plane landed safely. All passengers and crew members remained unharmed.
Boeing | Emergency | hydraulic failure | jet2 | UK

Jet2 Flight Diverts to Manchester due to Hydraulic Failure
September 14, 2018

Jet2 flight LS-405 had to divert and make an emergency landing in Manchester, England, on September 12th.

The Boeing 737-800 plane heading from Leeds, England, to Paphos, Cyprus, was diverted due to a hydraulic failure.

The plane landed safely. All passengers and crew members remained unharmed.
Airbus | Cathay Pacific | China | Emergency | Landing Gear

Cathay Pacific Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Hong Kong
September 14, 2018

Cathay Pacific flight CX-332 had to return and make an emergency landing in Hong Kong, China, on September 10th.

The Airbus A330-300 plane took off for Beijing, China, but had to turn back due to issues with the landing gear.

The plane landed safely. All passengers and crew members remained unharmed.
Boeing | Emergency | Germany | Sun Express

SunExpress Deutschland Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Frankfurt
September 14, 2018

SunExpress Deutschland flight XG-1781 had to divert and make an emergency landing in Frankfurt, Germany, on September 10th.

The Boeing 737-800 plane heading from Dusseldorf, Germany, to Kayseri, Turkey, was diverted after the crew noticed multiple issues.

The plane landed safely. All passengers and crew members remained unharmed.
Airbus | Belgium | Brussels Airlines | Emergency | engine trouble | fuel

Brussels Airlines Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Brussels
September 13, 2018

Brussels Airlines flight SN-515 had to return and make an emergency landing in Brussels, Belgium, on September 11th.

The Airbus A330-200 plane took off for Washington Dulles International Airport, Virginia, but had to turn back after the crew noticed an issue with an engine fuel control computer.

The plane landed safely. All one hundred and fifty-five passengers remained unharmed.
Airbus | bird strike | EasyJet | Emergency | Italy

EasyJet Flight Returns to Lamezia Terme After Bird Strikes
September 13, 2018

EasyJet flight U2-2862 had to return and make an emergency landing in Lamezia Terme, Italy, on September 11th.

The Airbus A319-100 plane took off for Milan–Malpensa Airport, Italy, but had to turn back due to multiple bird strikes.

The plane landed back safely. Everyone aboard remained unharmed.
Airbus | Emergency | engine shut down | Iberia | USA

Iberia Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Boston
September 13, 2018

Iberia flight IB-6252 made an emergency landing in Boston, Massachusetts, on September 11th.

The Airbus A350-900 plane heading from John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, to Madrid, Spain, was diverted after the crew needed to shut down one of the engines.

The plane landed safely. All passengers and crew members remained unharmed.
Emergency | nose gear | Ukraine

Severstal Flight Makes Emergency Landing due to Nose Gear Issue
September 13, 2018

Severstal flight D2-131 made an emergency landing in Simferopol, Ukraine, on September 10th.

The plane flying from Cherepovets, Russia, was on approach to Simferopol when the crew noticed a nose gear issue and aborted the approach.

The plane subsequently landed safely. Everyone aboard remained unharmed.
American Airlines | Emergency | engine trouble | USA

American Airlines Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Syracuse
September 12, 2018

American Airlines flight AA-5377 had to divert and make an emergency landing in Syracuse, New York, on September 11th.

The plane heading from Hartford, Connecticut, to Chicago, Illinois, was diverted due to an engine issue.

The plane landed safely. Everyone aboard remained unharmed.
Emergency | engine shut down | Flybe | UK

Flybe Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Birmingham
September 12, 2018

Flybe flight BE-321 made an emergency landing in Birmingham, England, on September 11th.

The plane flying from Aberdeen, Scotland, was descending toward Birmingham when the crew needed to shut down one of the engines.

The plane landed safely. All passengers and crew members remained unharmed.
Air India | Boeing | Emergency | instrument panel | USA

Air India Flight Makes Emergency Landing at Newark Liberty International Airport
September 12, 2018

Air India flight AI-101 made an emergency landing at Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey, on September 11th.

The Boeing 777-300 plane heading from Delhi, India, to John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, was diverted due to failure of multiple instruments.

The plane landed safely. All three hundred and seventy people aboard remained unharmed.
Airbus | bird strike | Emergency | Eurowings | Spain | Strike

Eurowings Flight Returns to Palma de Mallorca Airport
September 12, 2018

Eurowings flight EW-6814 had to return and make an emergency landing at Palma de Mallorca Airport, Spain, on September 10th.

The Airbus A320-200 plane took off for Nuremberg, Germany, but had to turn back due to a suspected bird strike.

The plane landed back safely.

Inspection crew later discovered that the engine had ingested a hare, which caused engine issues consistent with a bird strike.
Boeing | Emergency | flap problems | Pegasus Airlines | Switzerland

Pegasus Airlines Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Zurich
September 11, 2018

Pegasus Airlines flight PC-947 made an emergency landing in Zurich, Switzerland, on September 7th.

The Boeing 737-800 plane flying from Istanbul, Turkey, was on approach to Zurich when the crew reported issues with the flaps.

The plane subsequently landed without flaps.

All passengers and crew members remained unharmed.