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.

Airbus | Emergency | odor | Spirit Airlines | USA

Spirit Airlines Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Newark
March 23, 2017

Spirit Airlines flight NK-779 had to divert and make an emergency landing in Newark, New Jersey, on March 20th.

The Airbus A321-200 plane heading from LaGuardia Airport, New York, to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was diverted after the crew noticed an odor on-board.

The plane landed safely. All passengers and crew members remained unharmed.

The airline arranged a replacement plane for the passengers.
Boeing | British Airways | Emergency | India | smoke

British Airways Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Delhi
March 23, 2017

British Airways flight BA-143 made an emergency landing in Delhi, India, on March 19th.

The Boeing 777-200 plane was coming from Heathrow Airport, England, when the crew declared an emergency due to reports of smoke originating from the aft galley.

The plane landed uneventfully. All passengers and crew members remained safe.

It is believed that the smoke was caused by food burning inside an oven.
bird strike | Boeing | Emergency | New Zealand | Virgin Australia

Virgin Australia Flight Returns to New Zealand After Bird Strike
March 23, 2017

Virgin Australia Airlines flight VA-101 had to return and make an emergency landing in Christchurch, New Zealand, on March 19th.

The Boeing 737-800 plane took off for Melbourne, Australia, but had to return shortly afterwards due to a bird strike.

The plane landed back safely. All passengers and crew members remained unharmed.
Disruptive Passenger | Emergency | Ethiopian Airlines | injury | Pakistan

Ethiopian Airlines Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Lahore
March 23, 2017March 23, 2017

An Ethiopian Airlines flight had to divert and make an emergency landing at Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore, Pakistan, on March 18th.

The plane heading from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to Beijing, China, was diverted after a mentally disabled patient attacked and injured his medical attendant.

The authorities said both passengers involved in the fight were Chinese nationals.

The plane landed safely.
Belarus | Belavia | bird strike | Boeing | Emergency

Belavia Flight Returns to Belarus After Bird Strike
March 20, 2017

Belavia Belarusian Airlines flight B2-945 had to return and make an emergency landing in Minsk, Belarus, on March 19th.

The Boeing 737-500 plane took off for St. Petersburg, Russia, but had to return shortly afterwards after the crew reported a bird strike.

The plane landed back safely. All passengers and crew members remained unharmed.

The airline arranged a replacement plane for the passengers.
Boeing | cabin pressure | Emergency | Netherlands

Titan Airways Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Amsterdam
March 20, 2017

Titan Airways flight ZT-1941 had to divert and make an emergency landing in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on March 19th.

The Boeing 767-300 plane heading from London Stansted Airport, England, to Rzeszow, Poland, was diverted due to loss of cabin pressure.

The plane landed safely. All passengers and crew members remained unharmed.
Boeing | de-icing | Emergency | Italy | Lufthansa

Lufthansa Flight Diverts to Milan–Malpensa Airport
March 20, 2017

Lufthansa flight LH-511D had to divert for an unscheduled landing at Milan–Malpensa Airport, Italy, on March 18th.

The Boeing 747-400 plane en-route from Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Frankfurt, Germany, was diverted due to an issue with the de-icing systems.

The plane landed safely. Everyone aboard remained unharmed.
cabin pressure | Diversion | Emergency | Southwest | USA

Southwest Airlines Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Texas
March 19, 2017

Southwest Airlines flight 118 had to divert and make an emergency landing in Amarillo, Texas, on March 18th.

The plane heading from Phoenix, Arizona, to Atlanta, Georgia, was diverted after it lost cabin pressure.

The plane landed safely.

“The flight was met by Emergency personnel, and initial reports do not indicate any injuries to Customers or Crew,” the airline said.
Airbus | Emergency | Germany | Lufthansa | smoke

Lufthansa Plane Returns to Munich due to Smoke in Cockpit
March 19, 2017

Lufthansa flight LH-412 had to return for an emergency landing in Munich, Germany, on March 18th.

The Airbus A340-600 plane took off for Newark, New Jersey, but had to turn back after the crew noticed smoke in the cockpit.

The plane landed safely. There were 286 people aboard at the time; all of them remained unharmed.
Air Canada | Airbus | Emergency | hydraulic failure | Netherlands

Air Canada Plane Makes Emergency Landing due to Hydraulic Failure
March 19, 2017

Air Canada flight AC-824 made an emergency landing in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on March 18th.

The Airbus A330-300 plane flying from Toronto, Canada, was on final approach to Amsterdam when the crew reported a hydraulic failure and requested emergency assistance.

The plane continued for a safe landing. All passengers and crew members remained unharmed.
Emergency | Norway | propeller | Wideroe

Wideroe Airlines Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Norway
March 19, 2017

Wideroe Airlines flight WF-735 had to return and make an emergency landing in Bodo, Norway, on March 16th.

The plane took off for Mo i Rana, Norway, but had to return shortly afterwards after sparks were noticed emitting from one of the propellers.

The plane landed back safely. Everyone aboard remained unharmed.

The airline arranged a replacement plane for the passengers.
Boeing | Delta | Diversion | Emergency | engine trouble | Netherlands | Vibration

Delta Airlines Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Amsterdam
March 18, 2017

Delta Airlines flight DL-131 had to divert and make an emergency landing in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on March 17th.

The Boeing 767-400 plane heading from Munich, Germany, to Atlanta, Georgia, was diverted after the crew reported engine vibrations.

The plane landed safely. There were 257 people aboard at the time; all of them remained unharmed.
Canada | Emergency

North Star Air Cargo Plane Makes Emergency Landing in Ontario
March 18, 2017

A North Star Air cargo plane made an emergency landing at Pickle Lake Airport in Ontario, Canada, on March 17th.

The plane was carrying 3 people, including two pilots and a crew member; all of them remained safe.

A company spokesperson said, “North Star Air is fully co-operating with the investigation and will release further information as it becomes available.”

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada will investigate the incident.
Australia | Emergency | propeller | REX | Saab

REX Plane Makes Emergency Landing After Propeller Falls Off
March 17, 2017

A Regional Express Airlines plane made an emergency landing at Sydney Airport in New South Wales, Australia, on March 17th.

The Saab 340B plane flying from Albury, New South Wales, Australia, was on approach to Sydney when a propeller fell off.

The plane landed safely. All 16 passengers and 3 crew members remained unharmed.

The incident is being investigated.
Boeing | Condor | Emergency | fuel leak | USA

Condor Airlines Flight Makes Emergency Landing in St. Louis
March 17, 2017

Condor Airlines flight DE-2114 had to divert and make an emergency landing in St. Louis, Missouri, on March 15th.

The Boeing 767-300 plane heading from Frankfurt, Germany, to Cancun, Mexico, was diverted after the crew suspected a fuel leak.

The plane landed safely. All 182 passengers and 10 crew members remained unharmed.
Australia | Boeing | Emergency | injury | Qantas | turbulence

Qantas Airways Plane Hits Turbulence near Canberra; 2 Injured
March 17, 2017

Qantas Airways flight QF-718 encountered severe turbulence while descending toward Canberra, Australia, on March 13th.

The Boeing 737-800 plane was flying from Perth, Australia, when it was hit by turbulence that injured two flight attendants.

The plane continued for a safe landing.
Airbus | Brakes | Emergency | Jet Blue | USA

JetBlue Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Fort Lauderdale
March 16, 2017

JetBlue flight B6-1675 had to return and make an emergency landing in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on March 15th.

The Airbus A320-200 plane took off for Kingston, Jamaica, but had to turn back after the crew noticed an issue with the brakes.

The plane landed back safely. All passengers and crew members remained unharmed.
bird strike | Boeing | Emergency | Germany | Transavia

Bird-Hit Transavia Flight Makes Safe Landing at Berlin Schonefeld Airport
March 16, 2017

Transavia Airlines flight HV-9513 made a safe landing following a bird strike near Berlin Schonefeld Airport, Germany, on March 15th.

The incident happened when the Boeing 737-700 plane flying from Munich, Germany, was on final approach.

The plane continued for a safe landing. All passengers and crew members remained safe.
Emergency | lightning | Silk Air | Singapore

SilkAir Flight Makes Safe Landing After Lightning Strike
March 16, 2017

SilkAir flight MI-749 was hit by lightning while descending toward Singapore, on March 14th.

The incident happened when the Boeing 737-800 plane was flying from Phuket, Thailand.

The plane continued for a safe landing. Everyone aboard remained unharmed.
Airbus | Delta | Emergency | hydraulic failure | Netherlands

Delta Airlines Plane Rejects Take Off From Amsterdam
March 16, 2017

Delta Airlines flight DL-73 had to reject take off from Amsterdam, Netherlands, on March 14th.

The Airbus A330-300 plane was accelerating to take off for Atlanta, Georgia, when the crew rejected take off due to the failure of a hydraulic system.

All passengers and crew members remained safe.

The airline arranged a replacement plane for the passengers.
Boeing | Emergency | Germania | Germany | hydraulic failure

Germania Airlines Flight Returns to Germany after Hydraulic Failure
March 15, 2017

Germania Airlines flight ST-8536 had to return and make an emergency landing in Dresden, Germany, on March 14th.

The Boeing 737-700 plane took off for Hurghada, Egypt, but had to return shortly afterwards due to a hydraulic failure.

The plane landed safely. All passengers and crew members remained unharmed.
American Airlines | Boeing | Emergency | Florida | maintenance | USA

American Airlines Plane Diverts to Jacksonville International Airport
March 15, 2017

An American Airlines flight had to divert and make an emergency landing at Jacksonville International Airport, Florida, on March 14th.

The Boeing 737 plane heading from Miami, Florida, to Chicago, Illinois, was diverted after a passenger spilled soda on an electronic device.

The plane landed safely. All 149 passengers and 6 crew members aboard remained unharmed.
Canada | Emergency | Jazz Air | smoke

Jazz Air Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Saskatchewan
March 15, 2017

Jazz Air flight QK-7090 made an emergency landing in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, on March 11th.

The plane was flying from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, when the crew declared an emergency due to smoke in cockpit.

The plane landed safely. Everyone aboard remained unharmed.
Airbus | Emergency | fuel pump | Senegal | Swiss Air

Swiss International Air Lines Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Senegal
March 14, 2017

Swiss International Air Lines flight LX-92 had to divert and make an emergency landing in Dakar, Senegal, on March 13th.

The Airbus A340-300 plane heading from Zurich, Switzerland, to Sao Paulo, Brazil, was diverted due to an issue with the fuel pump.

The plane landed safely. There were 215 passengers aboard at the time; all of them remained safe.
Boeing | Delta | Emergency | flight control system | Georgia | USA

Delta Airlines Flight Returns to Atlanta due to Flight Control Issues
March 14, 2017

Delta Airlines flight DL-1752 had to return for an emergency landing in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 13th.

The Boeing 717-200 plane took off for Savannah, Georgia, but had to turn back due to flight control issues.

The plane landed back safely. All 116 people aboard remained unharmed.

The plane had experienced a similar issue on March 12th.