Cathay Pacific flight CX-9993 had to return and make an emergency landing in Hong Kong, China, on March 6th.
The Airbus A330-300 plane took off for Zhuhai, China, but had to turn back due to an engine issue.
The plane landed back safely. All passengers and crew members remained unharmed.
This will be the first July 28 in history when these 152 people will not be living on this earth. We want to remember these people who lost their lives in such a tragic and unnecessary way. They deserve to be remembered.
Some remember those who are no longer with us by using symbols. Memorials like the one promised. There are other symbols, like the bird in flight that symbolizes a soul, or a chain with a broken link.
There is a tradition dating back to ancient times of placing rosemary by the graves of loved ones. “There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance; pray, love, remember;” Hamlet, (V.iv.124)
I was going to talk about more ways that people remember, but I must pause here. In ancient times they put rosemary by the graves of loved ones. Some people still do. But we cannot lay sprigs of rosemary for remembrance at the feet of our loved ones, because there are families still waiting for a memorial promised before the first anniversary of the crash. Waiting a year to lay their flowers and their grief.
Instead of a bouquet of flowers, we have a bouquet of broken promises. Shall we count them?
A broken promise to share the final investigative report.
A broken promise over the Monument at the crash site (they want it elsewhere); and a broken promise over the 72 unmarked graves.
A broken promise over Airblue being grounded for negligence, malpractice, manslaughter.
A broken promise to assist the families.
Or maybe we can call this a pending promise, as we wait for an independent inquiry board and a pending promise of greater safety in the skies over Pakistan.
We have our Rosemary for remembrance, but it is bittersweet.
Lufthansa Cityline flight LH-843 made an emergency landing in Hamburg, Germany, on December 23rd.
The plane heading from Billund, Denmark, to Frankfurt, Germany, was diverted due to a burning odor on-board.
The plane landed safely. All ninety people aboard remained unharmed.
A homemade Mosquito ultralight helicopter made an emergency landing on a sod farm in Aquebogue, New York, on the afternoon of November 9.
The incident happened after the aircraft developed mechanical issues.
According to the police, the pilot was found unconscious near the helicopter and was taken to hospital. He was later identified as Erwin Rodger, 71, of Mattituck.
The FAA is investigating.
Air New Zealand (ANZ) flight NZ-87 had to return and make an emergency landing at Auckland Airport, New Zealand, on July 5th.
The Boeing 777-200 flying to Hong Kong, China, was over the Tasman Sea when the pilot started feeling unwell.
The plane landed safely.
No one was injured.
A 4-seater, Cirrus plane made an emergency landing on 15th Avenue NE in Langola Township, Benton County, Minnesota, near Rice, at about 1:45 p.m. on September 7.
The incident happened when the plane was en route from the Mankato area to Breezy Point.
According to the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, the single-engine plane, which was heading to St. Cloud Regional Airport, landed in emergency due to some mechanical problems.
None of the 4 people aboard, including the Pilot Craig Bureind, 52, of Chanhassen and his 3 passengers, suffered any injuries. The plane hit a telephone pole support wire during landing and was slightly damaged.
The FAA will investigate the incident.
What: Cathay Pacific Airbus SAS A330
Where: Hong Kong
When: April 13
Who: 57 injured
Why: On approach to Hong Kong International Airport on April 13 2010, one Rolls Royce engine stalled and the other was left with only 70 percent power. The flight landed, popping 6 tires.
The investigation uncovered that the last fueling was 24,400 kilograms of fuel from the Juanda International Airport, which left fine spherical particles throughout the fuel system of the Cathay Pacific plane. The fueling system at Juanda International Airport had been recommissioned, but in a manner that did not follow industry protocol.