China Eastern Airlines flight MU-5257 made an emergency landing in Nanchang, China, on December 4th.
The Airbus A321-200 plane heading from Qingdao to Guangzhou, China, was diverted after the passenger oxygen masks were automatically deployed, without any indication of a cabin pressure problem.
The plane landed safely. Everyone aboard remained unharmed.
Frontier Airlines flight F9-260 had to return and make an emergency landing in Las Vegas, Nevada, on November 30th.
The Airbus A320-200 plane took off for Tampa, Florida, but had to turn back after a section of an engine cowling came loose and fell off.
The plane landed back safely. All passengers and crew members remained unharmed.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Jordi Grife
What: Jetblue Airbus A320-200 en route from New York to Long Beach
Where: New York
When: Mar 28th 2010
Who: 144 on board
Why: Leaving the runway, the plane’s tail impacted either hail or a bird or had a tail strike (reports conflict); the flight returned to JFK and made a safe landing so that the damage could be checked out. Passengers debarked, and boarded an alternative plane some time later.
TAME Airlines Airbus A330-200 heading to Ecuador from New York’s JFK Airport made an emergency landing at Joint Base Charleston at 2:05 on March 25.
The medical emergency was declared because of a female passenger having breathing trouble. However, she refused to go to the local area hospital for medical treatment. The plane left after refueling at 4.30 a.m. without dropping the passenger.
The flight was directed to the Joint Base since no international flights operate between midnight and 4 a.m. at the Charleston International airport, and the ground crew is not available during this time.
The plane had 70 passengers and 9 crew members on board.
Southwest Airlines flight 3461 had to make an emergency landing in Panama City, Florida, on April 14th.
The plane heading from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to New Orleans, Louisiana, was diverted after it encountered severe weather near New Orleans.
The plane landed uneventfully.
The airline said the flight resumed to New Orleans after refueling at Panama City.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Aldo Bidini
What: Batavia Airbus A320-200 en route from Pekanbaru to Jakarta Indonesia
Where: Pekanbaru, Sumatra
When: Jul 15th 2010
Who: 179 passengers and 7 crew
Why: While en route, the left engine emitted several big bangs. The engine was shut down and the crew returned to Pekanbaru Sumatra where they circled to burn off fuel before making a safe landing. 42 passengers returned their tickets, and the rest, held over because of a “night curfew”, were provided hotel accommodations and flew out on an alternative flight the next day.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Fred Seggie
What: Delta Airlines Boeing 757-200 en route from New York to San Francisco
Where: Lambert-St. Louis International Airport
When: Mar 30
Who: 171 aboard (165 passengers and 6 crew)
Why: When smoke fill the cabin, the crew diverted the flight to St Louis. They made a safe landing with no reported injuries.
Passengers disembarked on the runway and were bussed to the gate.