Delta Airlines flight DL-1418 made an emergency landing in Atlanta, Georgia, on September 5th.
The Boeing 757-200 plane took off for Orlando, Florida, but had to turn back due to an engine failure.
The plane landed safely. All one hundred and twenty-seven people aboard remained unharmed.
Safair flight FA-102 made an emergency landing in Johannesburg, South Africa, on March 27th.
Emergency was declared after one of the tires of the Boeing 737-400 aircraft was damaged during take off from Cape Town, South Africa.
The plane performed a low approach for inspection of tires from the ground, before it landed safely. Everyone aboard remained unharmed.
Lufthansa flight LH-1365 had to return and make an emergency landing in Krakow, Poland, on January 11th.
The Airbus A319-100 plane took off for Frankfurt, Germany, but had to turn back due to an unusual odor on-board.
The plane landed safely. All forty passengers aboard remained unharmed.
What: American Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-80 en route from Texas to San Francisco
Where: San Jose
When: Jan 18, 2010
Who: 132 passengers and 5 crew
Why: While en route, the plane developed a throttle problem (left throttle stuck.) On approach to San Francisco, the plane encountered a microburst ( a short, intense gust of wind). Between the throttle problem and the microburst, the crew declared an emergency.
The flight diverted to San Jose where it landed safely. Passengers were bussed to SF.
Gol Transportes Aereos flight G3-1025 made an emergency landing at Galeao International Airport in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on January 15th.
The Boeing 737-800 plane heading from Rio de Janeiro Airport RJ Santos Dumont to Congonhas-Sao Paulo Airport, Brazil, was diverted after the crew needed to shut down one of the engines.
The plane landed safely. All passengers and crew members remained safe.
A Royal Flying Doctor Service jet had to make an emergency landing at Jandakot Airport in Western Australia, on August 20th.
Emergency alarms were raised at the airport after the plane, carrying a doctor, a nurse and 3 patients, reported landing gear malfunction.
The plane landed uneventfully. Everyone aboard remained unhurt.
What: Northwest Airlines( Pinnacle) Canadair CRJ-200 en route from Knoxville,TN to Detroit
Where: Louisville
When: Aug 4th 2009 6 p.m
Who: 24 passengers
Why: Half an hour into the flight, the plane encountered turbulence which injured a flight attendant and a passenger. About twenty-five minutes later, the flight landed in Louisville KY where the flight attendant was hospitalized with minor injuries. The passenger received cuts and bruises which were categorized as not serious. The turbulence the flight encountered was attributed to the same storm system that was behind thunderstorms and flooding in the Kentucky area.
The rest of the passengers were placed on another flight out of Louisville.
Is it possible that pilots and airlines should actually avoid flying during severe weather conditions? I know it is an audacious thing to suggest. Human beings would much prefer to assert dominion over all things natural than to do something that would require a little common sense, especially if it would mean we actually had to wait an hour before taking off.
