Contact photographer Bruce Leibowitz
What: Turkish Airlines Airbus A340-300, en route from New York JFK,NY to Istanbul Ataturk
Where: divert to London Heathrow
When: Apr 16th 2009 6:30 local
Who: 185 passengers and 15 crew
Why: The cabin depressurized en route, and the flight was diverted to Heathrow for a safe landing. Although passengers experienced shortness of breath and ear pain, oxygen masks never did deploy.

To include the featured image in your Twitter Card, please tap or click their icon a second time.

Similar Posts

|

Is a Four Year Prescription a Bandaid for the Airbus Glass Cockpit? Not Shatterproof

According to the NTSB, “on January 25, 2008, a United Airbus A320, registration N462UA, experienced multiple avionics and electrical failures, including loss of all communications, shortly after rotation while departing Newark Liberty International Airport, Newark (EWR), New Jersey. The flight returned for landing at EWR and electrical power was restored to the cockpit after landing when the flight crew selected the AC Essential Bus button. There were no injuries to the 107 passengers and crew aboard the airplane and no damage to the airplane. The airplane was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 and was a regularly scheduled passenger flight to Denver International Airport, Denver, Colorado.”

Note that this was a glass cockpit. (A glass cockpit has digital instrument displays rather than analog.)

In case of electrical failure, new Airbus models have backup systems and backups for the backups for their glass cockpits, but 50 episodes of multiple electrical failure have been recorded in the Airbus A320 (A318, A319, A320 and A321) according to AP. Obviously not all Airbus models are new.

In 2009, the EU issued an order giving airlines four years to make the fixes so that pilots don’t end up losing all their electrical systems. The FAA issued the order in 2010. France reported 48 failures of 5 of 6 displays in 2008.

The NTSB has suggested to the FAA that the optional fix be mandatory, but currentlyAirlines are not required to tell the Federal Aviation Administration when the repairs are made, and they can’t afford to automatically immediately ground planes when a bulletin is issued. Is this safety Russian-Roulette style?

To include the featured image in your Twitter Card, please tap or click their icon a second time.
| | | |

Faulty Autopilot Forces LAX Landing

What: United Airlines en route to San Francisco
Where: LAX
When: April 17, 2011
Why: After takeoff, the autopilot took control and would not relinquish it. The pilot had no control over the plane, but then was able to turn off autopilot and return to the airport.

The news release of this event does not mention the type of plane; but I am not surprised at first research that it appears to have been an Airbus A320. Fortunately, the pilot regained control, and there were no injuries. But this kind of problem with an airbus could have significance relating to all fly by wire aircraft, which have the capacity to lock out the pilot.

We need more information about this event. It should be published heavily, and we should be hearing some alerts and safety directives from Airbus.

To include the featured image in your Twitter Card, please tap or click their icon a second time.
| | | | |

Illushin IL-76 Hits Mountain in Afghanistan


Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Matthias Bindseil

What: Silk Way Airlines Illushin IL-76TD en route from Baku Azerbaijan to Bagram Air Force Base Afghanistan
Where: Bagram Afghanistan
When: Jul 6th 2011
Who: 9 crew
Why: Carrying 18 tons of automobiles and trailers, the flight took off from Baku and lost radar contact 13.5 miles from Kabul. The plane struck a mountain near Akhshay in the Ghorband/Syahgerd district at 19:40 on Jul 5th. Eight bodies were recovered at 12,500 feet.

The cause of the crash is unknown. The distict chief of Siagerd stated publicly that there was a big explosion heard when the plane struck the mountain.


To include the featured image in your Twitter Card, please tap or click their icon a second time.
| | | |

Southwest Flight Diverts to Denver International Airport

southwest_airlines_logoSouthwest flight 100 had to make an emergency landing at Denver International Airport, Colorado, on April 24.

The flight was en-route from Las Vegas to Milwaukee when the pilot reported a pressurization issue in the aircraft and requested an emergency landing.

The plane landed safely.

Authorities said one passenger slipped while exiting the plane and was shifted to hospital.

To include the featured image in your Twitter Card, please tap or click their icon a second time.
| | |

Unruly Diverts Westjet


Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Alevik

What: Westjet Airlines Boeing 737-700 en route from Calgary to Halifax
Where: Winnipeg
When: Jul 6th 2010
Who: 131 on board
Why: While en route, a passenger attempted to open a door to the plane. The flight diverted to Winnipeg where the passenger was detained and taken into custody to be charged with “endangering safety of an aircraft and interference with flight crew.” After a nearly three hour delay, the flight continued to Halifax.

To include the featured image in your Twitter Card, please tap or click their icon a second time.
| | | |

Airbus Emergency Landing in Grand Cayman


Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Travis Faudree

What: Spirit Airlines Airbus A319-100 en route from the Nicaraguan capital of Managua to Fort Lauderdale
Where: Owen Roberts International Airport, Grand Cayman
When: November 25, 2009
Who: 133 passengers
Why: While en route, a cockpit indicator signified smoke in the cockpit; the flight diverted to Owen Roberts International Airport, Grand Cayman where it landed safely.

On inspection, maintenance found neither smoke nor fire, and instead of rebooking the passengers, the flight continued on safely to its destination.

To include the featured image in your Twitter Card, please tap or click their icon a second time.