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Contact photographer Tiago Palla
What: Hifly Airbus A310-300 en route from Lisbon to Berlin
Where: Lisbon
When: Dec 15th 2009
Who: not available
Why: After takeoff, the plane developed a non-disclosed technical problem and returned to the airport. A replacement flight transported the passengers four hours later.
The former Romanian low cost carrier Blue Air EI-EOP was delivered from Shannon to Cairo on December 17 and registered SU-MWF
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Contact photographerTrevor Mulkerrins
What: Midwest Airlines Boeing 737-800 en route from Sharm el Sheikh Egypt to Tallinn Estonia
Where: Sharm el Sheikh
When: Jan 15th 2011
Who: 180 passengers
Why: While en route, the plane developed pressurization problems that caused passengers significant distress, including ear pain.
Pilots returned the plane to Tallinn where it made a safe landing and the pressurization problems were worked on by maintenance crews.
Iberia Airline flight IB-6025 had to return and make an emergency landing at Madrid Barajas International Airport, Madrid, Spain, on December 16.
The Airbus A340-300, flying from Madrid, Spain, to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, had to return due to an engine problem. The crew decided to shut down an engine mid-air.
The plane landed safely.
All passengers aboard remained safe.
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Contact Photographer Sushank Gupta- Indian Aviation Photographers
What: Kingfisher Airbus A320-200 en route from Bagdogra to New Delhi (India)
Where: Baghdogra Airport
When: Jun 27th 2009 4:35pm
Who: 178 passengers and 6 crew (This number varies on different accounts of the incident)
Why: While taxing for takeoff, the Airbus was making a half turn when one wing stuck what is described as a “military bunker.” Damage to the wing caused the flight to be cancelled but there was no fuel leakage. The plane was taxied and passengers debarked.
Last year, a tractor hit a Kingfisher plane just prior to takeoff from Mumbai Airport.
George’s Point of View
Two words: Driving lessons.
Or an alternative two words: Traffic control.
It’s always refreshing to see an accident on the ground where no one is hurt.
However, one does wonder if this points to some underlying problem, either with training or airport design. (Camouflaged military bunker ON the runway? Excuse me? Whose idea was THAT? )
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Contact photographer Rafael Nunes
What: American Airlines en route from New York to Brussels
Where: Boston
When: August 22, 2010
Who: 159 passengers, 9 crew
Why: While en route, twenty minutes into the flight, they encountered severe turbulence stemming from thunderstorms in the eastern seaboard. The situation at JFK was problematic.
The pilot diverted to Logan Airport in Boston where they made a safe landing.
Tunisair flight TU-914 made an emergency landing at Prince Mohammed bin Abdul-Aziz International Airport in Medina, Saudi Arabia, on February 27th.
The pilots declared emergency after a fire broke out in Airbus A330-200 plane’s left engine. The flight was heading from Medina, Saudi Arabia, to Tunis, Tunisia, at the time.
The plane landed safely. No injuries were reported.
EasyJet flight U2-426 made an emergency landing in Birmingham, England, on February 25th.
The Airbus A320-200 plane heading from Edinburgh, Scotland, to Bristol, England, was diverted after the crew noticed a burning electrical odor on board.
The plane landed safely. All passengers and crew members remained safe.