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Contact photographer Javier Bravo Muñoz
What: Iberia Airbus A340-600 en route from Madrid Spain to Santiago Chile
Where: Madrid
When: Dec 6th 2009
Who: not available
Why: The flight had taken off when it began experiencing problems related to one fuel tank. The plane landed safely back at Madrid. A replacement plane was provided to passengers 13 hours later.
Air India flight AI-937 had to divert for an emergency landing in Mumbai, India, on June 13th.
The Airbus A321-200 plane heading from Kozhikode, India, to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, was diverted after a burning odor was noticed in the cockpit.
The plane landed uneventfully. All sixty-two people aboard remained safe.
What: TAM Linhas Aereas Airbus A320 Flight JJ3054
Where: Sao Paulo Brazil Congonhas airport
When: July 17, 2007
Who: 199 fatalities
Why: Sao Paulo Institute of Criminology 16-month investigation places blame on government agencies for failing to ensure runway safety. Government failure to set rainy-day landing rules for the short runway whose new surface had not yet been grooved to drain rainwater.
NTSB Factual
NTSB Identification: DCA07RA059
Scheduled 14 CFR operation of TAM Linhas Aéreas
Accident occurred Tuesday, July 17, 2007 in Sao Paulo, Brazil
Aircraft: Airbus Industrie A320-233, registration: PR-MBK
Injuries: 199 Fatal.
On July 17, 2007, at 21:54 UTC, an Airbus A320-233, Brazilian registration PTMBK, serial number 789, operated by TAM Linhas Aéreas overran the end of runway 35 at the Sao Paulo Congonhas airport upon landing. The airplane was on a scheduled domestic flight from Porto Alegre, Brazil. The airplane departed the runway to the left side near the departure end and crossed over a road prior to impacting a cargo depot and gas station. The end of the runway is on elevated terrain approximately 80 meters above the surface of the road. The 6 crew members, 162 passengers, and 18 persons on the ground suffered fatal injuries. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and fire.
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Contact photographer Ryan Pastorino
What: Continental Airlines Boeing 737-800 en route from San José Costa Rica to Newark,NJ
Where: Juan Santamaría
When: Dec 29th 2009
Who: 107 passengers and 5 crew
Why: Near the Nicaraguan border, when pilots detected a brake problem, they returned to the airport. Emergency response team was made up of 12 Red Cross units and four firefighting units.
After two hours of maintenance, the plane was back in the air.
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Lufthansa flight LH-412 had to return for an emergency landing in Munich, Germany, on March 18th.
The Airbus A340-600 plane took off for Newark, New Jersey, but had to turn back after the crew noticed smoke in the cockpit.
The plane landed safely. There were 286 people aboard at the time; all of them remained unharmed.
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Contact photographer Ryan Hothersall
What: Qantas Boeing 737-400 en route from Brisbane,QL to Melbourne,VI
Where: Brisbane
When: Nov 10th 2009
Who: 123 passengers
Why: After takeoff, the crew detected abnormal engine vibrations, and returned to Brisbane 30 minutes after departure. Passengers reported hearing a bang and seeing a flash. A replacement flight was provided.
Corsair flight SS-984 had to return and make an emergency landing at Paris Orly Airport, France, on July 23rd.
The Airbus A330-200 plane took off for Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, but had to turn back due to an engine issue.
The plane landed safely. All passengers and crew members remained unharmed.