A Japan Airlines flight made an emergency landing at Narita International Airport in Japan, on December 29.
It is believed that a sensor component of the Boeing 777’s landing gear was found on the runway after it took off from Chicago O’Hare International Airport. The pilots decided to continue the flight and requested emergency assistance at Narita International Airport.
The plane landed uneventfully. There were 232 passengers and crew members aboard at the time; all of them remained unharmed.
Pictured: Air Nostrum (Iberia Regional/Denim Air)
De Havilland Canada DHC-8-315Q Dash 8
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Pablo Napoli
What: Air Nostrum Dash 8 Q-300 en route from Barcelona to San Sebastian
Where: El Prat, Barcelona
When: October 22, 2009
Who: 31 passengers, 3 flight crew
Why: While en route, the Dash 8 developed a problem with its nose gear and returned to Barcelona for an emergency landing. The plane landed safely with the front landing gear retracted, and after they debarked, were provided an alternative Air Nostrum flight to continue to their destination.
United Airlines flight UA-656 overran the end of the runway after landing at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, on January 19th.
The incident happened when the Boeing 737-900 plane was coming from Phoenix, Arizona.
All one hundred and twenty-nine people aboard remained uninjured.
A small plane made an emergency landing at Clay Center Municipal Airport in Clay County, Kansas, on January 31st.
Authorities said the pilot of the 1976 Cessna Fixed Wing plane was forced to land in emergency due to engine issues.
The plane landed without landing gear.
The pilot, Jeffrey M. Clarke, 35, and his only passenger, Dane M. Messex, 36, remained unharmed.
British Airways flight BA-2552 had to return and make an emergency landing at Gatwick Airport, London, UK, on July 21st.
The Airbus A320-200 en-route to Heraklion, Greece, had to return due to a strong unpleasant odour in its cabin.
The plane landed safely.
No one was injured.
What: Virgin Australia Boeing 737-700 en route from Brisbane to Launceston
Where: Hobart
When: Jun 16th 2011
Who: 56 passengers
Why: On approach to Launceton, the crew noted a flaps asymmetry, and aborted the approach. They burned off fuel, and diverted to Hobart where they made a safe landing. Passengers feared for their lives but apparently were not in as much danger as they feared.
Subsequently, due to Puyehue ash concerns, they took a bus to Launceston. The flight was carrying the Gold Coast Suns football team.
A United Airlines plane, heading from Anchorage to Chicago, made an unscheduled stop at Hector International Airport in Fargo, North Dakota, early on March 16.
Authorities said the unscheduled landing was prompted by a medical emergency. Reportedly, a female passenger became sick midair.
The plane, carrying over 150 passengers, landed at around 3:30 a.m. The sick passenger was rushed to a hospital.
The airline arranged an alternate aircraft for the passengers.