A JetBlue flight had to make an emergency landing at Las Americas Airport, Dominican Republic, on January 9.
Authorities said the pilots declared emergency after one or more individuals pointed a laser beam on the plane, impairing pilot’s visibility. The flight was coming from New York at the time.
The plane landed uneventfully. There were 120 people aboard at the time; all of them remained unharmed.
The police are investigating.
EasyJet flight EZY5455 had to make an emergency landing at Cologne Bonn Airport in Germany, on April 11.
The plane was heading from London Gatwick Airport to Paphos, Cyprus, when the pilot reported smoky odor in the cockpit and declared emergency.
The Airbus A320 made a safe emergency landing in Cologne. All 169 passengers and 6 crew members aboard remained unharmed.
The airline arranged an alternate aircraft for the passengers.
Malaysia Airlines flight MH-128 had to return and make an emergency landing in Melbourne, Australia, on May 31st.
The Airbus A330-300 plane took off for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, but had to turn back after a passenger tried to enter the cockpit and claimed that he had a bomb.
The passenger, identified as a 25-year-old male, Sri Lankan Citizen, was restrained before the plane safely touched down in Melbourne. Everyone aboard remained unharmed.
VietJet flight PK-368 had to return and make an emergency landing in Karachi, Pakistan, on September 5th.
The Airbus A320-200 plane took off for Islamabad, Pakistan, but had to return shortly afterwards due to an instrument problem.
The plane landed uneventfully. All passengers and crew members remained unharmed.
Southwest Airlines flight WN-1486 had to return and make an emergency landing in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on November 14th.
The Boeing 737-800 plane took off for Fort Myers, Florida, but had to turn back due to multiple bird strikes.
The plane landed back safely.
American Airlines flight 1527 had to divert to Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport, Texas, due to a medical emergency on the night of December 20.
The flight was heading from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport when the pilot decided to divert due to a sick passenger. According to an airline statement, “Flight 1527 (PHX-DFW) made a diversion to Lubbock last night because of an ill passenger on board. The flight landed and the passenger was removed. The flight then continued on to DFW.”
The sick passenger passed away on his way to the hospital.
A 1960 Piper Comanche single-engine plane made an emergency landing at Millville Municipal Airport, Cumberland County, New Jersey, on December 4.
Authorities said the plane was taking off when it lost power and landed on its belly on the grass near a taxiway.
There were two people aboard at the time, including the pilot Roger Buck of Berlin and his passenger Roland Arthur of Lumberton. Buck sustained minor injuries in the incident while Arthur remained unhurt.
The plane, registered to Buck, was significantly damaged.
The FAA is investigating.
