Southwest Airlines Flight 321 had to return and make an emergency landing at Chicago Midway International Airport, at about 1:35 p.m. on September 16.
The flight was on its way to LaGuardia Airport when shortly after taking off, an engine warning light turned on in the cockpit. The pilots then decided to return to Chicago for an emergency landing.
The aircraft landed safely and all 118 passengers aboard remained unharmed.
The passengers were accommodated in other flights.
What: American Eagle Flight 2829 Embraer ERJ-145 en route from Gerald Ford International Airport to Dallas
Where: Cascade Township airport, Michigan
When: Sept 13 2012
Who: 53 aboard
Why: The flight boarded at 6:30, took off at 7.a.m.from Gerald Ford International Airport, but nineteen minutes into the flight, the panel’s engine emergency light lit up, indicating a problem.
Passengers were told the right engine overheated. They saw no smoke, but say they smelled it after they landed, which runs counter to some news reports which say that the problem was a faulty indicator. About ten fire trucks were on standby. Passengers were provided alternative transportation.
ATC recommended diverting to Grand Rapids, where the pilot made a safe landing at 7:25.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Alan Lebeda
What: Norwegian Air Shuttle Boeing 737-800 en route from Alicante to Stockholm
Where: Alicante
When: Apr 2nd 2010
Who: 106 passengers
Why: After takeoff, passengers smelled smoke, and one of the indicators detected fire in a wheel well. The plane returned to Alicante, and made a safe landing. During emergency evacuation, four passengers were injured. Passengers were provided hotel accommodations and Boeing brought in another plane to transport them.
Mesa Airlines flight AA-5906, flying on behalf of American Airlines, had to return and make an emergency landing at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Arizona, on August 24th.
The Canadair CRJ-900 flying to Burbank, California, had to return due to problems with cabin pressurisation.
The plane landed safely.
No one was injured.
What: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-300 en route from Orlando,FL to Denver,CO
Where: Tampa
When: Sep 7th 2009
Who: 129 (124 passengers and 5 crew)
Why: After the smoke indicator lights indicated the possibility of smoke, and smoke in the cabin was confirmed by fire crews, the flight landed in Tampa and passengers debarked via emergency slides (which caused a few minor injuries.) However a Southwest spokesperson denied there was smoke, and claimed that the emergency landing was a precaution. But passengers reported a strong smell of smoke, and that the fire alarm had gone off in the lavatory.
George’s Point of View
Hmm. Someone smoking in the bathroom?
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Joost de Wit
What: SAS Scandinavian Airlines Boeing 737-700 en route from Bergen to Oslo (Norway)
Where: Bergen
When: Mar 2nd 2011
Who: 89 passengers
Why: After takeoff, the right engine started misbehaving, making rude noises and sparking. The pilots had to return to Bergen to get the engine’s attitude adjusted.
Pictured: An Air-India Airbus A310-324 in Dubai
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Alastair T. Gardiner
What: Air India Airbus A310-300 en route from Hyderabad India to Dammam Saudi Arabia
Where: Dammam
When: Dec 29th 2009
Who: not available
Why: After having a hydraulics failure, the crew manually lowered the gear prior to landing. After a normal landing, the plane had to be towed to the gate.
* While there is bound to be a way to manually lower gears from inside the plane (safely), when I hear the crew manually lowered the gears, I can’t help picturing Burt Lancaster (in tights) or members of the Cirque du Soleil (in the off season) swinging around the undercarriage in impossible formation.
