What: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 en route from Houston to Baltimore Where: Houston When: Apr 28th 2010 Who: 135 passengers and 5 crew Why: Over Houston, both the helicopter pilot and the plane pilot noticed their proximity and took evasive action. (Their separation was 100 feet vertically and 125 feet laterally.) Apparently after both got clearance, the helicopter converged on the Boeing’s flight path. The Boeing pilot’s only option to avoid the helicopter was to fly under him.
To include the featured image in your Twitter Card, please tap or click their icon a second time.
What: Alrosa Mirny Air Tupolev TU-154M en route from Yakutia/Polyarny to Moscow Where: Komi republic, at the Izhma airport When: Sep 7th 2010 Who: 72 passengers, three children, nine crew members Why: Four hours into the flight, the plane suffered an on board power system failure. The plane suffered a complete failure of electrical power resulting in loss of navigation devices, fuel pumps and leaving the pilots with no knowledge of available fuel.
The pilot had to make an emergency immediate landing in the Komi republic, at the Izhma airport. The Izhma airport is normally used for helicopters in military operations, but it is a former 1200 meter airport runway. The plane overran the runway into a wooded area and was substantially damaged.
No passengers were hurt. They disembarked via slide in the forested area. The slide has seen better days. It is either third-hand, or has been used frequently.
The Komi Republic is arranging for transportation of passengers from Izhma to Ukhta (which is the nearest airport) by helicopter. On arrival in Ukhta, passengers will board a replacement flight and continue to Moscow
It appears that the carrier will leave the damaged plane where it sits, as it can not take off.
George’s Point of View
What an extraordinary feat to that plane safely. Imagine having no knowledge of how much fuel was left, or even if it would be accessible, with nowhere to land but on a helicopter landing strip, without power, with no way to brake. A harrowing ride, and some brilliant snap decisions on the part of the crew.
What: Flybe de Havilland Dash 8-400 from Birmingham to Aberdeen Where: Manchester When: Jan 26th 2010 Who: 30 passengers Why: While en route, a burning smell was detected. The flight diverted to Manchester where it made a safe landing. Passengers debarked on the runway via stairs.
The burning smell originated in the galley.
A replacement jet was provided.
To include the featured image in your Twitter Card, please tap or click their icon a second time.
What: Norwegian Air Shuttle Boeing 737-300 en route from Stockholm Arlanda to Nice France Where: Hamburg When: Nov 19th 2009 Who: unavailaboe Why: When the crew reported smoke in the cockpit, the plane diverted to Hamburg. After a safe landing, a replacement jet was provided, and after a delay of a few hours, the flight resumed without further event.
George’s Point of View
To include the featured image in your Twitter Card, please tap or click their icon a second time.
What: Azerbaijan Airlines Boeing 757-200 en route from Istanbul Turkey to Baku Azerbaijan Where: Istanbul When: October 30 Who: 221 aboard Why: After takeoff, the cabin filled with smoke coming from a galley oven.
The plane returned to the Istanbul airport and made a safe landing. No replacement was provided. The plane received maintenance, and continued some hours later.
To include the featured image in your Twitter Card, please tap or click their icon a second time.
British Airways flight BA103 returned to London’s Heathrow Airport on January 8.
The Boeing Dreamliner 787 was en-route to Calgary, Canada, when a technical issue with one of its engines forced it to return for an emergency landing.
The airline said in a statement, “The flight landed safely at Heathrow and all customers left the aircraft as normal…We are sorry for the inconvenience but safety is always our highest priority…There was a suspected problem with the engine, and our engineers are now inspecting the aircraft to determine the nature of the problem.”
To include the featured image in your Twitter Card, please tap or click their icon a second time.