Barcelona

  • | | | | |

    Lufthansa Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Barcelona

    LufthansaLufthansa flight LH-1129 had to return and make an emergency landing in Barcelona, Spain, on April 16th.

    The Airbus A321-200 plane was heading to Frankfurt, Germany, when a loud bang from right engine prompted the crew to declare an emergency and turn back.

    The plane landed safely. No injuries were reported.

    The passengers were accommodated in other flights.

  • | | | | |

    The Ides of Germanwings: One Year Later

    There is a time to go about our daily business. There is a time to set everything else aside, and just remember. Now it is time to remember.

    Dusseldorf airport set aside a room for German family members of the 72 Germans who lost their lives on Flight 9525.

    Today in Barcelona, flags were at half-mast and 149 candles lit as people gathered at Barcelona Airport to recall the victims of the crash of Germanwings Flight 9525. On 24 March 2015, one year ago as of tomorrow, Flight 9525 was en route from Barcelona to Dusseldorf when it crashed in the French Alps, killing 144 passengers, two pilots, and four cabin crew. The tragedy was engineered by suicidal co-pilot Andreas Lubitz. Family members gathered here, as well as emergency workers and officials.

    There were fifty-one Spanish lost in the crash. Four countries (including the US) lost three victims; seven countries lost two victims, and five countries lost one. I hope that all the families, where ever they live, found comfort somewhere.

    On Thursday, the victims’ names will be read and remembered; flowers will be left at the Le Vernet cemetery which houses the accident’s unidentified remains. Six hundred Flight 9525 victim’s friends and family will have a commemoration ceremony in Le Vernet village in the French Alps not far from the crash site. Weather prevents a visit to the crash site.

    I was in Le Vernet last July when 149 balloons were released. I can’t help but feel that I should be there again to support the families. I have just returned from Barcelona, and barely unpacked my bags. I can only hope that the year of mourning and grieving has been cathartic, and that the families are finding a way to embrace life again.

  • | | | |

    Vueling Flight Returns to Barcelona for an Emergency Landing

    VuelingA Vueling flight had to return and make an emergency landing at El Prat airport in Barcelona, Spain, on March 26.

    The Airbus A320 took off for Munich, Germany, at around 6 a.m. However, just minutes later, the captain reported a burning smell on board and requested an emergency landing.

    The plane landed back uneventfully. All 137 passengers aboard remained safe.

    The airline accommodated the passengers in an alternate flight.

  • | | | | |

    Ryanair Flight Diverts to Barcelona due to Faulty Fire Extinguisher

    RyanairRyanair FR8321 had to make an emergency landing in Barcelona, Spain, early on March 19.

    The plane was en-route from London Stansted to Valencia, Spain, when a fire extinguisher went off in the cockpit, forcing the pilots to use oxygen masks. The pilots then reported the situation and requested an emergency landing at Barcelona Airport.

    The plane landed uneventfully. Passengers remained seated while an engineer replaced the faulty fire extinguisher.

    The flight resumed shortly afterwards.

  • | | | | | | |

    Near Miss in Barcelona Captured

    snapshot from video below
    snapshot from video below

    On July 5, 2014, an Aerolineas Argentinas Airbus A340-300 (LV-FPV) headed from Barcelona,SP (Spain) to Buenos Aires,BA (Argentina) was taxiing for departure as a UTAir Boeing 767-300(VQ-BSX) en route from Moscow, Russia to Barcelona was on approach. As the video shows, it looks like a close call. The UTAIR saw the Airbus on the runway, and less than ten seconds from touchdown pulled up and performed a go-around, making a safe landing fifteen minutes later.

    The Airbus took off twenty minutes later. The incident is under investigation, and it has not been determined if this was an Air Traffic Control error or if the Argentinian plane was there without clearance. The airport and ATC say that there was sufficient clearance for landing, and neither Aerolineas Argentinas nor UTAIR filed a safety report.

    On Jul 7th 2014,an investigation was opened into the runway incursion.

    786_293_le_ad_