On February 19, 2010, about 1452 Alaska standard time (AKST) (2352 UTC), United Airlines flight 897, a Boeing 747-400, N173UA, encountered severe turbulence during cruise descent between FL310 and FL300 about 100 miles west of Anchorage, Alaska. Of the 243 passengers and 19 crew members on board, 17 passengers and eight flight attendants (FA) received minor injuries and one FA received a serious injury. The airplane received minor damaged. The flight was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 121 as a regularly scheduled international passenger flight from Dulles International Airport (IAD), Washington, DC, to Narita International Airport (NRT), Narita, Japan.

Prior to the turbulence encounter, the flight crew received pilot reports (PIREPs) of moderate to severe turbulence above FL340 and that it was less at FL300. According to the flight crew, about one hour late, the flight began to encounter a few “light bumps” or intermittent light “chop.” The sky conditions were clear with good visibility. The captain turned on the “fasten seat belt” sign and made a public address (PA) announcement to fasten seat belts. The flight crew requested a descent to FL300 and began to encounter moderate turbulence after starting the descent. The first officer then made a PA announcement directing the flight attendants to “take your seats.” The autopilot remained engaged throughout the turbulence encounter, which lasted less than one minute.

After encountering the turbulence, the crew assessed airplane damage and checked the number and severity of injuries to passengers and crew. The crew was assisted in assessing passenger and crew injuries by a U.S. Army Special Forces medic who stated that all of the injuries were considered minor. All the FAs indicated that they were able to perform their required emergency duties for the remainder of the flight.

After discussing the injuries and the available diversion airports with the FAs, company dispatch and the medic, the flight crew decided to continue on to NRT since there were sufficient diversion airports along the route if the situation worsened.

Upon arrival in NRT, 16 passengers and one FA were transported to hospitals for medical evaluation. All were released with only minor injuries, however, the FA was re-evaluated by her personal physician when she returned home with the further diagnosis of a fractured rib.

The post NTSB reports on Clear Air Turbulence first appeared on George Hatcher's Air Flight Disaster.

Woodland Hills, CA — (ReleaseWire) — 07/20/2015 — It has been a year and a day since the world was shocked by the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over the Ukraine. In different places in the world, the tragedy was commemorated, as well as in the field where the plane fell, where families gathered and remembered. While no one claims ownership of the deed, either Russian separatists or Ukrainians let fly the Buk missile that took down the commercial jet that was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

It has been a year and a day since the death of 298 people innocently riding in a commercial jet, and the area is still in conflict. Fingers point at Russia, and at the separatists, and at Malaysia Airlines for choosing that flight path; but no matter what is decided based on international investigations, tribunals, or world opinion, regardless of what is fact, what is rumor, what is speculation, bias, wild guess or secret knowledge, the victims are still dead. Maybe there is a puppet master; maybe there are military puppets falling on their swords. There are dark agendas at work here; and the families are still bleeding, facing that black hole of loss and suffering.

Less time has passed since the release of a tape of a damning conversation and film of military personal at the scene of the crash that appears to indicate a senseless accident. There will be punishment, and penance. Something will be decided to satisfy the courts and the crucible of world opinion, but in the end, there will still be 298 dead. Nothing can be done to bring true justice. Nothing can be done to erase the savagery, the horror, the tragedy. Nothing will bring them back.

Politicization of the tragedy and all the finger-pointing, are an evil joke. Those who are responsible know the truth, and should come forward with it. I do not know how the families continue. I do not know how they manage to face each day, but the families of the dead are the true victims and the true heroes. What fortitude it must take to have faced 366 mornings with the knowledge of their loss, to behave as if life goes on, when it died in flames, and lies in ashes in a cold foreign field.

The post Mourning the Dead of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 first appeared on George Hatcher's Air Flight Disaster.

Both the engine doors of Flight BA762 to Oslo blew off and right one caught fire, shortly after taking off from Heathrow. The passengers evacuated through escape slides. One of the two runways remained blocked for more than 3 hours.

BA initially denied any compensation and maintained that the incident was due to exceptional circumstances beyond its control.

However, the Air Accidents Investigation Branch revealed that the retaining latches to hold the engine doors in place were not closed, so this is human error. Therefore, the passengers who were delayed for more than three hours are entitled for compensation between €250 and €600 from the airline, said solicitors Bott & Co.

After the incident, nine other passengers have also filed a lawsuit against aircraft manufacturer Airbus and the engine maker International Aero Engines.

The post BA to Pay Thousands in Compensation for Emergency Landing Last Year first appeared on George Hatcher's Air Flight Disaster.

Lion Air is working with Jasa Raharja, an Indonesian insurance company to cover the medical bills for five injured passengers. The insurance company is paying up to IDR 25 million ($2500) and the airline is covering anything in excess of that.

Unofficial reports state the plane was flying low.

Twenty-five people have yet to receive their compensation.

The alcohol and drug tests of the crew, cockpit voice recorder, and the flight data recorder are still in process. No conclusions have been public on the cause of the accident.

The post Lion Air Compensation first appeared on George Hatcher's Air Flight Disaster.

At one point, they were told that the Lagos government planned to take the land to build a memorial to the crash victims. Owners have to provide valid certificates of occupancy to begin the process.

News agencies report that N2.2bn is the total sum to be paid to the relations of the 153 that died in the Dana aircraft but payment information is unverified, and many say their claims have not been satisfied. Likewise unconfirmed is the statement that insurance companies have paid an initial settlement of N418.94m to relations of 85 victims.

Only two relatives have reported they received their “full” settlement.

The post 100 Dana ground victims demand compensation first appeared on George Hatcher's Air Flight Disaster.

Goble co-founded Sectra North America, the North American unit of Linköping, Sweden-based PACS firm Sectra, in 1997, and had served as its president ever since. Prior to that, Goble was medical marketing manager for Hewlett-Packard’s workstation division.

Two million was awarded in compensation for lost wages; the remainder was for loss of companionship. The pilot owned Classic Rotors, a vintage aircraft museum.

A case against Goble and the utility company involving the surviving family of another deceased passenger, James Jantz, is still pending.

The post Widow Awarded $10 Million for Wrongful Death in Chopper Crash first appeared on George Hatcher's Air Flight Disaster.

During the past 14 months after two fatal plane crashes, the Brazilian government limited flights at certain airports and allowed air-traffic controllers to reduce the number of flights they monitor.

Brazil’s federal government is in charge of managing and operating the country’s ailing aviation industry, which has been struggling since the GOL and TAM crashes.

The post Brazil Compensation first appeared on George Hatcher's Air Flight Disaster.