wrongful death

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    Plane Crash in Mojave Desert Kills 2

    A Beechcraft Bonanza crashed in the Clark Mountain Range of the Mojave Desert, near the border of Nevada and San Bernardino County, on January 20.

    The plane, registered to Van Pray of California City, was en-route from California City to Henderdon, Nevada, when it was reported missing. The search operation began shortly afterwards however, it was not until next day that the wreckage was located.

    Both people aboard the plane were killed in the accident. Their identities have not yet been released.

    The accident is under investigation.

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    2 Killed as Sport Plane Crashes in Germany

    A sport plane crashed in a residential area near Goeppingen city of Baden Wuerttemberg, Germany, on January 18.

    Authorities said the plane crashed between apartment buildings, scratching various houses, and ended up in a garden.

    There were 2 people aboard the plane; both of them were killed in the crash.

    According to Police officials, no one on the ground was injured however, the accident caused damage of around 100,000 euros.

    The cause of crash is being investigated.

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    Pilot Killed after Helicopter Crashes in the Woodlands, Texas

    HelicopterA helicopter crashed in the back yard of a house in the Woodlands, Texas, at around 1 p.m. on January 16.

    Authorities said the sole occupant of orange Safari Aero Sport Helicopter was killed in the crash. He was identified as Michael Gene Mims, 51, of Conroe. He was a businessman and deacon at the St. Anthony Padua Catholic Church.

    No one on the ground was injured.

    The NTSB and the FAA are trying to determine the cause of crash.

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    Small Plane Crashed Near Sebring Regional Airport; 2 Killed

    A small plane crashed in a grassy area near Sebring Regional Airport in Florida at around 11 a.m. on January 16.

    It is believed that the pilot and the co-pilot were flying to attend the annual U.S. Sport Aviation Expo. in Sebring.

    Authorities said both occupants of the plane were killed in the crash. They were identified as Dennis Gordon Day, 56, of Groveland, Florida and Jason Reid Spinks, 44, of Orlando.

    The NTSB and the FAA were informed.

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    Small Plane Crashed near Van Nuys Airport; Pilot Killed

    A single-engine Lancair aircraft crashed near Van Nuys Airport in Los Angeles, California, at around 1:14 p.m. on January 9.

    The authorities confirmed that the plane, which departed minutes earlier from Van Nuys Airport, crashed at Vanowen Street and Hayvenhurst Avenue.

    The pilot of the plane, who was the only person aboard, was killed in the crash. He was later identified as 47-year-old Alberto Behar, who was a NASA and Jet Propulsion Labs researcher and an Arizona State University Professor.

    No one on ground was injured.

    The NTSB, FAA and APD are investigating.

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    Cochise County Sheriff’s Office Helicopter Crashed in Benson; 2 Killed

    A Cochise Air helicopter, used by Cochise County Sheriff’s Office, crashed near Benson, southern Arizona, on the night of December 31.

    The accident happened when the helicopter was returning from Phoenix to Sierra Vista airport, after maintenance.

    Spokesperson of Cochise County Sheriff’s Office, Carol A. Capas, confirmed that both people aboard the aircraft were killed in the crash. They were identified as the pilot Carol A. Capas, who was a retired police officer, and the mechanic Marc Hansen, 51.

    The cause of accident is under investigation.

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    Investigation On for Air Asia Indonesia Airbus A320-200, PK-AXC, flight QZ-8501

    It is good to hear the journalists being corrected here, because this incident does not yet seem to resemble the Air France or Malaysia Airlines events. Perhaps the journalists did not closely follow the excruciating Air France 447 search–YEARS spent scouring the Atlantic for the wreckage–long after initial debris and was found. So early in this investigation, journalists should be warning the world that EVERYTHING is speculation at this point.

    What is not speculation?

    • The pilots requested to deviate around bad weather, right before contact ceased.
    • The last radio contact was at 06:16 local time.
    • Transponder contact was lost at 06:18 local time.
    • The captain had a total of 20,537 flying hours, 6100 hours of which were for Indonesia Air Asia.
    • The first officer had 2,275 hours with Indonesia Air Asia.
    • The crew was mostly French, so the BEA will be investigating. (Countries which have nationals aboard normally participate in the investigation.) The passengers’ list of nationalities has changed several times but currently the passengers aboard were allocated as follows: 155 Indonesian, 3 S. Korean, 1 Malaysian, 1 French, 1 British and 1 Singaporean. Some may hold multiple citizenships.
    • A number of countries are contributing to the investigation, including Indonesia, Singapore, and the BEA. The USA and Australia have also offered to assist. 12 Indonesian navy ships, five planes, three helicopters and a number of warships were talking part, along with ships and planes from Singapore and Malaysia.
    • Indonesia’s Ministry of Transport published the load sheet. (See below.)


    The search is being hindered by weather, visibility and the fact that it is currently night-time. Unlike Air France 447, the plane was being tracked by a local navy base so it was not completely off radar; unlike MH370, the area it seems to have disappeared seems to be known in real time and not hours after the fact. We have not yet heard if the beacon is audible, but IT IS STILL TOO EARLY To MAKE ASSUMPTIONS. Let’s let the investigation tell the story, rather than rampant theorizing. The Java sea where the plane lost contact is shallower than where Malaysia Airlines flight 370 appears to have gone down. Unlike MH370, nothing by INMARSAT is being tracked aboard the missing Airbus.

    Let’s wait and see what the investigation finds, and in the meantime, pray for the families of those aboard.

    Read More about Air Asia 8501

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    #BreakingNews Air Asia Flight Goes Missing


    AirAsia flight QZ8501–an Airbus A320-200 with the registration number PK-AXC–en route from Surabaya Indonesia to Singapore went missing. Air traffic control lost contact when the plane was believed to be in an overcast area.

    A fully fueled A320 has a range of 1,700 to 6,500 mmi.

    Singapore civil aviation is assisting Indonesia in the search that is now underway, utilizing two C-130 planes and at least six ships. The first reports say there are six or seven crew and 155 passengers — 138 adults, 16 children and a baby. An engineer is aboard.

    Currently it is believed to have gone missing under cloud cover at 6.17 a.m. local time over the Java Sea between Kalimantan and Java islands.

    According to a Transport Ministry official, before ATC lost contact, the plane had requested an unusual route, possibly deviating due to adverse weather conditions.

    AirAsia has established an Emergency Call Center for family or friends of those aboard. The number is: +622129850801.

    Latest statement from Air Asia

    [News Update] AIRASIA INDONESIA FLIGHT QZ8501
    December 27, 2014 at 9:41pm
    AirAsia Indonesia regrets to confirm that flight QZ8501 from Surabaya to Singapore has lost contact with air traffic control at 07:24hrs this morning.

    At the present time we unfortunately have no further information regarding the status of the passengers and crew members on board, but we will keep all parties informed as more information becomes available.

    The aircraft was an Airbus A320-200 with the registration number PK-AXC.

    At this time, search and rescue operations are in progress and AirAsia is cooperating fully and assisting the rescue service.

    AirAsia has established an Emergency Call Centre that is available for family or friends of those who may have been on board the aircraft. The number is: +622129850801.

    AirAsia will release further information as soon as it becomes available. Updated information will also be posted on the AirAsia website, www.airasia.com.

    Airbus Statement

    AIRASIA INDONESIA FLIGHT QZ 8501
    Airbus regrets to confirm that an A320-200 operated by AirAsia Indonesia lost contact with air traffic control this morning, 28th December 2014. The aircraft was operating a scheduled service, Flight QZ 8501, from Surabaya to Singapore.
    The aircraft involved is MSN (Manufacturer Serial Number) 3648, registered as PK-AXC and was delivered to AirAsia from the production line in October 2008. Powered by CFM 56-5B engines, the aircraft had accumulated approximately 23,000 flight hours in some 13,600 flights. At this time no further factual information is available.
    In line with the ICAO Annex 13 international convention, Airbus will provide full assistance to the French safety investigation authority, BEA, and to the authorities in charge of the investigation.
    The Airbus A320-200 is a twin-engine single-aisle aircraft seating up to 180 passengers in a single-class configuration. The first A320 entered service in March 1988. By the end of November 2014, over 6000 A320 Family aircraft were in service with over 300 operators. To date, the entire fleet has accumulated some 154 million flight hours in some 85 million flights.
    Airbus will make further factual information available as soon as the details have been confirmed and cleared by the authorities.
    The thoughts of the Airbus management and staff are with all those affected by Flight QZ 8501.
    Contacts for the media:
    For further information, please contact:
    AIRBUS – MEDIA RELATIONS
    Tel.: (33) 05.61.93.10.00

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    Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses

    Flight QZ8501 on 28 December – Airbus A320-200 – registered PK-AXC

    INFORMATION ON 28 DECEMBER 2014 – 14.10

    A team of two safety investigators is leaving for Jakarta (Indonesia) this evening. They will be accompanied by two technical advisers from Airbus.

    INFORMATION ON 28 DECEMBER 2014
    Following this morning’s announcement by the Indonesian authorities of loss of contact with the Airbus A320-200 registered PK-AXC, and the launch of search operations, the BEA is in contact with the Indonesian authorities to provide them with assistance.

    The aeroplane, operated by AirAsia Indonesia, was flying the Surabaya (Indonesia) to Singapore route and was scheduled to arrive at Changi Airport Singapore at 08 h 30 local time.

    The BEA is the French Civil Aviation Safety Investigation Authority. Its investigations are conducted with the sole objective of improving aviation safety and are not intended to apportion blame or liability. BEA investigations are independent, separate and conducted without prejudice to any judicial or administrative action that may be taken to determine blame or liability.

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    2 Killed after Cessna Crashed in Amador County

    CessnaA single-engine plane crashed between Amador Road and Gopher Flat Road, near Sutter Creek city in Amador County, California, shortly after 12:30 p.m. on December 24.

    The Cessna 172 went down when it was heading from Gilroy to Sutter Creek with 2 people aboard.

    Authorities said both occupants were killed in the crash. They were identified as Phillip Faillers, 52, of Sutter Creek and his son Alex, 21.

    The accident is under investigation. It is believed that fog might have contributed to the crash.

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    Single-Engine Plane Crashed near Mesquite Metro Airport; Pilot Killed

    Police lightsA Beechcraft Bonanza plane crashed in the 1600 block, Bent Tree Road, near Mesquite Metro Airport in Dallas County, Texas, on the night of December 18.

    The authorities said the single-engine plane crashed while it was attempting to land at Mesquite Airport.

    The pilot, who was the only person aboard the plane, was killed in the crash. His identity has not yet been revealed.

    The accident is under investigation.

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    Chinese Court Jailed the Pilot Over Deadly Henan Airlines Plane Crash

    A Chinese court has sentenced the pilot of the Henan Airlines flight which crashed in Yichun, Heilongjiang province of China in 2010, killing 44 people.

    It is believed that the ill-fated Embraer E-190 plane crashed in heavy fog after the main pilot, Qi Quanjun, decided to land without being able to see the runway properly. There were 91 passengers aboard the plane, around half of which were government officials. Quanjun survived the accident with serious facial injuries.

    After more than 4 years, a local Chinese court, on December 19, has ordered to jail the pilot for 3 years on the grounds of ‘causing a major airline accident’ and not properly evacuating the passengers.

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    Hot Landing at Shannon No AF447 or MH370, Kudos to Crew

    Seventy minutes after a mayday when a cargo of vegetables (peppers and flowers) set off a smoke alarm, Air France flight AF-733 made an emergency landing at Shannon Airport today at 9.55am. The flight was en route from Santo Domingo to Paris with 142 passengers and 14 crew when they diverted.

    Emergency services, Shannon based Irish Coast Guard helicopter, the fire department, the RNLI lifeboat at Kilrush, and HSE ambulances were on standby as passengers disembarked via stairs. Passengers are being accommodated in the terminal as they wait for an alternative flight.

    No fire or heat spots were detected aboard.

    After AF447–the deadliest in the history of Air France–it is always alarming to hear of an issue aboard an AF trans-Atlantic flight. That Air France Rio de Janeiro-Paris flight crashed on June 1, 2009 and led to an exhaustive but successful multi-phase ocean search. On April 3, 2011, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution located the debris field.

    While today’s thermal food was both alarming and anti-climactic, it was also a successful demonstration of contemporary aviation accident prevention. We are well familiar with how investigations of safety issues contribute to making flight safer, but rarely do we give credit to crew resource management. How the crew responds to the crisis, (even when it is just a sensitive alert that goes off), how well coordinated and cool-headed the crew is can mean the difference between life and death.

    We don’t need to think of AF447, or even Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, to appreciate the integrated clockwork of a well-trained crew; but it does make us wonder if those crews were as well-trained as the one on this jet today, if either of those tragedies might have been prevented.

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    Sri Lankan Air Force Plane Crashed in Hokandara; 4 Dead, 1 Injured

    FireA Sri Lankan Air Force plane crashed in Hokandara, at around 6:15 a.m. on December 12.

    The Antonov-32 aircraft was heading from Bandaranaike International Airport to Ratmalana airport when it crashed into a rubber estate in Wanaguru Mawatha.

    Atleast 4 people were killed in the accident while another was shifted to Sri Jayawardenapura Hospital with burn injuries. Authorities said he was later transferred to the General Hospital considering the seriousness of his injuries.

    Air force spokesperson Wing Commander Gihan seneviratne confirmed the accident saying that in his last communication with the control tower, the pilot reported that the airstrip was not visible due to bad weather.

    The accident remains under investigation.

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    6 Killed after Private Plane Crashes into Maryland Home

    crash-houseA small private plane crashed into a house in Gaithersburg, Maryland, on December 8.

    Authorities said the plane took off from Chapel Hill, North Carolina and was scheduled to land at the nearby Montgomery County Airpark when it crashed. One of the aircraft’s wings, having fuel inside, caught fire after catapulting into the house.

    Three residents of the house, including 36-year-old of Marie Gemmell, her infant baby boy and a 3-year-old son, were killed in the crash. Their bodies were found in the bathroom at second floor. The other 2 residents, including Gemmell’s husband Ken Gemmell and their 5-year-old daughter, were not home at the time of crash.

    All 3 occupants of the plane were are also killed. They were identified as Dr. Michael Rosenberg, 66, David Hartman, 52 and Chijioke Ogbuka, 31. All of them hailed from Raleigh, North Carolina.

    The crash also caused damage to 2 other houses.

    The NTSB is investigating.

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    Small Plane Crashed in Colombia; 10 Killed

    A small plane crashed and bursted into flames near the airport of Mariquita municipality in Tolima department of Colombia, on December 3.

    The plane, belonging to a Colombian company Nacional de Aviacion, was heading from Bogota to Bahia Solano when it went down. According to Nelson Quinonez, Tolima`s police director, the pilot sought permission for an emergency landing shortly before the crash.

    All 10 people aboard the plane, including 2 crew members and 5 children, were killed in the crash.

    The accident is under investigation.

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    Small Plane Crashed near the Bahamas; 1 Dead, 10 Injured

    SeaA Navajo Chieftain aircraft, operated by Ferguson Air and conducting a charter flight for Southern Air, crashed near New Providence Island in the Bahamas on December 2.

    The plane took off from Governor’s Harbour in Eleuthera Island and was making an approach to the Lynden Pindling International Airport in New Providence airport when it lost power. According to the police, the pilot informed the authorities that he was facing some problems and attempted to bring the plane near shallow water before it crashed.

    A 77-year-old U.S. man was killed in the accident. His identity has not yet been disclosed.

    The other 10 people, including the pilot, were injured and were shifted to Doctors Hospital in Nassau.

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    Plane Crashed in North Sulawesi, Indonesia; Two Feared Dead

    A chartered plane crashed into waters in Aaparagus village of Kema district, North Minahasa regency, North Sulawesi, Indonesia, on December 2.

    The accident happened when the Pilatus Porter plane, carrying 2 people, was heading from Jalaluddin Airport, Gorontalo to Ternate, North Maluku. Authorities said the pilot reported bad weather and sought permission for landing at Sam Ratulangi Airport, North Sulawesi, before losing contact at around 10:15 a.m.

    The Gorontalo-chapter National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) said some parts of the aircraft were found however, both people aboard were missing. They were identified as the pilot Capt. Roni Jasril and engineer Fian Sophian,

    The aircraft was registered to PT Elang Nusantara Air, an airline company based out of Pekanbaru.

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    2 Killed after Helicopter Crashed in Salt Lake City

    A small helicopter crashed into a vacant industrial building north of Salt Lake City, Utah, at around 2 p.m. on December 2.

    The helicopter struck the roof of a two-story building and bursted into flames, with 2 occupants trapped inside.

    Police Chief Craig Black confirmed that both people aboard the helicopter were pronounced dead at the spot. No one on the ground was injured.

    The FAA is looking into the cause of crash.

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    MH17 Crash: Mother of German Victim Sues Ukrainian Government

    Malaysia AirlinesMother of a German victim of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 has sued the Ukrainian government for keeping the airspace open during military conflict.

    The MH17, en-route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, crashed on July 17 in the Ukrainian airspace. It is presumed that the plane crashed after it was shot by a surface-to-air missile fired from Donetsk region of Ukraine. All 298 people aboard the plane were killed in the crash.

    According to media reports, the mother of a German victim has claimed that the government of Ukraine did not close the airspace during military conflict because of millions of dollars which the country makes through foreign commercial flights. She has filed the case in the European Court of Human Rights, asking for about $1 million as a compensation for the suffering she had to endure.

    Renowned German lawyer Elmar Giemula, who is a professor of aviation law, will be presenting the case in court.

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    Ultralight Plane Crashed in Puerto Rico; Pilot Killed

    An ultralight plane crashed into waters in Puerto Rico, along the U.S. territory’s north coast on November 28.

    According to the authorities in Puerto Rico, the pilot was flying near Isabela, Puerto Rico, when his plane went down into the ocean.

    The pilot’s body was found on Saturday morning. He was identified as Luis Pabon Rivera, 48.

    The cause of crash is not known at the moment.

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    Bolivian Air Force Plane Crashed in Santa Cruz; 2 Killed

    A Bolivian air force plane crashed in the suburbs of Santa Cruz city in Santa Cruz province of Bolivia on November 28.

    Authorities said the plane was on a training flight with an instructor and a trainee pilot aboard.

    It appears that the aircraft was attempting an emergency landing due to some mechanical fault when it crashed, just 30 minutes after departing from El Trompillo airfield.

    Both people aboard the plane were killed in the crash.

    The accident is under investigation.

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    Pilot Killed in Lee County Plane Crash

    small planeA small plane crashed at 2143 County Road 305 in Lee County, Texas, before 10 a.m. on November 23.

    The accident happened when the Aero Commander 500 was heading from Hooks Airport, Spring to Austin Executive Airport.

    Authorities said the pilot of the plane, identified as Daniel Disbrow, 63, of Magnolia, Houston, was killed in the crash. Disbrow was a Galveston County sheriff’s deputy from 1976 to 1988.

    The plane is registered to a Spring-based aerial photography company, Aerial Viewpoint.

    The cause of crash is under investigation.

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    Pakistan Air Force Plane Crashed Near Karachi; Pilot Killed

    A Pakistan Air Force plane crashed during a routine training flight near Karachi, Pakistan, late on November 21.

    According to PAF spokesperson Air Commodore Tariq Mehmood, “Squadron leader Tanveer Ahmed embraced martyrdom when a Miraj aircraft crashed near Gadap Town around 30 nautical miles from Karachi.”

    Witnesses reported that the plane caught fire before it went down.

    The cause of crash is under investigation.

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    Small Helicopter Crashed in Russia; 5 Killed

    A small privately-owned helicopter crashed in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, on November 20.

    Authorities said the helicopter crashed after it departed from Seliport airfield, Moscow, with 5 people aboard.

    Rescue teams spotted the wreckage at 20: 10 Moscow time.

    All 5 people were killed in the crash. The deceased include the pilot’s daughter and spouse.

    The cause of crash is under investigation.

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    8 Killed, 2 Injured in Romanian Military Helicopter Crash

    helicopterA Romanian military helicopter crashed in Malancrav, some 350 kilometers from Bucharest, Romania, on the morning of November 21.

    The defense ministry officials said that the IAR-330 helicopter was on a training flight when it crashed.

    Eight military officials were killed in the accident while 2 others were injured. Their identities have not yet been released.

    The cause of crash is not clear at the moment.