What: American Airlines Boeing 737-800 en route from Miami to Washington
Where: Charleston SC
When: August 9, 2011
Who: 152 passengers, six injuries
Why: After encountering turbulence over Florida, the pilots diverted to Charleston. Two flight attendants and one passenger were injured by turbulence, plus several others were hospitalized.
Diversion delayed the flight as mechanics examined the problems aboard the plane.
American Airlines flight AA-95 had to divert and make an emergency landing at Shannon Airport, Ireland, on August 20th.
The Boeing 767-300 plane heading from Madrid, Spain, to John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, was diverted after an odor was noticed in the cabin.
The plane landed safely. All one hundred and seventy people aboard remained unharmed.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Christian Bremer
What: TAP Air Portugal Airbus A340-300 en route from Luanda Angola to Lisbon
Where: Luanda
When: Nov 16th 2011
Why: On takeoff, the plane developed a hydraulic failure.
The pilots returned to Luanda and made a safe landing. Passengers were in the air about a half hour.
Southwest Airlines flight WN-149 had to face a delay after the aircraft’s nose gear collapsed at Baltimore–Washington International Airport, Maryland, on August 4th.
The Boeing 737-300 plane was being pushed back when its nose gear collapsed.
All 126 passengers and 5 crew members disembarked safely.
The airline arranged a replacement plane for the passengers.
A United Express flight, operated by Shuttle America, made an emergency landing at Salina Regional Airport, Kansas, on September 25.
Authorities said the pilot requested an emergency landing after noticing smoke in the cockpit.
The plane landed uneventfully.
There were 70 passengers aboard at the time; one of them was treated for a nosebleed but authorities said that was not related to emergency landing.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Ben Wang
What: Continental Airlines Boeing 757-200 en route from Dublin to Newark
Where: Dublin
When: Mar 18 2010
Who: 162 passengers
Why: After takeoff, the transatlantic flight developed a pressurization problem; and after burning off fuel, on return to Dublin, the flight ran into wind shear (strong crosswinds) resulting in a couple of go-arounds. They were back on the ground about 2 hours after takeoff. The flight was not cancelled until the 19th, and by that time, most passengers had already rebooked. Some passengers aboard that flight have expressed dissatisfaction in their situation, although hotel accommodations were provided.
The Irish equivalent of the NTSB (AAIU) said the problems were due to a failed Pressure Regulating and Shut Off valve in the right engine’s bleed air system.
Lufthansa flight LH-456 continued for a safe landing at Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles, California, on March 18.
The Airbus A380-800, flying from Frankfurt, Germany to Los Angeles, California, was on its approach to runway when it encountered an object passing over, presumably a drone.
The plane landed safely.
All 525 people onboard remained unharmed.
The incident is being investigated.