Vueling Airlines flight VY-8549 was intercepted by two Czech Gripen fighter jets on May 27th.
The Airbus A320-200, en-route from Helsinki, Finland, to Barcelona, Spain, was about to enter Czech Airspace, however, the crew did not establish contact with Czech Air Traffic Control. Two Gripen fighter jets were therefore dispatched that contacted the flight on emergency frequency.
The communication was restored around 15 minutes after the plane entered Czech Airspace.
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Contact photographer Mark McEwan
What: Easyjet Airbus A319-100 en route from London to Tallinn Estonia
Where: Copenhagen
When: Jan 11th 2010
Who: not available
Why: While en route, the flight developed a technical problem and decided to divert to Copenhagen. No details about the problem have been released. Replacement transportation was provided.
Cezar Britto, president of The Order of Lawyers of Brazil said it was “a tragedy waiting to happen,” echoing public opinion. “What exploded in Cagonhas was not just the TAM airbus and almost 200 victims but the credibility of the Brazilian aviation system.”
Cagonhas is notorious for its short, dangerous runway.
“The runway was as slippery as soap,” a pilot confessed.
Rescuers pulled 181 bodies from the twisted metal wreckage and rubble. Five people are listed as missing. 11 are hospitalized. No passengers survived.
Relatives gathered to identify the remains amid calls for authorities to improve airport safety.
The crash is the latest of a series of airline disasters. The main runway had been resurfaced last month, but more work was scheduled to allow for better water drainage.
“Control tower operators had warned the runway should be closed,” said Sergio Olivera, who heads the Federation of Air Controllers.
Footage of landing showed the aircraft travelling at high speed–the Airbus took only three seconds as opposed to the usual 11 to traverse the runway then disappeared after skidding off the left side of the runway. Then a ball of flame filled the sky.
An investigation has been ordered. One of the black boxes has been recovered.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva declared three days of national mourning. Pope Benedict XVI expressed his sorrow.
In February a judge banned Fokker 100, Boeing 737-800 and Boeing 737/700 jetliners from the airport but the ruling was overturned in appeals.
A TAM Linhas Aereas Airbus A330-200 was en route from Madrid to Sao Paulo when the flight sustained an episode of turbulence.
A dozen passengers were injured, and the members of the flight crew. They were hospitalized when the pilots diverted to Fortaleza. One person had a fractured spine.
A replacement flight was provided for passengers from Fortaleza to Sao Paulo Guarulhos. There were 168 passengers and 16 crew.
Croatia Airlines flight OU-410 had to return for an emergency landing in Zagreb, Croatia, on September 4th.
The Airbus A320-200 plane took off for Frankfurt, Germany, but had to return shortly afterwards due to a fault in left hand engine.
The plane landed uneventfully. All passengers and crew members remained safe.
Pakistan International Airlines flight PK-898 had to divert and make an emergency landing in Karachi, Pakistan, on December 19th.
The Airbus A310-300 plane heading from Lahore, Pakistan, to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, was diverted due to a hydraulic problem.
The plane landed safely. All 180 people aboard remained unharmed.
Iberia Express flight IB-3843 diverted to Gran Canaria Airport, Spain, on June 25th.
The Airbus A320-200 plane heading from La Palma Airport to Madrid, Spain, was diverted after one of the engines ingested multiple birds during takeoff.
The plane landed safely. Everyone aboard remained unharmed.
