US Marine Corps F35 fighter collides with KC-130 refuelling aircraft in California

An investigation is underway in to how a US Marine Corps F-35 fighter jet has crashed in California after clipping the wing of a KC-130 refuelling tanker on Tuesday afternoon.

Initial reports indicate the pilot of the F-35 was able to eject from the fighter after clipping wings with the much larger KC-130, he is now being treated for injuries sustained during the ejection and landing.  The refuelling aircraft was able to make a safe emergency landing.

The Marine Corps Air Station Yuma in Arizona issued the following statement "At approximately 1600 (4 p.m. Pacific time) it was reported that an F-35B made contact with a KC-130J during an air-to-air refuelling evolution, resulting in the crash of the F-35B The pilot of the F-35B ejected successfully and is currently being treated."

"The KC-130J is on deck in the vicinity of Thermal Airport. All crew members of the KC-130J have been reported safe,"

According to officials,  both aircraft are based at the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, formally the Naval Air Station Miramar made famous by the film TOP GUN, based on the United States Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor programme.

Audio of the communications between aircraft and ground controllers has been released on LiveATC and details how the KC-130 using the callsign RAIDER 50, told controllers there was a problem.  "LA Center, LA Center, RAIDER 50 declaring an emergency, midair collision with VOLT 93,"  which was the callsign assigned to the F-35 fighter.  "We have two engines out, we're leaking fuel, and likely on fire, and in emergency descent at this time. RAIDER 50."  

"We declare an emergency. We still have partial control of the aircraft. Two engines out. We are aiming towards, uh" the crew said before the transmission is lost.  The crew performed an emergency landing in a field near the airport,  all 8 people onboard at the time were unhurt in the incident.  

UPDATE: Military officials confirm a fighter crashed near Salton City during air-to-air refueling, causing another military aircraft to make an emergency landing in Thermal. @JakeKESQ will have the latest tonight at 10 and 11 p.m.

Details: https://t.co/zUdzCumC68 pic.twitter.com/NLiQkdhbrz

— KESQ News Channel 3 (@KESQ) September 30, 2020

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At least 26 people dead in Ukraine plane crash

Photo EPA

According to officials, at least twenty-six people had died in a military aircraft crash just over a mile from the town of Chuhuiv in Ukraine.

The aircraft was an Antonov-26 was on a training flight and was carrying 20 cadets and 7 officers from the Kharkiv Air Force University.

Reuters news agency reports that an eye witness had said he had seen a man in flames running from the wreckage. "Another car stopped behind us. We took a fire extinguisher and ran with another driver to help him," he said.

Officials have confirmed that an investigation is underway, although preliminary enquiries seem to suggest that the aircraft's captain was flying the aircraft at the time of the crash, not any of the cadets. Local media is reporting that air crash investigators are reportedly looking at four possible causes of the disaster-  aircraft technical malfunction, improper performance by the flight crew,  improper performance by ground control, and poor maintenance.

Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelensky said he sought an "objective and unbiased" investigation of the air crash, saying "We have lost young cadets and experienced military servicemen who had their whole life ahead of them," he said. adding: "It is hard to choose the words to describe the pain of this loss." he has declared a national day of mourning.

The SBU - Security Service of Ukraine has issued a statement advising the disaster happened five minutes after the commander requested to land because of left engine failure. "According to preliminary findings, the cadets did not directly control the plane - the crew captain carried out all flights," the statement confirmed.

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IFALPA Global Pilots on Air India Express Flight IX-1344

The International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA) is closely monitoring the developments related to the accident of Air India Express Flight IX-1344, a Boeing 737-800 that overran runway 10 upon landing at Kozhikode International airport in India, and continued down a high slope, breaking into several parts.

Our thoughts are with the families of the pilots, crew members, and passengers who lost their lives aboard the aircraft. We send support and wishes to all the survivors, many of them injured and in hospital in critical condition.

Whilst the emergency and recovery efforts are still taking place, IFALPA stresses the need to avoid speculation and theories as to the circumstances of this accident. The Federation has reached out to its local Member Association, the Air Line Pilots’ Association-India (ALPA-India) and will offer its technical expertise to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau of India in order to help gather facts and any other safety and security information which may be pertinent to this tragic event.

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Air India Express aircraft crashes at Calicut Airport with 16 fatalities

A repatriation flight operated by Air India Express with 190 people onboard has overshot the runway at Calicut Airport, in the southern state of Kerala today.

Flight IX-1344 had originated in Dubai and had 174 passengers including 10 infants, 4 cabin crew members and the two pilots on board at the time of the incident when it crashed upon landing.

The Boeing 737-800,  registration VT-AXH was landing at around 1940 local time during bad weather according to local reports and skidded off the runway upon landing and then skidded down a slope before breaking apart. The area has been affected by flooding and landslides in recent days as the monsoon season continues.  

Breaking News - Air India Express aircraft skids off runway in Kerala

An Air India Express aircraft has crashed at  Calicut airport in the southern state of Kerala, Indian media has reported.

The aircraft from Dubia had 191 people onboard at the time of the incident and according to reports, skidded off the runway and broke in two upon landing

Reports say that a rescue operation is currently underway and emergency services at the scene.

This story has been updated here.......

Even the smallest of distractions can have serious consequences..................investigation report

British Airways Airbus A321-231 G-EUXJ  Photo  Anna Zvereva 

A British Airways flight crew were starting the fourth day of a four-day short-haul period of duty on 24th November 2019 in the early evening.   On this day they were just scheduled to fly an Airbus A321-231 down from Glasgow Airport to the airlines home base of London Heathrow. 

In the previous three days of this four-day rotation, they had flown a variety of aircraft - A319, A320 and A321 and hadn't reported anything out of the ordinary. This day they were flying a 2007 A321-231, registration G-EUXJ for the short flight down to London.  During passenger boarding, the flight crew had a few minutes spare, so, as encouraged by British Airways, the 57-year-old commander allowed a couple of passengers to visit the flight deck. A Little later, whilst the flight crew were entering the takeoff performance figures into the Flight Management and Guidance Computer the senior cabin crew member asked if they could accept another flight deck visitor. The commander ignored the request to continue to focus on putting in the information to the FMGC, a distraction nonetheless. 

A US Air Force F-15C Eagle has crashed off the East Yorkshire coast

An F15 C                                                                                    Photo US Air Force

An  F-15C Eagle from the US Air Force 48th Fighter Wing stationed at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk has crashed into the sea off the East Yorkshire coast.

The fast fighter jet had taken off from RAF Lakenheath at around 09:40 this morning as was said to have been on a routine training mission.  According to reports,  the pilot made a mayday distress call approximately 74 nautical miles, around 137kms, offshore and an emergency response was initiated. 

HM Coastguard spokesperson said: "The HM Coastguard helicopter from Humberside has been sent along with Bridlington and Scarborough RNLI lifeboats.

"Following a Mayday broadcast by HM Coastguard, other vessels nearby are heading to the area."

 The US Air Force has confirmed that only one pilot was on board and would not be drawn on speculation regarding the cause of the crash.  It is understood the aircraft was flying in close formation with three other aircraft at the time of the incident.

48th Fighter Wing commander Will Marshall sent this video update on downed aircraft and the missing pilot.
.

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British Airways 787 pushed off the apron at Edmonton Airport

A British Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner, registration G-ZBKP, has been pushed back at Edmonton Airport, right into the mud.

The jet was about to depart on a flight to London Heathrow and from pictures sent to @airline_kitty by various sources the main gear on the left side partially left the tarmac in into soft ground.

Work is currently ongoing to extract the aircraft and assess if any damage has been caused to the gear.  It's not yet known how many passengers were on the 787 at this stage and an investigation is underway.

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Britten-Norman Islander, skidded on touchdown and overran the runway in Montserrat - AAIB Report

Britten-Norman Islander, skidded on touchdown and overran the runway

The UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch has released its report into an incident that occurred on the beautiful island of Montserrat in September last year that saw a Britten-Norman Islander run off the runway. The small aircraft was carrying six passengers and the pilot at the time of the incident

Following a heavy rain shower which made the runway wet, a Britten-Norman Islander (VP-MNI) made a positive touchdown but could not stop. It overran the runway and departed the level surface of the airfield, 23 September 2019.The aircraft was on a return flight from Antigua to Montserrat, which was experiencing a heavy rain shower. After the shower had passed the aircraft made a normal approach in a light tailwind to Runway 10, which was still wet from the rain. The pilot made a positive touchdown and applied appropriate braking but was unable to stop the aircraft. The pilot steered the aircraft to the right but it skidded through 180° and departed the level surface of the airfield backwards, down a steep incline at the end of the runway, before coming to a stop when the tail caught in the airport security fence. The pilot and passengers were able to exit the aircraft and the airport rescue and firefighting service responded promptly.

No aircraft defects were found that would have contributed to the outcome. The touchdown groundspeed was higher than appropriate, either because the approach was flown at an airspeed greater than the normal, or because of a significant change in windspeed and direction during the approach. This, combined with a wet runway and skidding, resulted in the aircraft requiring more distance to stop than was available on the runway.

Safety Recommendations are made regarding aircraft operations at John A Osborne Airport, access for rescue and firefighting vehicles, and a means of arresting aircraft that overrun the runway.

Read the report.

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Death toll from PIA Karachi crash rises to 97

The death toll from Pakistan International Airlines flight PK8303 that crash on Friday has risen to 97, with two survivors, authorities have confirmed today.   

The Airbus A320 was flying from Lahore to Karachi with 99 people on board when it crashed after apparent double engine failure after two unsuccessful landing attempts. 

The provincial health minister’s media coordinator issued a statement:  “Final plane crash update: 66 bodies were brought to (Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre), 31 bodies were brought to Civil Hospital Karachi,” it also added that there were no deaths confirmed on the ground.

The Prime Minister's office confirmed a four-member team had been instructed to launch an inquiry into the accident.  This team is said to include three people from the nations Aircraft Accident and Investigation Board and another from the Pakistan Air Force’s safety board.  According to reports, this team will issue a preliminary report within one month.

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Airbus A320 of Pakistan International Airlines crashed into a residential area of Karachi

An investigation is underway in the Pakistan city of Karachi into why a packed Airbus A320 of Pakistan International Airlines crashed into a residential area in the city.

The Airbus A320, registration AP-BLD, was operating flight PK8303 and took off from Lahore Allama Iqbal International Airport (LHE) shortly after 1300 local time,  0800 GMT.  The aircraft was carrying 91 passengers and 8 crew according to PIA and was attempting to land at Jinnah International Airport, Karachi (KHI). Air traffic control lost contact with the flight crew around 1430 local time - 0930 GMT, shortly after the crew had reported engine issues and according to sources, issuing a mayday emergency. 

Images and video circulating on social media show a wide area of destruction and debris over the densely populated Model Colony residential area, around two miles north-east of the airport and not far from the airport's boundary.

According to Sindh Province health officials, at least 37 dead bodies had been taken to two local hospitals, although it is not known at this stage if they were passengers from the aircraft or local residents or bystanders.

One person dead after being struck by plane landing at airport in Austin, Texas

Photo CBS News

A person was killed late Thursday after being struck by a plane landing at an airport in Austin, Texas, officials said.

The person was struck and killed on runway 17R by a landing aircraft on Thursday evening, the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas said on Twitter, adding that the incident was being probed. The deceased was an adult, emergency officials added.

The airport said that a pilot had spotted a person on the runway before the death was reported.

“According to initial information, Southwest Airlines Flight 1392 reported to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport that they saw an unauthorized individual on runway 17-Right, after their aircraft (a Boeing 737) touched down at 8:12 p.m. Central Time on Thursday”, the airport said.

Mid-air collision kills four in Australia.

A Mid-air collision between two light aircraft has left four people dead in Mangalore, just north of Melbourne, Australia today. 

According to local media,  the two aircraft collided at about 4000ft above sea level, before crashing to the ground in a popular area for recreational flying.  All four people, whose bodies were found among the wreckage, are yet to be formally identified.

Victoria Police said in a statement. “Two occupants in each aircraft have died at the scenes, - One plane almost certainly crashed immediately and the other plane crashed about two kilometres north from here and both were extensively damaged prior to colliding with the ground,” 

Utair 737 crash lands in Usinsk

A UTair Boeing 737 aircraft carrying 94 passengers has been forced to make an extremely hard landing in northwestern Russia on Sunday morning.  

“A Utair Boeing crash-landed at Usinsk airport," the local authorities said in the northern Komi region where the city of Usinsk is located.   According to local media reports, the aircraft came down fast and the tail struck the ground first. The jet then skidded across the runway, which is said to have been icy at the time of the crash. Local weather stations indicate temperatures at the airport were -20c.  

"The flight was normal but as we were landing either due to bad weather or some other reason the plane violently shook horizontally." Alexander Panin, a passenger on the downed aircraft said. "It hit the ground so that the landing gear was torn off and we felt that were skidding along the runway as if not able to brake at all.  We all realised that the landing gear was broken. We didn’t feel that the plane was stopping - we were skidding towards the end of the runway."

120 injured as Pegasus plane skids off runway in Istanbul

Photo AFP

A Pegasus Airlines Boeing 737 Has skidded off the runway at Istanbul's Sabiha Gokcen airport injuring 120 people according to local media sources.

The jet skidded off the runway and then broke into three pieces and a small fire was quickly extinguished by the airport's emergency responders. 

The flight in from Izmir jet was carrying 171 passengers and 6 crew members at the time of the incident. The Turkish Transport Minister Mehmet Cahit Turhan said the aircraft failed to decelerate after a rough landing. He also said that the two pilots, a Turkish national and a South Korean, had also bee injured in the crash and had not yet spoken to authorities. It isn't known currently the severity of the flight deck crews conditions, however, some local media reports them as being in a serious condition. 

According to local media, the aircraft was landing in heavy rain with strong tailwinds Turkish media reports said.

Video footage shared on social media shows dazed passengers climbing through one of the large cracks in the aircraft's fuselage to escape down one of the crafts wings. In other images and videos, scores of rescue workers can be seen working around the broken aircraft.

Photo Reuters

 The budget carrier has a poor record of aircraft running off runways,   a 737 landing from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates also skidded off the runway at the same airport on 7th January this year. In January 2018 another 737 skidded off the runway and partially own a cliff at Trabzon Airport.

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Air Canada Boeing 767 makes emergency landing in Madrid

A Boeing 767 with 128 passengers on board had to make an emergency landing at Madrid's Barajas airport after developing engine and wheel issues during its take off.

The Air Canada jet was heading to Toronto when a loud bang was heard by passengers in the cabin as the aircraft started to climb way for its transatlantic flight.

Passenger Brock Mierzejewski told AP, “Obviously a lot of nervous tension while we were in the air, but the pilots did a terrific job landing the plane, - We are still in a little bit of shock but glad to be safe,”

Also on the flight was Aaron C who took to social media to say  "so just at take-off there was a huge bang under my seat and then I saw smoke and flames from the left engine."

Caspian Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-83 overshoots the runway in Iran

Only two people out of 136 suffered injuries when a Caspian Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-83 overshot the runway and came skidding to a halt on a highway in Mahshahr, Iran on Monday.

The jet lost part of its undercarriage as it skidded off the runway and down the highway after what local media is reporting as a late landing by the pilot.  Iranian TV said the captain "landed the aircraft too late and this caused him to miss the runway and caused the aircraft to overshoot the runway and stop in a boulevard". 

The passengers and crew members managed to evacuate the aircraft, with videos shared on social media, showing it as a rather slow process, almost leisurely with many taking their baggage with them. 

A report that was on the flight later recounted the details to the state broadcaster,  the aircraft’s “back wheel had broken off, as we saw it was left on the runway” and said the plane had been moving without wheels before it ground to a halt.

“The plane did not catch fire and all passengers safely left the plane,” managing Director of Khuzestan Airports Mohammad Reza Rezaei told IRNA, Reuters reported.

Iran's Civil Aviation Organisation said an investigation was already underway. 

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Piper PA-46-310P Malibu, N264DB: anniversary statement from the UK's Air Accidents, Air Accidents Investigation Branch

This week marks the anniversary of the accident involving Piper PA-46-310P Malibu, N264DB, near Guernsey, 21 January 2019 in which footballer Emiliano Sala died.  

On Tuesday 21st, Crispin Orr, Chief Inspector of the UK's Air Accidents, Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said: “Today marks the anniversary of the accident involving Piper PA-46-310P Malibu, N264DB, near Guernsey, and our thoughts are with the families and friends of Mr Ibbotson and Mr Sala at this time.

“The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has conducted a thorough investigation looking at a number of elements including operational, technical, organisational and human factors that may have caused or contributed to this accident. We have worked closely with many specialist organisations including the aircraft and engine manufacturers and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in the USA.

The AAIB has published two special bulletins about the accident, one which contained preliminary factual information, and the second which contained medical information for the general aviation community about the dangers of exposure to carbon monoxide.

Our investigation is now at an advanced stage and we intend to publish our final report by the end of March 2020.

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UN aviation experts to join Ukraine Airlines Iran crash investigation

Experts from the UN aviation watchdog, ICAO, will support the investigation into the crash of a Ukrainian Passenger plane in Iran on January 8, following an invitation from the Iranian authorities, which was accepted on Tuesday.

In a statement, the ICAO said that it has appointed senior and expert technical staff, who will now serve as advisors and observers.

Few details of Iran’s investigation have been released by the authorities, but Iran’s president, Hassan Rouhani, said in a televised address that it will be overseen by several experts and that the judiciary will create a special court.

Delta under investigation after jet dumps fuel over Los Angeles affecting dozens of children

US mega-carrier Delta Air Lines is under investigation

after a Boeing 777-232(ER) registration N860DA operating flight DL89 from Los Angeles to Shanghai had to turn back after developing a problem in an engine and dumped fuel over the city.

Delta said the aircraft landed safely after the normal procedure of dumping fuel, however, the airline is under a full investigation for venting the fuel over the suburban area and not in a designated approved dumping area.  

Shortly after the plane started dumping its load to get down to a safe landing weight people on the ground started to complain about the smell of aviation fuel with a number saying that they had experienced some skin irritation after coming in contact with the fuel.