Legal action started against Russia over the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17

Legal action has been started against Russia over the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 some eight years ago by Australia and the Netherlands.

The two nations say they have begun the joint legal action against Russia at the United Nations' International Civil Aviation Organization. The Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra said: "The death of 298 civilians, including 196 Dutch, cannot and should not remain without consequences. The current events in Ukraine underscore the vital importance of this,"  

The rare procedure comes under an article of ICAO's Chicago Convention designed to protect civilian aircraft from weapons fire. It was added in 1984 following the shooting down of a South Korean airliner by Soviet fighters the previous year.

The Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 aircraft was operating flight MH17 flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur on July 17, 2014. Air traffic control lost contact with the aircraft approximately 50km (30 miles) from the Russia-Ukraine border. The aircraft was then hit by a BUK missile breaking up midair and crashing down over the Donetsk area, killing all 298 onboard and shocking the world.

   

Scott Morrison, Prime Minister of Australia told the media that Russia was responsible under international law and that taking the matter to the UN's International Civil Aviation Organization would be a step forward in the fight for victims, including 38 Australians. He said also said the invasion of Ukraine was "unprovoked and unjustified" which highlighted the requirement to hold Russia to account for its "blatant violation of international law".

Australia and the Netherlands advised they would rely on the evidence uncovered by a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) which found that all the vehicles in a convoy carrying the missile launcher were part of the Russian armed forces. It had been driven in to Ukraine from Russia on the day of the incident. The BUK launcher and missiles had been supplied by Russia's 53rd anti-aircraft brigade in Kursk and it was driven back across the border the day after.  

 

Follow this site here.

Leaked security camera footage shows US F35 crash.

A grainy and wobbly leaked video of security cameras appears to show a US fighter jet crashing onto the deck of USS Carl Vinson - an aircraft carrier before being engulfed in flames and sliding into the sea, reports Forces.net

Now unofficial reports indicate that US Navy personnel are now desperately heading to the scene to salvage the F-35C Lightning II  which contains highly classified technology before Chinese submarines can get there and steal the wreckage. 

The incident has resulted in seven sailors being injured, with three requiring evacuation to a medical facility in Manila, Philippines, where they are in a stable condition, according to Pacific Fleet.

More top stories you might be interested in.....

Follow this site here.

At least 16 dead after L410 crashes in Russia.

    A Let L-410 Turbolet twin-engine short-range transport aircraft has crashed shortly after taking off in the Russian region of Tatarstan early on Sunday, officials have confirmed.

The small aircraft was carrying a group of some 20 parachutists and two crew members at the time of the accident, which is currently being investigated. According to local media, the crew reported their left engine had failed whilst they were at a height of around 70 metres. They reportedly tried to make an emergency landing near the city of Menzelinsk, as they tried to avoid an inhabited area. Upon the emergency landing, the aircraft's wing hit another vehicle and that caused the plane to turn over and hit a wall.  

The Let L-410 was owned by an aeroclub in the city of Menzelinsk which has links with the state-run Cosmonaut Training Centre which is also in the area, According to reports the centre has suspended its ties with the aeroclub pending an investigation into the crash. The aeroclub has declined to comment while investigations take place. 

More top stories you might be interested in.....

Follow this site here.

Teesside International Airport closed following light aircraft crash

Three people had to be cut free from a small aircraft that has crashed upon takeoff from Teesside International Airport earlier today.

The pilot and two passengers have been taken to  James Cook University Hospital after the incident that happened at 09:30. 

Rob Cherrie of the County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service told how the light aircraft "had taken off then come back down again very quickly" and fire crews had been "forced to cut the three people out of the plane".

The North East Ambulance Service said: "We sent two ambulances, a specialist paramedic, an officer and requested support from the Great North Air Ambulance. In total, three patients were taken to James Cook hospital, one with serious injuries. One patient was taken by air and the two other patients were transported by road."

The airport confirmed it would remain closed until Monday,  "Following an incident involving a light aircraft this morning, we will remain closed for the weekend so the Air Accident Investigation Branch can carry out a thorough investigation. We are hopeful the airport will reopen on Monday.

As a result of this closure, Loganair will be contacting customers affected with details on how to claim a full refund or rebook an alternative date. They request that customers do not phone Loganair at this time.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank all of our passengers who have been very understanding today. All of our thoughts and prayers are with the three people onboard at the time of the incident and their families."

A Ryanair flight from Palma has been diverted to Newcastle and coaches have been arranged to transfer passengers. 

More top stories you might be interested in.....

Follow this site here.

All 28 lives lost in Russian plane crash.

Photo  Russia's Emergencies Ministry via Reuters

All 28 people on a Russian An-26 plane died in a crash on Tuesday in the country's far east according to the Interfax and RIA news agencies.  

The Antonov An-26 twin-engined turboprop was on a flight from regional capital Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky to the village of Palana and was approach for landing when contact was lost about 10 kilometres away from the airport. 

Reports indicate there were some twenty-two passengers and six crew on board, with officials saying the village mayor Olga Mokhireva was among the passengers along with four local government officers. 

According to locals,  there was thick cloud in the area at the time of the crash and although the cause of the crash has not been established yet, bad weather has not been ruled out. "All that is known at this time, what has been possible to establish, is that communication with the plane was interrupted and it did not land," Valentina Glazova, a spokeswoman for the local transport prosecutor's office, told AFP. 

The Russian aviation agency had said search teams in the remote far eastern Kamchatka peninsula found wreckage of the aircraft, "Rescuers found the wreckage of the aircraft. Given the geographic features of the landscape, rescue operations are difficult," the aviation agency said in an emailed statement, adding that the debris was found along the region's Pacific coast.

Report with France 24, AFP, AP and Reuters

More top stories you might be interested in.....

Follow this site here.

Lockheed C-130H Hercules aircraft of the Philippine Air Force has crashed

Photo Philippines Army Joint Task Force Handout, Reuters

A  Lockheed C-130H Hercules aircraft of the Philippine Air Force has crashed whilst trying to land at Jolo Airport, with 92 people onboard. 

The aircraft was transporting many new recruits that had just graduated from basic training and were being deployed to the island to become part of a special joint task force to fight against terrorist activity in the region. 

The plane was trying to land on Jolo island in Sulu province when the incident happened at 11:30 am local time (0330 GMT), said General Cirilito Sobejana.  "While transporting our troops from Cagayan de Oro (on the southern island of Mindanao), it missed the runway, trying to regain power but it didn't make it," Sobejana told local media, describing the accident as "very unfortunate".

"Responders are at the site now, we are praying we can save more lives," Sobejana told AFP, who also said that the 40 rescued personnel were being treated at the nearby 11th Infantry Division hospital.

Of the 92 people on the transporter,  there were 3 flight deck crew, 5 other crew members and 84 Philippine Army personnel. According to local reports, 50 of the personnel came from the 4th Infantry Division training unit of Malaybalay, Bukidnon.

Cargo plane makes emergency water crash landing - pilots rescued.

The crew of a 46-year-old Boeing 737-200 cargo aircraft were forced to make a controlled crash landing in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Honolulu, Hawaii on Friday following reported engine malfunctions.

According to initial reports, the two pilots onboard the aircraft, belonging to Hawaiian cargo airline Transair, operating flight number 810, informed air traffic control they had an engine malfunction and needed assistance just moments before impacting with the water. 

The two pilots were the only people on the jet and both have been found, according to coast guard Lt. Commander Karin Evelyn "One was on the tail and the other clinging to packages," who then advised that as the agency helicopter got close, "the aeroplane began to sink putting the individual on the tail in the water. The crews hoisted them safely on the aircraft. The rescue swimmer then assisted the other individual." The crew have been taken to hospital with reported serious injuries, local media have stated the 58-year-old captain was considered to be in a critical condition, while a 50-year-old pilot was in serious condition suffering multiple lacerations and a head injury.

Vintage Hawker Sea Fury crash lands in Somerset

Photo Matt Bullock 

A vintage aircraft belonging to Navy Wings has crash-landed in a view a short distance from RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset this afternoon.

The Sea Fury T.20 developed engine problems and Navy Wings said it performed a 'precautionary landing'  which saw the aircraft break up.  The crew was said to have been uninjured and taken to hospital for evaluation.  

The incident is under investigation.

More top stories you might be interested in.....

Two pilots eject from UK Royal Navy jet

Photo Kai Greet

An aircraft from the 736 Naval Air Squadron based at RNAS Culdrose has crashed into woodland in Cornwall today.  The two pilots have ejected safely from the aircraft, a Hawk T1 jet, the UK's Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed.

The two pilots were assessed at the scene by critical care paramedics from Cornwall's Air Ambulance, before being transferred to a local hospital for assessment. 

The Ministry of Defence issued a statement, "Two pilots are being checked by medics after ejecting from a Royal Navy Hawk aircraft from 736 Naval Air Squadron during a flight from RNAS Culdrose. 

An investigation will begin in due course. We won't be providing further detail at this time."

The Police confirmed they had received reports of an aircraft crashing in the St Martin, Helston area and have asked people to avoid the area.  "Two men have been airlifted to Derriford Hospital to be treated for their injuries. Details of injuries not known at this time. - Emergency services remain at the scene carrying out enquiries."

"Police are urging members of the public to continue to avoid the area of St Martins at this time. Officers have highlighted that there may be debris in the surrounding area and emergency services are still working at the scene."

Defence Minister Johnny Mercer said the crash was due to "suspected engine failure" no other details have been released so far. 

More top stories you might be interested in.....

Lucky escape as Boeing jet suffers serious engine issue after take off sending debris to the ground.

Photo Broomfield Police Department

A United Airlines Boening 777 jet with 241 people on board suffered a massive engine failure shortly after taking off from Denver leaving a trail of debris behind, on Saturday lunchtime. 

Shortly after 1300 local time on Saturday, the aircraft, operating flight UA328 to Honolulu experienced a massive uncontained engine failure, with the powerplants casing and cowling scattered over the land below,

Images from the scene show how one piece narrowly missed the front of a house in the town of Bloomfield, while others from inside the aircraft show the engine in flame. 

Photo: HAYDEN SMITH/speedbird528/Handout via REUTERS

The Boeing 777, which had 231 passengers and 10 crew on board at the time of the incident was able to make a safe return to Denver and there are no reports of injuries either on the aircraft or on the ground.  

News reports of the incident say passengers recall hearing a loud bang or explosion shortly after the aircraft left the runway. According to one person who spoke to the AP news agency, the flight's captain was making an announcement at the time the explosion was heard. 

"The plane started shaking violently, and we lost altitude and we started going down," the passenger is reported to have said, before saying that he and his wife placed their wallets in their pockets so that "in case we did go down, we could be ID'd".

An investigation is already underway, 

 

Recommended for you...

Nigerian Air Force aircraft crashes after engine issue.

A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Beechcraft KingAir B350i aircraft has crashed while returning to the Abuja Airport following an engine failure, officials have confirmed.  The aircraft was operating a flight to Minna on Sunday morning, however, the aircraft came down just short of the runway.

All 7 air force personnel on board died in the crash the air force and first responders have confirmed, and the chief of air staff has ordered an immediate investigation. He called for the public to "remain calm & await the outcome of the investigation".

Recommended for you...

Sriwijaya Air Boeing 737 Missing

Photo GM FIKRI IZZUDIN NOOR

A Boeing 737 belonging to Sriwijaya Air with 62 people onboard is missing and believed to have crashed into the sea shortly after departing the capital of Indonesia, Jakarta.

According to various sources, the aircraft disappeared from radar around four minutes into the flight from Jakarta to Pontianak in West Kalimantan province.   Flightradar24.com indicates the jet dropped more than 3,000m (10,000ft) in less than a minute and according to the BBC witnesses 'said they had seen and heard at least one explosion'.

The last contact with the jet was made at 14:40 local time according to the transport ministry who also advised that a rescue mission was already underway. 

Recommended for you...

Wizz Air A320neo damaged in ground collision

Photo trojmiasto.pl

A new Airbus A320neo of Wizz Air has been damaged in a ground collision with a water truck at an airport in Poland.

The aircraft was being made ready to operate a flight from Gdansk to Stockholm on Thursday when the incident happened. No passengers were on the aircraft at the time of the collision and the airports emergency responders were on scene rapidly. 

A full investigation is underway and an airport spokesperson said "There were no passengers on board. Although the effects of the collision can look dangerous, nothing happened to the driver. The carrier substituted another aircraft, which flew to Sweden with a slight delay."

Recommended for you...

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

Recommended for you...

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.

Recommended for you...

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.

Recommended for you...

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.
.

Recommended for you...