MilesBuzz! - Emergency Landings

Seeing all the seasoned travelers here, I was wondering how many of us have had "Emergency Situations" while flying. I supose this woukld include, Lost Cabin Pressure (Oxygen Masks), Emergency Landings, Combative Passangers, Medical Emergencies, etc. I'm sure there are some interesting stories out there.

I must be lucky, but in flying over 600,000 with Delta domestically, I've been on one trip where we landed early for a medical emergency to get a passenger to a hospital, one where we landed early in DFW because the autopilot went out (Austin runway was pretty short), and one trip where we returned right after take-off because a door did not fully seal. Hope the luck with non-events continues....

A couple of years ago on a trip from TUS-PHX-PVR on HP traveling with my wife, we left Tucson at 6:30am to Phoenix, changed to the plane to Puerto Vallarta. We departed on time and traveled south, passing over Tucson. A little later I noticed that we were turning left --- until the morning sun was shining through the right hand side window. I questioned our flight attendant (we were in F/C) if she knew what was happening--she told us that they had shut down one of the engines on our 737 due to overheating and that we had to make an emergency landing at the nearest airport, which was TUS. About 10 minutes later they made the announcement to the passengers in the plane. The landing did not seem out of the ordinary except for the emergency vehicles along the runway, and that they didn't use reverse thrust. we arrived back in Tucson about three hours after our origninal departure, and waited a couple of hours for a aircraft replacement. The worst thing was that they had to trash our F/C meals because they had been standing too long since our original departure!

I have been a frequent flyer for as long as there have been FF programs, and this is the closest thing to an in flight emergency situation I have experienced.

I posted a very long (but apparently readable and enjoyable) trip report a few months ago, about being turned back to Vancouver when an indicator showed hydraulic pressure building in one of the thrust reversers. If you would like to see more, click on:

http://talk.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum81/HTML/000004.html

Regards,

Ken Hamer

No inflight emergencies, but an aborted takeoff once. Pretty amazing how fast a 767 can stop when they really step on the brakes. We actually had to remain just off the runway for 20 minutes to allow the brakes to cool off. Then it was back to the terminal, where it was determined that it was a malfunciotioning indicator. Prior to our second attempt at takeoff, the engines were run up all the way for a couple of minutes, just to make sure everything was OK. And it was.

All of the above you mentioned but have yet to ever see a mask come down. Beginning to wonder if they actually do!

Only thing that ever happened to me was on Delta out of Salt Lake City. As we were starting to climb there was a sporadic low noise, sort of like a bowling ball rolling around in the trunk ("boot" to you Brits) of a car. Then it became obvious that we weren't climbing as fast as planes normally do. Then we made a U-turn and landed, uneventfully, back at SLC where they finally told us what had happened.

Turned out that a baggage door wasn't fully closed. It opened in take-off, interrupting air flow to one of the rear-mounted engines. The engine would shut down. It would then try to start up again and shut down again, hence the sounds. All in all not a good way to fly. They rebooked us on the next flight out.

TexasFlyer - could this have been the flight where you returned to the airport? I don't recall the details, but I think it was to Calgary, around 1996-7.

One time when returning from Cancun, an announcement was made for a doc or any medical people. I was traveling with two other buddies of mine who are also in the medical field. So we all look back the asile to see some guy pukeing in the asile -- from drinking too much alcohol. Needless to say he didn't need medical help (at that point), he just needed a trash can.

on a flight with LH from Bogota to Frankfurt in the late 70's. I (working for the swiss salt works) was accompanied by two doctors from Switzerland. We were travelling on a World Health Organisation mission participating at a congress about fluor added to salt and/or water in Medellin to fight "caries"(is that the english word?).

LH asked if, by any chance, there would be a doctor on board. Both doctors did not want to be known and didn't react. I asked them why. They replied, that they were afraid of later juristic implications ...

Since then I don't give much on the medical-profession's oath anymore (what's the name of that greek god again)!?!

[This message has been edited by Rudi (edited 07-01-1999).]

Had the engine cut out on a DTW-bound DC-10 on take-off from MSP. No problem, just an aborted t/o. The most annoying part was the flight crew trying to restart it (on the tarmac) for half an hour before admitting defeat and taxiing back to put us on a later flight.

-Pushpak

PS - Rudi, Hippocrates of Cos was a Greek physician, not a God. Of course, most physicians don't seem to think there's a difference http://talk.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

[This message has been edited by Pushpak (edited 07-01-1999).]

doc, I was on a flight where oxygen masks deployed. We bumped pretty hard on landing at SFO, and a whole section had masks come down. Most thought it funny, but a couple of people had that look of fear...

On my April flight DEN->JAN the landing flaps (Canadair Jet) would not deploy. This made us land fast and long. That's the most exciting thing so far in my first nine months of frequent flying.

Hmmmm. Am I bad luck or what? I have had three incidents in the last year, and one very scary one back in the 60s.

1. Flying PDX/SEA on a Dash 8, we approached the landing strip and in the midst of our final descent, started ascending. Hmmm. We then started circling and circling, fairly tight and low to the ground. Also noticed that no other planes were landing or taking off and ambulances and firetrucks started racing to the landing strip. Something was definitely not normal. After a lot of intense grinding noises had emitted from the belly of the plane, the pilot advised that only one wheel had come down on our first attempt at landing and that we had had to "manually" lower the other wheel. We were a little concerned but in the end everything was fine. Didn't stop the emergency vehicles from running along beside us with lights flashing.

2. Second was between Phoenix and ElPaso. At the about the time we should have reached our normal cruising alttitude, I was still able to pick out individual cars on the freeway. Seemed odd so I asked the FA if everything was ok. She said, sure, no problem. Seconds later the pilot announced that we had lost cabin pressure and were going to divert to Tuscon, flying very, very low. Again no serious problems. One young girl whose hand was in a cast had to hold it high over her head as her hand started to swell dramatically and one person had an anxiety-panic attack.

3. After two previous delays, one for a missing crew member and one for an instrument malfunction, we left the gate only to be forced to return a few minutes later for a medical emergency. Someone thought they were having a heart attack. Again this turned out to be an anxiety-panic attack as a result of missed connections.

4. When I was a young woman serving in the U.S. Marines (see how many funny little secrets I have) I was flying from on a GV1 which lost an engine and was forced to bail out somewhere close to 29 Palms. I was about a third of the way through training at the time--not really prepared. They say my landing was passable, but I don't really remember much past the intense FEAR that overcame me when I realized they weren't kidding about the jump. There again the plane actually landed safely. I sometimes think the whole deal was a setup to see how I would react. I was of only 2 women on board at the time and the guys (all of whom were experienced jumpers) were fond of testing our limits. http://talk.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif





[This message has been edited by Punki (edited 07-01-1999).]

Hippocrates was the son of Apollo, who was a God. In the US, the Hippocratic Oath, or a version thereof, is really coming back in the med schools. I already took the oath upon entering school, and I have to take it again next week before starting clinicals.

Yikes, Punki, you are probably the best testament that flying is the safest form of transportation, even if the flying is in the military. Oops, sorry, the Marines. http://talk.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif Great story!

OMNI: Have you noticed that Nobody pays attention to those emergency flight instructions, even though the F-A's say "Even if you heard it before listen. Well I alwasy do.... for the following reason:
Only had two emergency landings. Both flights were with People's Express. Both were my FIRST FLights... the first to Rochester, the second to Texas (I think, I was accompanying friends)

Rochester: We had this space cadet but very cute and very dumb flight attendant who announced this was her first flight. Half way to Rochester the engine failed and the pilot scrambled to land at anther airport. She got hysterical and it didn't help me, I was about to have a coronary. So some woman said she would slap the F=A in the face if she didn't calm down. The F-A started crying, we landed in a small field, the brave woman helped the F-A get the passengers off the plane. Of course I charge up the aisle from the back, go out screaming and kiss the ground.

Second time: taking off from EWR, I smelled gas and commented loudly enough. there was smoke and just before takeoff the captain screams NO TAKEOFF! NO TAKEOFF!!! We went back to the gate. I sent regrets to my friends, went back home and went to bed.

I did not fly again for about four more years.

But I got back on the horse (I mean plane) and now love it.

------------------
MEOW! MEOW! MEOW!!!




[This message has been edited by Catman (edited 07-01-1999).]

In my 3 years of commercial business flying there was only one incident were a FA spilled a very hot cup of coffee into a gentlemens lap and he thought he was having a heart attack. We all chuckled about it later including the gentlemen and the FA but it's amazing the way fear spreads through the cabin when something happens. As for military flight horror stories, 18 years of Navy P3 Orion flying I've got some duzzies. But thats for another time.

Some time ago (six months?), there was a similar thread and I had posted my People's Express super-happy fun time experience.

But I'll be darned if I can find the thread now...and it was far too traumatic to recount again...

[This message has been edited by Matt Wald (edited 07-01-1999).]

Rudi- you might want to save some of that ire for the attorneys who sadly caused them to act so foolishly in search of the endless stream os American dollars! Sadly, you can easily be sued for trying to help and not doing enough or doing properly or...- on a plane with very little of the necessary equipment on board. Planes are not the best place to be ill, especially emergency medical attention despite the fact that there is usually a doc on board! It is a travesty!

I think that a "Good Samaritan" law for Doc's on Airplanes was enacted recently. (Sorry doc, had to respond being a Lawyer and all.)

Last year I was on a DL 727 that filled with smoke while getting into position on the runway in BOS. We sat there while the plane's AC cleared the smoke caused by it overheating. We then took off! No engineers came and checked the plane, nothing. You would now have to launch my finacee from a cannon to get her into a DL plane.

In 83' the Icelandic DC-8 I was on applied full power and started to roll down the runway, when we got halfway they slammed on the brakes and turned around. The pilot then informed us that #3 engine did not have sufficient oil pressure and we were going to try it again. Not a great thing when flying to Iceland, that North Atlantic ain't warm.

BSL

I had two incidents on Delta on one trip. These were runway aborts in new 757's, one for bad groundspeed reading. The rest were worse-emergengy landing for no flaps in Greece on a charter BAC-111 and a cabin fire inside a C-130 in Air Force days. The VERY worst was hasving bullets go through the floor of a C-130 in SEA. They make a loud noise!

Gee, guess I am unlucky...

1. Eastern airlines 727 from MCO to ORD struck by lightning near Chicago. Loud noise, bright flash, bumps and drops but no damage. Landed safely and quickly (pilot had just advised we were holding for landing at O'Hare, then after the strike he advised we were cleared for immediate landing)

2. United DC-10 ORD to DEN lost hydralic (sp) pressure near Denver. Pilot advised us of situation (and made air traffic available) and told us we were not in danger since winds were light and flaps were not needed (?) for landing. Pilot told air traffic control he wanted a straight in approach and "no surprises" on the descent. The controller asked if he wanted to declare an emergency, and the pilot replied "not yet". We landed normally, and frankly it was one of the smoothest landing I have ever had!

3. United 747 ORD-SFO had an aborted landing. Plane shuddered and shook while pilot applied what seemed to be full power. I was at the bulkhead of business, looking right at the flight attendant, and he looked "concerned". Circled around and landed normally 20 minutes later.

4. Frequent severe turbulance into and out of LAS. By this point, I expect it, but occasionally things fall out from overhead bins and once the drink cart left the holding area, hit the other side of the galley, slammed the drink trays into the door of the cart which promptly opened and glass shattered all over the place. Sounded terrible, and caused one of the F/A to cry out as glass hit her leg.

5. United 767 ORD-LAS. Plane climbed a few thousand feet, with a vibration the whole time. Loud noise heard over and over. Finally I realized that the landing gear was being cycled up and down. Pilot came on PA and advised one of the landing gear bogeys would not retract. We went back to ORD, landed normally, and waited for repairs. The funny part of this story was the method of fixing the gear. Watching from the terminal, some of us saw a mechanic walk to the plane with a large tool (looked like a wrench), climb partially into the wheel well and seemed to hit something over and over. We all made jokes and thought it was funny until the captain (who was watching from the outside ramp of the jetway) RAN down the stairs and starting YELLING at the mechanic. A few minutes later, the flight was cancelled for "mechanical reasons". Hmmmm..

In over 15 years of travel & over 1 million airmiles, there are only 3 situations I can call scary. All 3 were on UA and 2 of them were on brand new Airbus equipment.

1. Approach to land at ORD, I'm in a window seat and we're about 500 ft off the ground.
The plane suddenly pulls up severly and banks to the right with FULL POWER. Seems a plane had strayed onto our runway and another 15 seconds could have been major trouble. Then it took us almost 20 minutes to vector around and get a landing slot...no problem 2nd time.

2. New A-320 from ORD-DEN, I'm in exit row aisle seat, take-off was uneventful & as we're climbing there is a LOUD swooshing noise & trembling under my feet. I reallly thought the plane was in trouble...but as I came to senses I reasoned that it sounded like the landing gear door may have opened.
That is exactly what it was! The pilot said it was a new plane in service for only 4 days & there was no problem (at least for now). The doors closed and the rest of the flight was fine. Upon approaching DEN, pilot told us we had to do a low flyby of the tower so they can take high definition photos of the belly of the plane to make sure everything is OK. After the flyby, we had to circle for 1/2 hr. until the techies agreed the gear was safe to land on. The part that really hit home was seeing all of the emergency vehicles & foam trucks on the runway when we finally landed.
3. This one is for Jim_B-Another new Airbus, taking off from ORD. I was in FC and just as we seemed like the plane would lift off, the
pilot stood on the brakes for what seemed like an eternity. My seatmate & I looked at each other thinking there was no way anything good was about to happen. Seems an indicator light came on and they had no choice but to stop the plane. As Jim_B said, we also had to wait about 25 minutes for the brakes to cool and have maintenance check out the light malfunction. That one was the scariest!

There was only 1 incident in my whole flying career which is about 15 years. Almost all my travel is with Canadian.

It was a flight about 5 or 6 years ago from YYZ - YVR on a DC-10. The aircraft was rolling on the runway and then at near the point of takeoff which they call V1, they decided to abort takeoff, a lot of people on board thought they were not going to have enough runway to stop, however they just did. Turn out that they lost complete power on one of the engine..good thing that didn't happen after take off. Towed back to the gate for 5 hours before taking off again on the SAME aircraft. Beside from that, all of my travel on CP has been "scare free".

Regards,
Empress

I just remember another "emergency landing" from my military days in the early 60s.

During our female unit's first "trip" in the High-Altitude Simulator, we had just switched to pressure breathing, when we noticed that one of our comrade's chest had begun to expand dramatically. We were laughing so hard that we literally could not "breath" in enough oxygen. Suddenly the voice of the medical observer comes over the intercom, "Lt. Smith (name changed to protect the guilty), we will now return ground level and request that you retire to the ladies room and remove any nonregulation paraphernalia, so we may continue this exercise with dignity."

The incident still brings a smile to my face when I think of it. http://talk.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Please let me know if this story is too risque for the board and I will delete it. It was just so funny at the time.

[This message has been edited by Punki (edited 07-02-1999).]

much too risque for a swiss who had to look up any second word in his diccionary! http://talk.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

1. I was on a UA 737 from Reno to Den. On takeoff, we went thru a flock of geese and the right engine caught fire. The pilot killed the engine, dumped fuel and we did an emergency landing. Lots of screaming and praying as that engine made a huge grinding noise as the goose was (do I say it?) cooked.
2. Twice lost engines in flight (low oil pressure) but we just landed and switched planes.
3. Ord-Den on UA. At Denver Int'l during a snow storm, a truck got lost and wandered onto the runway. We aborted a landing which would've hit the truck.

Punki:
I'm sorry, but I'm really naive. What might that "nonregulation paraphernalia" have been? I'm guessing that it was something that expanded as external air pressure went down, but I'm not sure. And, if I'm right, where do you find it?
Phil

Hey Philforest,

I wasn't the guilty party!!!! The only place I ever saw the results of this particular (I assumed inflatable) nonregulation paraphernalia was on Lt. "Smith".

You must remember that this was the 60's and technology in all fields, including this particular type of expansion, has changed dramatically since then. That exact style of expansion paraphernalia may not be available in this day and age. http://talk.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Thanks Jim_B.

BSL- Hope it was clear that I meant some (greedy understood) but surely not all attorneys! I should have been more clear. I'm glad to hear there is some protective measure(s) either pased or pending! One bad press report goes a long way in scaring a profession!