TheNewsGuru

Tag: Plane

  • Lucky escape: Plane conveying Liberian President crash lands after take-off from Nigeria

    Lucky escape: Plane conveying Liberian President crash lands after take-off from Nigeria

    A private jet conveying Liberian President Joseph Boakai crash-landed on Thursday night at Roberts International Airport, triggering panic and temporarily halting all flight operations.

    The incident occurred as the jet was approaching the runway after returning from Abuja, Nigeria, where President Boakai had attended the 50th anniversary of ECOWAS.

    According to airport officials, a malfunction in the landing gear led to a hard landing, causing one of the tyres to burst on impact.

    The president and his entourage were safely evacuated, and no injuries were reported.

    However, the damaged aircraft remained stranded on the runway for hours, leading to the suspension of scheduled flights and significant disruption.

    Images of the jet circulated rapidly on social media, heightening concerns over the president’s safety. Airport authorities later confirmed that the jet was removed and normal flight operations resumed later that night.

    In a statement, airport management stressed that the runway remains safe and compliant with global aviation standards, while a full investigation has been launched into the mechanical failure.

  • SAD! Six feared dead as plane crashes in New York

    SAD! Six feared dead as plane crashes in New York

    The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating a “fatal crash” in Copake, eastern New York, official Todd Inman told reporters on Sunday, without specifying the number of deaths.

    The Mitsubishi MU2B40 aircraft crashed into a field 10 miles (16 kilometers) from the local Columbia County airport shortly after noon on Saturday, Inman said.

    The New York Times reported that all six people on board were dead, citing a family member.

    The victims were Michael Groff, the pilot and a neurosurgeon, his surgeon wife Joy Saini, their two children and the children’s partners, the New York Times said.

    The group had been traveling to a 25th birthday party and a Passover gathering, it added.

    Inman said the aircraft was intact as it came down, before it “compressed, buckled and embedded into the terrain” from the force of the impact.

    “During the approach at Columbia County Airport, the pilot reported a missed approach (and) he requested vectors for another approach,” he said.

    Visibility was falling before the crash happened, Inman said.

    The pilot was experienced and the aircraft’s cockpit was recently updated.

    The incident is the latest in a string of aviation disasters in recent days, coming after a helicopter plummeted into the Hudson River last week, killing six people.

    In January, 67 people died in a collision between a military helicopter and a passenger jet in Washington in January.

    A light aircraft also crashed after departing Boca Raton airport in Florida on Friday, with local media reporting three people had been killed after the plane developed a mechanical issue.

  • Just in: Fear grips US aviation authorities as plane declared missing midair

    Just in: Fear grips US aviation authorities as plane declared missing midair

    US authorities are looking for a small plane carrying 10 people that has been reported missing in the state of Alaska.

    The US Coast Guard for the Alaska region said a Cessna Caravan craft was 12 miles (19km) offshore on a flight from Unalakleet to Nome when “its position was lost”.

    The two cities are some 146 miles from each other across the Norton Sound, an inlet of the Bering Sea on Alaska’s western coast.

    Search and rescue crews “are working to get to the last known coordinates” of the flight, state officials said in a statement.

    They said they had been notified of an “overdue” aircraft operated by the airline Bering Air at 16:00 local time on Thursday (01:00 GMT).

    The 10 people on board comprised nine passengers and a pilot, the update from the Alaska Department of Public Safety said. There was no information immediately available about who was on board.

    The volunteer fire department in the landing city Nome said the pilot had told air traffic controllers that “he intended to enter a holding pattern while waiting for the runway to be cleared”.

    David Olson, director of operations for Bering Air, was quoted by Sun UK as saying that the aircraft left an airstrip in Unalakleet at 2:37 pm before officials lost all contact less than an hour later.

    It was 12 miles offshore when it was last sighted, according to the US Coast Guard.

    Nome Volunteer Fire Department said in a statement: “We are currently responding to a report of a missing Bering Air caravan.

    “We are doing an active ground search from Nome and from White Mountain.

    “Due to weather and visibility, we are limited on air search at the current time.

    “National Guard, Coast Guard, and Troopers have been notified and are active in the search.”

  • Several injured as FAAN gives update on emergency landing of U.S-bound plane

    Several injured as FAAN gives update on emergency landing of U.S-bound plane

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) rescue team safely deboarded 256 passengers from a U.S.-bound United Airlines plane which made emergency air return to Lagos on Friday.

    Confirming the air return,  the Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, FAAN, Mrs Obiageli Orah, said all passengers and crew disembarked safely.

    She, however,  said that four passengers and two crew members sustained serious injuries while 27 passengers and five crew members had minor injuries.

    According to her, the United Airlines Boeing 787-800 departed Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, at 23.59 p.m. on Thursday, but made  air return and landed safely at 3.22 a.m. on Friday.

    “On board were 245 adults and 11 crew members.

    The team of Aerodrome Rescue and Fire Fighting Services, Aviation Medical and Aviation Security were already at the gate when the aeroplane parked for deboarding at D31 without incident, and the door was opened at 3.37 a.m.

    “While all passengers and crew disembarked safely, four passengers and two crew members sustained serious injuries, and additional 27 passengers and five crew members had minor injuries.

    “The rescue team responded swiftly and effectively, having been on alert and standby.

    “Aviation medical ambulances transported the injured passengers, some to the MMA Clinic and others to the Headquarters Clinic,” she said.

    Orah also said that those with minor injuries received first aid and were discharged, while those with serious injuries were stabilised and transferred to the Duchess Hospital in Ikeja.

    She said that some passengers were taken to a hotel for accommodation, adding that the aircraft  did not sustain any major damage.

    “The authority will continue to provide updates,” she said.

  • Strange object hits Vice President, Shettima’s Plane in US, aborts CHOGM trip

    Strange object hits Vice President, Shettima’s Plane in US, aborts CHOGM trip

    Vice-President, Kashim Shettima, on Thursday aborted his trip to the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit in Samoa as a strange object hits his plane in US.

    Recall that President Bola Tinubu delegated Shettima
    to represent Nigeria at the forthcoming meeting.

    The presidency, however, on Thursday night, announced that Shettima’s trip had been cancelled, revealing that a foreign object hit his plane during a stopover at JFK Airport in New York.

    Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga who said a ministerial delegation will now represent Nigeria stated, “The foreign object damaged the cockpit windscreen of the plane.

    “President Tinubu, acting promptly, has approved a ministerial delegation to represent Nigeria at the summit in the Samoa capital of Apia while the plane’s repair has commenced.

    ”The delegation, which will now represent Nigeria at the 2024 Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa, is being led by the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abass Lawal.

    “The summit began on the Pacific island on 21 October. It will end on 26 October. Vice President Shettima and foreign minister Yusuf Tuggar have left New York for Nigeria.”

  • SAD! Passenger plane with 19 people aboard crashes

    SAD! Passenger plane with 19 people aboard crashes

    A passenger plane carrying 19 people crashed during takeoff in Nepal’s capital Kathmandu on Wednesday morning, with fire crew working to douse the flaming wreckage.

    The Saurya Airlines plane crashed at around 11:15 am (0530 GMT), Nepal’s military said in a statement.

    “Rescue work is going on” with the army’s quick response team lending assistance, the statement added.

    Further details were “still being confirmed”, Kathmandu airport general manager Jagannath Niroula told AFP.

    The Kathmandu Post newspaper said 19 people including air crew were aboard the flight.

    News portal Khabarhub reported that the airplane had caught fire after skidding on the runway and was “releasing a significant plume of smoke”.

    The plane was en route to Pokhara, an important tourism hub in the Himalayan republic.

    Nepal’s air industry has boomed in recent years, carrying goods and people between hard-to-reach areas as well as foreign trekkers and climbers.

    But it has been plagued by poor safety due to insufficient training and maintenance.

    The European Union has banned all Nepali carriers from its airspace over safety concerns.

    Nepal’s woeful record on aviation safety has been compounded by its treacherous geography.

    The Himalayan country has some of the world’s trickiest runways to land on, flanked by snow-capped peaks with approaches that pose a challenge even for accomplished pilots.

    The weather can also change quickly in the mountains, creating treacherous flying conditions.

    Nepal’s last major commercial flight accident was in January 2023, when a Yeti Airlines service crashed while landing at Pokhara, killing all 72 aboard.

    That accident was Nepal’s deadliest since 1992, when all 167 people aboard a Pakistan International Airlines plane died when it crashed on approach to Kathmandu airport.

    Earlier that year a Thai Airways aircraft had crashed near the same airport, killing 113 people.

    Authorities have yet to release the identity of those aboard.

  • Fans react as Plane conveying Arsenal female players catches fire

    Fans react as Plane conveying Arsenal female players catches fire

    Following an aircraft conveying Arsenal women’s team that burst into flames on the runway on their way back from their Champions League semi-final first leg 2-2 draw encounter with Wolfsburg last  weekend, Some Twitter users have continued to react to the incident.

    The incident happened at the Braunschweig Wolfsburg Airport when the Arsenal women’s squad was flying back from their Champions League encounter.

    It was reported that a bird entered the engine shortly before the takeoff, causing a loud bang.

    Flames started coming out of the left engine of the Boeing 737 before the pilots hurriedly evacuated the passengers to safety.

     

    Below are some of the reactions from Twitter Users

    @Topsydoo, ” We thank God a big casulaty was averted”

    @Emmanuelreal The God of soccer has rescued everyone on board, this really calls for celebration”

    @Saffie333, “When I first read that, I thought their Champions League match had caught fire. Glad they are okay.”

    @debbie_mandley, “I’m not an Arsenal fan but hope everyone is OK. Sending love to all.”

    @ath_deborah, “Really hope nobody was hurt!! Will Pray for them all to be brought home safely to their families and friends.”

    @vapecityreviews, “Thank god they are safe. The pilots’ actions to abort take off, recognising the issue with only seconds to work with makes them heroes. These planes can take off and land with one engine, but stopping on the ground was sheer heroic. Well done pilots.”

    @Nataxz_9, “Hope they’re okay, must have been a traumatizing experience.”

    @kezza2sweet, “That was close luckily it happened on the runway, thank god they are all safe.”

    @MaxineLomas, “God was shining on the arsenal team, thank the lord.”

    @Si_Genaro, “Ain’t nothing gonna break the spirit of the Lionesses.”

    @Saffie333, “When I first read that, I thought their Champions League match had caught fire. Glad they are okay.”

    @ath_deborah, “Really hope nobody was hurt!! Will Pray for them all to be brought home safely to their families and friends.”

    @Glynis47565445, “Glad they are all ok.”

     

     

     

  • Narrow escape as plane conveying Arsenal players burst into flames on runway

    Narrow escape as plane conveying Arsenal players burst into flames on runway

    It was a narrow escape as plane carrying the Arsenal women’s team back to London after a Champions League match, burst into flames as it was about to take off, forcing the players and staff to remain in Germany.

    Photos show flames shooting from an engine on the Boeing 737 on the runway at Braunschweig Wolfsburg Airport in Germany.

    The 7.30pm Sunday, April 23 flight was due to take off just a few hours after Arsenal secured a 2-2 draw against VfL Wolfsburg in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final.

    The plane made a loud bang just before it was about to take off on April 23, according to reports.

    Horrified pilots saw the blaze and quickly pulled the plane up on the tarmac to evacuate all the passengers.

    An airport spokesman told German newspaper BILD a bird strike on the engine had caused the fire.

    The airport official added that nobody was hurt during the incident.

    The team and Arsenal staff were put up in a nearby hotel. They were then flown back to London on Monday on another plane.

  • Just In: Aero Contractors plane develops fault mid air, struggles to land in Abuja

    Just In: Aero Contractors plane develops fault mid air, struggles to land in Abuja

    A Port Harcourt-bound Aero Contractors aircraft, on Wednesday developed fault mid-air and had to return to Abuja for emergency landing.

    A passenger on the plane disclosed that the aircraft took off at about 8:40am but few minutes into the flight, the pilot announced he had to return back to Abuja.

    The passenger said those on board didn’t understand the gravity of the technical issues the plane encountered until it was almost impossible for the pilot to land safely in Abuja.

    “We later realised that the engine had serious issues like hydraulic leakage or something like that. It was terrifying. Many people on board started crying and saying their last prayers. But we managed to land back in Abuja despite the difficulty encountered,” the passenger narrated.

  • Mike Tyson cleared of charges for punching plane passenger

    Mike Tyson cleared of charges for punching plane passenger

    Former boxing heavyweight champion Mike Tyson will not face criminal charges after punching a man multiple times before a flight out of San Francisco last month.
    The announcement came on Tuesday following an investigation by the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office.

    It says the circumstances preceding the April 20 confrontation led to the decision.

    “The circumstances include the conduct of the victim leading up to the incident, the interaction between Mr Tyson and the victim, as well as the requests of both the victim and Mr Tyson that no charges be filed in the case,” District Attorney Stephen M Wagstaffe said.

    “We now deem this case to be closed.”

    Video of the altercation published last month appears to show Tyson repeatedly hitting a passenger in the seat behind him on a plane.

    The incident occurred prior to the flight’s departure out of San Francisco International Airport, the district attorney said.

    In a statement last month, representatives for Tyson described the passenger as “aggressive,” saying he “began harassing (Tyson) and threw a water bottle at him while he was in his seat.”

    The district attorney’s office says it looked at footage taken by other passengers during its investigation.

    It also reviewed incident reports from the San Francisco Police Department and the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office.

    The reports said the victim had been drinking and “appeared to be intoxicated,” the district attorney said.

    The victim shared “minimal details of the incident” with the officers who responded to the scene that day.

    He was treated for injuries that were not life-threatening, the San Francisco Police Department said last month.

    Police confirmed two people were detained.

    The Brooklyn-born 55-year-old Tyson, who retired from boxing in 2005, returned in 2020 for an exhibition fight with Roy Jones Jr.