Emergencies

How flying can go wrong during pilot Incapacitation in flight

Air Travel, Emergencies / By

A British Airways Boeing 777-200ER Photo credit: Mark Harkin (https://tinyurl.com/bdz6mknw) How flying can go wrong during pilot incapacitation in flight Pilot incapacitation refers to a situation where an operating pilot becomes unable to perform his duties due to sudden medical issues occurring during flight. One critical scenario is during low visibility operations, particularly when a …

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Understanding what can cause battery explosions in aircraft cabins

Air Travel, Emergencies / By

Baseus Power Bank 30W 10,000mAh with iPhone Understanding what can cause battery explosions in aircraft cabins The use of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, such as those found in power banks has become common for providing portable power to electronic devices such as your handphones. While generally safe, these batteries can pose risks of fire or explosion …

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Flight Emergency: What are the pilot’s actions when an engine fails in flight?

Emergencies, Flying / By

A Delta Airlines Boeing 777-200ER at Tokyo Narita Airport. Photo Credit: Konstantin Von Wedelstaedt (http://tinyurl.com/4e5fbkxp) Flight Emergency: What are the pilot’s actions when an engine fails in flight? An engine failure on a twin-engine plane is very rare, yet it remains one of the most extensively trained and tested exercises in a pilot’s career. Engine …

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How fortunate were the passengers and crew of Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 that the door blew out at a lower altitude rather than during cruising!

Emergencies, Safety / By

A Gaping Hole on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 Photo credit: RickyCourtney (http://tinyurl.com/5623bj22) How fortunate were the passengers and crew of Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 that the door blew out at a lower altitude rather than during cruising! It was indeed lucky that the Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 was still climbing at around 16,000 …

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Learning from the Japan Airlines Flight 516 Crash

Emergencies, Safety / By

Japan Airlines Flight 516 wreckage at Haneda Airport Photo Credit: Makochan12.9 (http://tinyurl.com/mry28x6h) Learning from the Japan Airlines Flight 516 Crash The recent crash involving Japan Airlines Flight 516 at Haneda Airport serves as a lesson not all agrees in the past, that one should leave all belongings behind during an emergency evacuation. On that fateful …

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Is it safe for planes to take off with blown tires?

Emergencies, FAQs, Flying / By

A British Airways Concorde in 1985 Photo Credit: Eduard Marmet (https://tinyurl.com/t626sac7) Is it safe for planes to take off with blown tires? This really depends on the type of aircraft, the speed when the blowout occurs and the consequential damages. While such incidents are rare, cases of planes successfully taking off and landing after blown …

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What happens to passengers’ belongings when left in an aircraft after an emergency evacuation?

Air Travel, Emergencies / By

A Cathay Pacific Boeing 777-300 Photo Credit: Aero Icarus  What happens to passengers’ belongings when left in an aircraft after an emergency evacuation? This is an interesting question, and I hope the following answer will ease the minds of many passengers who are unfortunate enough to be involved in an emergency evacuation. The Federal Aviation …

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Can you open an emergency door mid-flight? If not, why not?

Air Travel, Emergencies / By

An Asiana Airbus A321 from Seoul Incheon. Photo credit: N509FZ Can you open an emergency door mid-flight? If not, why not? This is a common question from air travelers. The simple answer is no, you certainly cannot open the door at mid-flight. However, there have been rare instances where doors were opened at lower altitudes. …

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Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! What does this actually mean?  

Air Travel, Emergencies / By

Mayday call of Qantas flight after an engine failure Photo: 123RF Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! What does this actually mean?   ‘Mayday!’ when repeated 3 times with details and broadcasted over the radio is a cry for help in a life-threatening situation. In days gone by, radio communications could be bad and any distress call must …

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