November 28, 2007

Two minor problems with airplanes - nothing at all really.

Two airplane 'incidents' most definitely not in the news these days. The first is an Airbus A340 scheduled for delivery to Etihad Airways (United Arab Emirates) It was undergoing some engine tests and jumped the wheel chocks. Fortunately for everyone else, the blast shield prevented further damage. The plane is a write-off. From Airline Empires:
Airbus A340 Meets Wall. Airbus Loses.
Etihad was to receive their next A340 this week, but it seems that delivery may be delayed. While running an engine test at the Airbus facility in Toulouse, France, the A340-600 jumped the chocks and headed for the blast wall. The good news is the blast wall held up remarkably well. The bad news is the Airbus did not.
Some obligatory crash photos:
airbus_a340_ethiad_wall_01.jpg

airbus_a340_ethiad_wall_02.jpg

airbus_a340_ethiad_wall_03.jpg
More pictures at the website. Can you say Fired? I thought you could... The second item is from Flight Story and is about an Engine Failure on a Southwest Airlines flight out of Dallas.
Follow-up - Southwest Engine Failure
Some days ago I posted information about a Southwest Airlines engine failure at Dallas. The FAA reported the Boeing 737 returned because of some vibration in the number 2 engine.

Apparently those information was wrong. Just a few days after posting I received a few comments of people who have been on this flight (#438). They stated it was no vibration, but a fatal engine failure.
southwest_airlines_engine_failure_01.jpg

southwest_airlines_engine_failure_02.jpg
What is scary is that the FAA and Southwest Airlines reported it as a case of engine vibration and not catastrophic failure. I know that the 737 can easily fly on one engine but why not state that and let people know that the airplane although grievously injured, was in no danger of crashing. News like this always leaks out in the end so it's better to spin it first and look like a hero. Posted by DaveH at November 28, 2007 5:45 PM