Plane Crashes

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February 19, 2020 - MELBOURNE: Four people were killed in a mid-air collision between two light planes in Australia on Wednesday, scattering debris across a rural area north of Melbourne.

Mid-air plane collision kills four in Australia
Mid-air plane collision kills four in Australia

Police work at the scene of a car fire in Brisbane, Australia, 19 February 2020. (EPA)

Police said the two twin-engine aircraft were each carrying a pilot and a passenger when they crashed around 4,000 feet (1,200) above the town of Mangalore.

Images from the crash scene on the ground showed twisted metal and chunks of fuselage scattered in a field and among trees.
Police said both planes were flying legally in the area but investigations were ongoing.

"We're not sure why both aircraft were exactly on the same trajectory or why they were in that area but unfortunately they have collided mid-air," Police Inspector Peter Koger said.

One aircraft had just taken off from the nearby airfield but the other plane's origin was still unclear, he added.

 

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Passenger plane lands in Moscow after being diverted over cracked window - RIA
Friday February 28, 2020 - A Boeing-777 passenger plane landed safely at Moscow’s Vnukovo airport on Friday after it was forced to turn around en route to Bangkok because of a cracked cockpit window,the RIA news agency cited emergency services as saying.

The plane, which took off from Moscow carrying more than 200 people, was diverted after it reported the crack upon entering Kazakh air space, the TASS news agency reported earlier.

 

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Frankfurt flights suspended twice for drone sightings
March 2, 2020 - FRANKFURT - Flights to and from Frankfurt airport, Germany’s largest, had to be suspended twice on Monday after drone sightings.

A spokesman for the operator Fraport said 72 flights had been canceled and 57 redirected during the two stoppages, which together lasted almost three hours.

Police said they were still looking for the perpetrators and their drones, and criminal proceedings were launched for dangerous interference in air traffic.

 

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Five die as light plane crashes in northern Australia
A light plane crashed in heavy monsoon rains on the northeastern tip of Australia on Wednesday, killing all five people on board, police said.

March 11, 2020 - The chartered flight, carrying four government workers and the pilot, had twice tried to land near Lockhart River, on Queensland’s Cape York Peninsula.

The plane approached the landing strip and on the third occasion the plane has tragically crashed,” Chief Superintendent Chris Hodgman told reporters. “We know that there were five people on board. The plane has crashed into some sand dunes. Nobody has survived that crash.”

Weather conditions had been “pretty rough,” given monsoonal rains, Hodgman said, adding it was too early to determine reasons for the crash and that police were investigating.

All passengers aboard the twin-engine Cessna 404 Titan aircraft were from Cairns.

Pilot killed in Pakistan Air Force F-16 crash in Islamabad

A Pakistan Air Force F-16 fighter jet crashed on Wednesday in a parade ground in the capital, Islamabad, killing the pilot as he was rehearsing for a Pakistan Day air show, the air force said.

Terrifying New Video Shows Moment Pakistani F-16 Impacted The Ground
Terrifying New Video Shows Moment Pakistani F-16 Impacted The Ground

A Pakistani Air Force F-16A crashed in Islamabad earlier today during a practice display mission for an upcoming parade. The pilot, Wing Commander Nauman Akram, perished in the mishap. It is unclear exactly what caused the crash at this time and an investigation is underway. Thankfully nobody died on the ground when the jet careened into a treed area after a sharp maneuver. You can read more about this tragic event as well as see videos taken by bystanders in our previous post. Now, nearby closed-circuit surveillance camera footage shows the jet slamming into the ground in a high-alpha state.


The video clearly shows the aircraft in a nose-high attitude while losing altitude, impacting a tree or other object, and subsequently hitting the ground at high speed, before skidding forward in a giant fireball. It's a horrific scene, with a bystander in a car seen close by during the sequence of events, but this video could help investigators better understand what happened to the plane and its pilot. The canopy appears intact before the crash, so there are no noticeable signs of an attempt to eject.

 

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A medical evacuation plane exploded during take-off in the Philippine capital on Sunday, killing all eight passengers and crew, including an American and a Canadian, officials said.

Plane explosion in Philippines kills eight, including two foreigners

March 29, 2020 - The plane, owned by a Philippines-registered charter service Lionair, had been bound for Haneda, Japan, but burst into flames at the end of the runway around 8 p.m. (1200 GMT), Manila’s main airport said.

Indonesian carrier Lion Air issued a statement making clear that it is unrelated to Manila-based Lionair.

Video footage showed a huge plume of smoke rising into the night sky as fire crews doused the fuselage with foam.

The twin-jet West Wind 24 plane was carrying three medical personnel, three flight crew, a patient and a companion, Richard Gordon, a senator and head of the Philippine Red Cross, said on Twitter.

“Unfortunately, no passenger survived the accident,” the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said in a statement.

An investigation by the Civil Aeronautics Authority of the Philippines was under way, MIAA said.

The runway has been closed temporarily, affecting an arriving Korean Air flight that was diverted to Clark airport in northern Philippines, said MIAA General Manager Eddie Monreal.

The aim is to reopen the runway about two hours after midnight, he said in a press briefing.

Monreal confirmed that an American national and a Canadian citizen were among those killed, but could not provide further detail. The six others were all Filipinos, he said.

 

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Plane explosion in Philippines kills eight, including two foreigners

Eight dead after Tokyo-bound aircraft crashes in Manila

An airport personnel walks beside the remains of a Lion Air, West Wind 24 aircraft after it caught fire during take off at Manila's International Airport in Philippines on Sunday, March 29, 2020. (AP)

MANILA: Eight people were killed when an ambulance aircraft crashed at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Sunday night.

Initial reports indicate that Lion Air flight RPC 5880 was taking off at NAIA runway 24 when it caught fire and burst into flames about 8 p.m. The aircraft was reportedly on a medical evacuation mission to Haneda in Japan.

 

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A Bolivian military plane crashed on Saturday, killing two crew members and four Spanish citizens who were being transferred before a planned repatriation amid the coronavirus outbreak, the country's Air Force said.

Bolivian light plane crash kills six, including four Spanish citizens
May 2, 2020 - The crash occurred near the southeastern city of Trinidad, from where the passengers were being taken to the larger transport hub of Santa Cruz, the statement said. Bolivia has closed its borders to slow the spread of the pandemic.

Bolivian authorities have set up a panel to investigate the crash and file a report on the incident within eight days, the air force said. It added the light aircraft, a Beechcraft Baron B-55, had crashed early in the afternoon.

Preliminary findings showed that the plane reported that it planned to return to the airport in Trinidad 12 minutes after take-off due to engine failure. Contact with the aircraft was then lost.

 

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2 USAF stealth fighter jets crashed near the same airbase 4 days apart.

F-22 Crashes Near Eglin Air Force Base

An F-22 crashed at approximately 9:15AM LT on May 15, 2020. The location of the accident was 12 miles northeast of Eglin AFB main base on the test and training range.
According to the first reports the aircraft was involved in an America Strong flyover. However, the official statement released by Eglin AFB just says that the Raptor was flying a “training mission”.
According to the local media outlets, the aircraft crashed after completing the flyover but it looks like the incident is separate from the America Strong event (that was cancelled).

F-35A Lightning II Crashes at Eglin AFB, Florida

A USAF F-35A Lightning II has crashed at Eglin AFB in Florida, according to the U.S. Air Force.
At the time of the accident the aircraft was involved in a routine training sortie according to the U.S. Air Force. It is the first time the U.S. Air Force has lost an F-35A Lightning II to an in-flight accident.
The crash occurred at approximately 9:30 PM local time on May 19. Reports of the crash began surfacing on Twitter and across social media at around 11:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 1900 GMT. The Air Force released an official statement about the accident shortly afterward.

Other crashes within a similar timeframe:

May 16:
The plane disappeared from radars in Poland

In Jaryszewo (Obrzycko commune), a search is underway for the aircraft whose pilot reported "mayday".

Mayday's message was heard at the Poznań airport. The aircraft's position was unknown, and it was not known exactly what aircraft type it was. The flight was not registered and was not visible on the radars.

The whole search action, in which about 100 people were involved, brought a negative result. No trace was found that could indicate a broken machine. No aircraft was also found on nearby airfields.

May 17:
Snowbird jet crashes into house in Kamloops

A Canadian Forces Snowbird jet has crashed into a house in Kamloops.
Two jets took off from Kamloops Airport at about 11:30 a.m., bound for Comox, when one rose, then veered to the left and barrel rolled toward the ground, crashing into a house on Glenview Drive, setting the residence on fire.
The Royal Canadian Air Force has confirmed that the crash of a Snowbirds jet in Kamloops on Sunday resulted in the death of one squadron member, with another member sustaining serious injuries.

 

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Over 100 people are feared dead after a passenger plane went down in the Pakistan city of Karachi on Friday afternoon.

https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/passenger-plane-crashes-in-karachi-pakistan/744793
May 22, 2020 - The Airbus 320 jet, carrying 99 passengers and 8 crew members, was minutes away from landing when it crashed in the neighborhood around 2:45 p.m. local time, according to a statement made by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) that owns and operates the jet.

Flight number PK8303 left the airport in the capital city of Lahore earlier in the afternoon and was set to land at Karachi's Jinnah International Airport.

Fire brigade staff try to put out fire caused by plane crash in Karachi, Pakistan, Friday, May 22, 2020. An aviation official says a passenger plane belonging to state-run Pakistan International Airlines carrying more than 100 passengers and crew has crashed near the southern port city of Karachi. There were no immediate reports on the number of casualties. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

"Our crew is trained to handle emergency landings. All my prayers are with the families," PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez said, confirming the crash. A massive search and rescue operation was underway Friday afternoon.

While the PIA made no official statements about survivors of the crash, Dr. Seemi Jamali of Jinnah Hospital told The Independent that two bodies have been brought to the hospital. She said they were both residents of Model Colony.

The Mirror said local media reported as many as 40 bodies being rescued from the site.

Volunteers carry the dead body of a plane crash victim at the site of a crash in Karachi, Pakistan, Friday, May 22, 2020. An aviation official says a passenger plane belonging to state-run Pakistan International Airlines carrying more than 100 passengers and crew has crashed near the southern port city of Karachi. There were no immediate reports on the number of casualties. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

This airplane crash comes amid the global COVID-19 pandemic, Domestic commercial flights in Pakistan had only resumed a few days ago, May 16, after a nationwide lockdown that halted air traffic in the country to help contain the spread of the virus.

The crash also occurred just a day or two before the start of Eid, a festival that marks the end of fasting during Ramadan. Pakistan has one of the largest Muslim populations in the word.

The official cause of the crash is still being investigated. However, PIA chief executive Air Vice Marshal Arshad Malik said the pilot called into traffic control before the crash to report "technical difficulties."

At the time of the crash, weather conditions were calm in the Karachi area.

"Hazy sunshine and dry conditions held throughout the afternoon in Karachi, with light winds," according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Rob Richards.

As clean-up and search and rescue efforts continue, the typical heat and sunshine for this time of year is expected to persist.

"Without much of a change in the weather pattern during the coming days, haze is anticipated to continue for at least several days. This could lead to poorer air quality, which may be unhealthy for sensitive groups," Richards added.

Plane crashes in Pakistan with 99 on board, many feared dead
Slideshow (12 Images)
Plane crashes in Pakistan with 99 on board, many feared dead

Pakistan crash pilot sent Mayday with 'lost engines': liveatc.net
May 22, 2020 - The pilot of a crashed Pakistan International Airlines jet sent a Mayday and told controllers the aircraft had lost power from both its engines on its second attempt to land, according to a recording posted on monitoring website liveatc.net.

After the aircraft reportedly called off an earlier attempt to land and went around for a second attempt, a controller radioed the pilot of flight 8303 that he appeared to be turning left, suggesting he was off-course.

The pilot replied, “We are returning back, sir, we have lost engines,” and the controller cleared the plane to land on either of Karachi airport’s two West-Southwest-facing runways.

Twelve seconds later the pilot called “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday” and was again cleared to use either runway. There was no further communication from the aircraft, reported to be an Airbus A320, according to the audio from liveatc.net, a respected source for in-flight recordings.

 

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The crash is the latest in a string of mishaps that have occurred across the Air Force over the last six weeks.

F-16 Viper Fighter Jet Has Crashed At Shaw Air Force Base In South Carolina (Updated)
July 1, 2020 - Details remain very limited, but a crash involving one of the 20th Fighter Wing's F-16s occurred on the evening of June 30th, 2020 at Shaw Air Force Base (South Carolina). Flames and emergency vehicles could be seen on base as the incident unfolded. As it sits now, the pilot's status is unknown

USAF - A Shaw-based F-16CM.

A statement from the base reads:

A U.S. Air Force F-16CM Fighting Falcon assigned to the 20th Fighter Wing, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. crashed at approximately 2330 yesterday, June 30, 2020, here on base. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was on a routine training mission with one pilot on board.
Shaw Air Force Base emergency responders are on scene. The cause of the crash, as well as the status of the pilot, are unknown at this time.

Shaw AFB is home to three squadrons of Block 50 F-16CMs, which specialize in the suppression/destruction of enemy air defenses and are commonly referred to as Wild Weasels due to their unique mission set.

This crash comes after a major uptick in mishaps across the Air Force in recent months. The loss of an F-15C, F-35A, and an F-22A, as well as major mishaps involving a C-130 and another F-35A, have all occurred within the last six weeks.

UPDATE: It pains us to report that the pilot has been declared dead. A statement from Shaw AFB reads:

The pilot of the F-16CM that crashed at approximately 2330 on June 30, 2020, during a routine training mission here at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., was pronounced dead.

The name of the pilot is being withheld until 24 hours after next of kin notification. Out of respect and consideration for the family, we ask for your patience and to avoid speculation until we release more information.

The craft could be part of one of a number of programs aimed at providing persistent maritime surveillance coverage for the U.S. Navy.
Mysterious Wave Glider Spotted Off Florida Keys Had Electronic Intel Gathering System (Updated)

via H.I. Sutton - A closer look at the Wave Glider spotted off Key West.

June 29, 2020 - Last week, boaters sailing off the Florida Keys caught sight of an unusual small unmanned surface vessel festooned with antennas. By every indication, the craft appears to be Wave Glider from Liquid Robotics, which is now a division of Boeing. Its configuration, including a prominent antenna array associated with electronic intelligence-gathering systems, points to its involvement in one of a number of persistent maritime surveillance projects, which have been a growing area of interest for the U.S. military, and for the U.S. Navy in particular, in recent years.

FishMonster Magazine, which is "all about the fishing, diving and boating lifestyle in the Florida Keys, Cuba and the Bahamas," posted the video on its Facebook page on June 24, 2020. Captain Marlin Scott narrates the video from his boat, the Premium Time, which operates as part of FishMonster Charters.

"I have no idea what it is," Scott says in the video. "Its got transponders on it. It looks like its got antennas." Our friend H.I. Sutton, an expert on all things that sail under the waves, was first to identify the underlying craft as most likely a Liquid Robotics Wave Glider. The "float" seen bobbing the surface is just one part of the complete system and is linked via a 26-foot-long cable to another one underwater.

The momentum of the currents propels the underwater float, pulling the entire system along. In the case of Liquid Robotics' design, the float on the surface also has solar panels that can provide power to a small motor to provide auxiliary propulsion, if necessary. The video below shows how the basic design works.

The example that Captain Scott and his passengers spotted off the Keys has a number of features that do not appear on any of the Wave Gliders in any of Liquid Robotics promotional materials. Most notably, it has an antenna array mounted on an x-shaped frame fitted to the top of the float on the surface. (Article continues.)

 

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A Dutch military helicopter crashed in the Caribbean Sea near the island of Aruba, killing two of the four people on board, the Dutch defence ministry said on Monday.

Dutch military helicopter crashes in Caribbean, two killed
July 20, 2020 - Rob Bauer, the Dutch armed forces chief, said it was not clear what caused the helicopter to crash some 12.5 kilometres (7.77 miles) off the coast of the Dutch island at the end of a coast patrol surveillance flight on Sunday.

The helicopter’s 34-year-old pilot Christine Martens and 33-year old tactical coordinator Erwin Warnies were killed. The other two crew members were not seriously injured, Bauer said.

Pending an investigation into the crash, all Dutch NH90 helicopters will be grounded until further notice. There was no immediate comment from NHIndustries, the helicopter’s manufacturer based in Aix en Provence, France.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte said he was shocked by the crash and offered his condolences to the victims’ families.

 

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BOGOTA - Eleven Colombian military personnel were missing and six injured after a helicopter crashed in the southeast of the country during an operation against guerillas, the army said on Tuesday (July 21).

11 missing, 6 injured in Colombian military helicopter crash

Members of the Colombian Air Force applaud during the 210th anniversary of the country's independence in Bogota, on July 20, 2020.PHOTO: AFP

The Blackhawk helicopter was carrying 17 military personnel when it went down. The armed forces high command did not reveal whether it was shot down or whether it was an accident.

Authorities found the helicopter in a stretch of the river Inirida in Guaviare state, an area where dissident former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) guerillas are active.

Farc rebels laid down their arms in a historic 2016 peace deal that ended a half century of conflict and turned the guerillas into a communist political party.

But more than 2,000 dissidents, according to authorities, refused to join the 13,000 rebels that signed the peace deal and continue to resist the government, financing themselves though drug-trafficking and illegal mining.

The army said the helicopter was taking part in an operation against dissidents in an area where there are drug plantations.

The army's air assault division said in a statement it was "on site beginning the corresponding investigations to determine the circumstances regarding the time, manner and place that the events occurred." The more than half century conflict left nine million people dead, missing or displaced.

 

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An ultra-light plane smashed into the roof of a five-story residential building in the town of Wesel in northwestern Germany.

3 Killed As Small Plane Crashes into House in Germany (+Video) - World news - Tasnim News Agency

July, 26, 2020 - At least three people were killed in the crash, with two others injured, including a child.

The roof of the apartment building in the town of Wesel caught fire after the microlight plane crashed into it, a police spokesman said.

Witnesses told local media that the aircraft had collided with a hot-air balloon shortly before the crash.

 

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17 dead, 173 hospitalized after Air India Express flight skids off runway in Kerala with 191 people on board, splits in two

An Air India Express passenger flight en route from Dubai with 191 people on board overshot the runway during landing at Kerala's Kozhikode airport. Police officials confirmed 17 deaths with another 173 injured.
Officials also confirmed that both the pilot and co-pilot perished in the disastrous crash landing.

Media reports said the plane overshot the runway, fell into a valley and broke up. Images and video circulating on social media showed the aircraft broken into two pieces with rescue operations underway.

India's NDTV news said all those surviving on board had been evacuated from the aircraft.

The disaster happened at around 7PM local time amid heavy rainfall in the area.

India's Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri told the DD News broadcaster that the captain "could not land the first time" due to weather conditions and had turned around and tried to approach the airport from another direction.

The Blood Donors India volunteer group has issued an urgent plea for people to come forward to donate blood at two hospitals in the city of Kozhikode.

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