Ryanair – Malta – 2013

On April 9, 2013 a Ryanair Boeing 737-800, registration EI-DWP performing flight FR-3883 from Malta (Malta) to London Luton, EN (UK), departed Luqa Airport’s runway 13 when upon rotation for takeoff the crew received indication the tail of the aircraft had contacted the runway surface. The crew stopped the climb at 5000 feet and returned to Malta for a safe landing on runway 13 about 35 minutes after departure.

Tail scrape on take-off

Air Berlin – Dresden – 2013

On April 5, 2013 an Air Berlin Boeing 737-800, registration D-ABBJ performing flight AB-3222 from Muenster (Germany) to Antalya (Turkey) with 114 passengers, was enroute at FL390 about 30nm southeast of Dresden (Germany) when the crew decided to divert to Dresden due to a possible tyre problem. The aircraft landed safely on Dresden’s runway 04 about 25 minutes later.

Possible tyre problem

Vueling – Santiago de Compostela – 2013

On April 1st, 2013 a Vueling Airbus A320-200, registration EC-HTD performing flight VY-1673 from Santiago De Compostela, SP to Barcelona, SP (Spain), was climbing out of Santiago Compostela’s runway 35 when the crew reported electrical problems, stopped the climb at 5000 feet and returned to Santiago Compostela for a safe landing on runway 35.

Electrical problems

Ryanair – Gothenburg – 2013

On March 29, 2013, Sweden’s Haverikommission (SAIB) released their final report on the incident occurring on May 8, 2012. It concludes:

- The door was closed before the cabin crew member was completely prepared

- There was a certain element of stress due to the delay and the returning of the waste

- It was not established how the all-clear signal to remove the stairs was to be given

- The door was opened without a full appraisal of the associated risks

SAIB Report

Germanwings – Prague – 2013

On March 26, 2013 a Germanwings Airbus A319-100, registration D-AKNN performing flight LH-2141 from Moscow Vnukovo (Russia) to Stuttgart (Germany) with 144 passengers and 5 crew, was enroute at FL320 about 65nm west of Prague (Czech Republic) when the crew reported they had unreliable airspeed and decided to divert to Prague. During the approach the crew indicated they were expecting a normal landing but needed the emergency services on stand by.

Unreliable airspeed

Vueling – Toulouse – 2013

On March 24, 2013 a Vueling Airbus A320-200, registration EC-KDG performing flight VY-8502 from Barcelona,SP (Spain) to Aalborg (Denmark), had just reached cruise level 380 about 10nm south of Toulouse (France) when the crew initiated an emergency descent (average rate of descent 3800 fpm) due to the loss of cabin pressure and diverted to Toulouse for a safe landing on runway 14R about 30 minutes later.

Loss of cabin pressure

Vueling – Barcelona – 2013

On March 20, 2013 a Vueling Airbus A320-200, registration EC-ICS performing flight VY-1574 from Oviedo,SP to Barcelona,SP (Spain) with 168 passengers, was on final approach to Barcelona’s runway 25R when the aircraft went around from about 700 feet reporting problems with the nose wheel steering and entered a hold at 4000 feet to run the relevant checklists. The aircraft landed safely on Barcelona’s runway 25R about 25 minutes later.

Failure of nose wheel steering

EasyJet – Bristol – 2013

On March 12th, 2013 an Easyjet Airbus A319-100, registration G-EZFV performing flight U2-6407 from Newcastle,EN (UK) to Malaga,SP (Spain), was enroute at FL390 about 50nm southwest of Bristol,EN (UK) when the crew donned their oxygen masks, declared emergency and diverted to Bristol for a safe landing on runway 09 about 23 minutes later. A passenger reported there had been fire on board.

Fire on board

Iberia Express – Lanzarote – 2013

On March 9th, 2013, an Iberia Express A320 flying from Lanzarote to Madrid took off from Lanzarote at 13:55. Shortly after take off the crew detected a problem with one the doors that would compromise flying the entire leg. As a measure of precaution, the pilot in command decided to turn around and land in Lanzarote. Upon examination the faulty door was repaired and the plane took off again.

Faulty door

EasyJet – Amsterdam – 2013

On March, 4th 2013, an Easyjet Airbus A319-100, registration G-EZDX performing flight U2-2160 from Amsterdam (Netherlands) to London Luton,EN (UK), was climbing out of Amsterdam’s runway 18L crossing the runway end and retracting gear when the aircraft flew through a flock of birds ingesting a number of birds into the left hand engine. The crew stopped the climb at 2000 feet reporting they had vibration indications for the left hand engine and returned to Amsterdam for a safe landing on runway 27 about 11 minutes after departure and stopped on the runway for an inspection by emergency services.

Bird strike

Ryanair – Pisa – 2013

On February 19th, 2013, a Ryanair flight from Pisa to Brussels stopped before take off on Wednesday for a suspected gas leak was given the green light to go after checks by fire department examiners and technicians. The plane with 100 passengers on board was halted before reaching the runway when ground crew spotted liquid leaking from the craft.

Fuel leak

Ryanair – Pisa – 2013

On Ferbruary 18th, 2013, a Ryanair Boeing 737-800, registration EI-DHE performing flight FR-9935 from Pisa to Cagliari (Italy), was climbing out of Pisa’s runway 04R when a coffee maker overheated and emitted smoke prompting the crew to stop the climb at 5000 feet and return to Pisa for a safe landing on runway 04R about 12 minutes after departure. By the time of the landing the smoke had already subsided and the aircraft taxied to the gate.

Hot coffee maker

Ryanair – Dublin – 2013

On February 15th, 2013, a Ryanair flight FR227, from ­London Stansted to Dublin, landed and was cleared to vacate the runway, completed a 180 degree turn back down the runway. There were other aircraft on approach to land on this runway, which were being monitored by air traffic control and as the other aircraft was still on the runway these aircraft were instructed to perform a missed approach. The Irish Aviation Authority is investigating the incident, in which FR227 attempted another unauthorised turn before being directed onto another exit. A statement from the IAA revealed that the incident was being treated seriously.

 180-degree turn around on a runway

Ryanair – Marseille – 2013

On January 23rd, 2013, a Ryanair Boeing 737-800, registration EI-DCX performing flight FR-4632 from Valencia,SP (Spain) to Milan Bergamo (Italy) with 93 passengers, was enroute about 65nm south of Marseille (France) and 200nm southwest of Genoa (Italy) climbing from FL360 to FL400, when just upon reaching FL400 the crew initiated an emergency descent to 9000 feet reaching 9000 feet about 9 minutes later (average rate of descent 3450 feet per minute), the passenger oxygen masks were released. The aircraft diverted to Genoa (Italy) for a safe landing about 45 minutes after leaving FL400. Two female passengers complained about chest pain and fainted, they were taken to a hospital.

Loss of cabin pressure

Flybe – Belfast – 2013

On February 11th, 2013, a Flybe de Havilland Dash 8-400, registration G-FLBA performing flight BE-409 from Belfast City,NI to Birmingham,EN (UK), was accelerating for takeoff when after a few seconds the crew rejected takeoff at low speed. The aircraft slowed safely and taxied back to the gate.

Rejected takeoff

EasyJet – Venice – 2013

On February 11th, 2013, an Easyjet Switzerland Airbus A319-100, registration HB-JZJ performing flight U2-1327 from Geneva (Switzerland) to Venice (Italy), was on final approach to Venice’s runway 04R about 3nm before touchdown at approx 18:35L (17:35Z) when the aircraft went around, climbed to 5000 feet and diverted to Triest (Italy), where the aircraft landed safely on runway 09 about 35 minutes later.

Lightning Strike

Ryanair – Rotterdam – 2013

On February 10th, 2013, a Transavia Boeing 737-800, registration PH-HZX performing flight HV-6833 from Rotterdam (Netherlands) to Innsbruck (Austria) with 158 passengers and 6 crew, was climbing out of Rotterdam’s runway 24 when the crew stopped the climb at FL100 reporting they had needed to shut the left hand engine (CFM56) down due to oil pressure and oil temperature indications and requested to divert to Amsterdam (Netherlands). The aircraft landed on Amsterdam’s runway 18C about 30 minutes later.

Engine shutdown in flight

Ryanair – Shannon – 2013

On February 4th, 2013, a Ryanair Boeing 737-800, registration EI-DCW performing flight FR-1173 from Wroclaw (Poland) to Shannon (Ireland), was maintaining FL080 on approach to Shannon’s runway 24 and had just been cleared to 3000 feet and the ILS approach to runway 24 together with information about up to moderate turbulence with windshear of +/- 20 knots, when the crew advised they had an altitude disagree indication and requested to maintain FL080 to work the checklists. The crew subsequently reported that one of their altitude indicators showed FL080, the other FL085, one of their airspeed indicators read 150 knots which was definitely too slow, approach control reported the aircraft was showing FL085 on their radar, after completing the checklists the crew concluded they had unreliable altitude and airspeed indications and decided to divert to Dublin. The aircraft maintained FL080 on the way to Dublin, the crew advised they would be able to taxi normally after landing. The aircraft landed safely on Dublin’s runway 28 about 30 minutes after aborting the approach to Shannon and taxied to the gate now indicating normal operation.

Unreliable airspeed and altitude

Germanwings – Cologne – 2013

On January 29th, 2013, a Germanwings Airbus A319-100, registration D-AGWR performing flight 4U-824 from Cologne (German) to Milan Malpensa (Italy), was taxiing for departure shortly after engine start when a flight attendant in the rear of the cabin observed smoke entering the cabin. The aircraft returned to the gate, the passengers disembarked normally, emergency services responded but found no trace of fire or heat. 3 crew and 2 passengers were taken to a hospital with breathing difficulties.

Smoke in cabin

EasyJet – Malta – 2012

On January 21st, 2013, an Easyjet Airbus A320-200, registration G-EZTF performing flight U2-8824 from Malta (Malta) to London Gatwick,EN (UK), was climbing out of Malta’s runway 31 when the crew reported the failure and shut down of the left hand engine (CFM56) and returned to Malta for a safe landing on runway 31 about 20 minutes after departure. Emergency services checked the left hand engine on the runway, the aircraft subsequently taxied to the gate.

Engine shut down