Air Berlin – Dusseldorf – 2011

On December 23rd, 2011, an Air Berlin Airbus A330-200, registration D-ALPG performing flight AB-7150 from Dusseldorf (Germany) to Bangkok (Thailand), was climbing out of Dusseldorf when the crew received an unsafe gear indication after retracting the gear and levelled off at FL100 for about one hour. The crew subsequently decided to continue the flight and climbed to FL370. Upon reaching the Black Sea about 140nm north of Istanbul the crew decided to divert to Istanbul’s Ataturk reporting a technical fault and landed safely on runway 35L about 3:40 hours after departure.

Air Berlin A332 at Dusseldorf and Istanbul on Dec 23rd 2011, unsafe gear

Ryanair – Bergamo – 2011

On December 23rd, 2011, a Ryanair Boeing 737-800, registration EI-DLS performing flight FR-4732 from Berlin Schoenefeld (Germany) to Milan Bergamo (Italy), ingested a bird into its right hand engine (CFM56) while on approach to Bergamo. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on runway 28.

Ryanair B738 at Bergamo on Dec 23rd 2011, bird strike

easyJet – Asturias – 2011

On December 14th 2011, an Easyjet Airbus A319-100, registration G-EZIZ performing flight U2-3085 from London Stansted,EN (UK) to Asturias,SP (Spain), was on approach to Asturias Airport (runway length 7200 feet/2200 meters) about 50nm north of the aerodrome, when the crew aborted the approach at FL220 due to technical problems. The crew subsequently decided to divert to Madrid,SP (Spain), climbed back to FL300, requested emergency services on stand by in Madrid and landed safely on runway 18R (length 14,260 feet/4350 meters) of Madrid’s Barajas Airport about 50 minutes after aborting the approach to Asturias.

Easyjet A319 near Asturias on Dec 14th 2011, technical problems

Air Berlin – Madrid – 2011

On December 12th, 2011, an Air Berlin Airbus A320-200, registration D-ABFG performing flight AB-7522 from Palma Mallorca,SP to Santiago de Compostela,SP (Spain), was enroute at FL390 about 20nm north of Madrid,SP when the crew decided to divert to Madrid due to a fuel leak. The aircraft landed safely on Madrid’s runway 18R about 23 minutes later.

Air Berlin A320 near Madrid on Dec 12th 2011, fuel leak

Air Berlin – New York – 2011

On December 8th, 2011, an Air Berlin Airbus A330-200, registration D-ALPE performing flight AB-7451 from New York JFK,NY (USA) to Dusseldorf (Germany), was enroute at FL370 about 130nm west of St. John’s,NL (Canada) when the crew reported an unidentifyable odour on board, turned around and requested to divert to Bangor,MA (USA). The crew subsequently decided to return to New York’s JFK Airport for a safe landing on runway 31R with emergency services on stand by about 2:40 hours later. The incident aircraft was able to depart again after about 17 hours on the ground in New York and reached Dusseldorf with a total delay of 22 hours.

Air Berlin A332 over Atlantic on Dec 8th 2011, odour on board

Ryanair – Eindhoven – 2011

On Tuesday, December 6th 2011, a Ryanair Boeing 737-800, registration EI-EFE performing flight FR-5268 from Seville,SP (Spain) to Eindhoven (Netherlands) with 156 passengers and 6 crew, was on approach to Eindhoven about 15 minutes prior to estimated landing when the crew reported unreliable airspeed. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on Eindhoven’s runway 22 at a higher than normal speed about 13 minutes later. Police reported an airspeed indication system failed.

Ryanair B738 near Eindhoven on Dec 6th 2011, unreliable airspeed

Ryanair – Dublin – 2011

On December 5, 2011, a Ryanair Boeing 737-800, registration EI-DCL performing flight FR-771 from Prestwick,SC (UK) to Dublin (Ireland), aborted the approach to Dublin’s runway 28 reporting leading edge slat problems and entered a holding at 3000 feet for about 30 minutes. While the crew initially indicated they would not need services on stand by, the crew subsequently declared PAN, requested services on stand by and indicated they would need to land at a minimum speed of 180 KIAS and could do only shallow turns. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on Dublin’s runway 28 at a higher than normal speed about 40 minutes after aborting the first approach.

Ryanair B738 at Dublin on Dec 5th 2011, slat problem