Fight Breaks Out On Airplane, Caught on Tape

Can you imagine what would happen if this would have happened in the United States?

A fight that broke out in the aisle of a Lebanese airline has been uploaded online. The fight reportedly took place on Monday, March 12th, on a MEA (Middle Eastern Airlines) flight between Paris, France and Beruit, Lebanon. According to MEA’s website, the only flight operating between these two cities on that day would have been flight 210, an Airbus A330-200.

According to a Lebanese online news site (which according to Google is written in French), the fight began about 40 minutes prior to the aircraft’s arrival into Beirut when a drunk man began to harrass a female passenger. Upon seeing this, a fellow passenger steps in, obviously escalating the situation. According to sources, the two men were also fighting over where each was from – one being from South Lebanon and the other being from Bekaa – I can only assume this is much like the rivalry between the South and the North here in the United States.

Eventually the Captain had to step in – explaining that if the two men did not return to their seats the aircraft was going to divert to Larnaca, Cyprus where the two would be handed over to authorities. Needless to say, diversion or not, the two had several police officers waiting for them on the ground once the flight arrived at the Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beurit.

About the Airline

Middle Eastern Airlines is the flag carrier of Lebanon. Based out of the Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport, MEA employs a fleet of 15 aircraft – consisting of seven Airbus A320′s, four Airbus A321′s, and four Airbus A330′s – to 31 destinations in the Middle East, Europe, and Western Africa. Although they had prior service to New York’s JFK Airport, MEA does not currently fly to any destination in the United States.

While no serious accidents have occurred as of late, MEA has been the victim of a few bombings and attacks. In January of 1976, a Boeing 720 crashed near Al Qaysumah, Saudi Arabia after the aircraft broke up in mid-air after a bomb exploded in the cargo compartment.

The aircraft this happened aboard is an Airbus A330-200, a “widebody” typically used for international and long-haul flights. Three US Airlines operate this type, including Delta, US Airways, and Hawaiian.

The video can be found in the original article published on The Charlotte Flying Daily News by clicking HERE!

Fatal Accident in Missouri Lake Claims One

One person is dead following a fatal accident on a Missouri lake yesterday. An experimental amphibious aircraft flipped while attempting to land on Table Rock Lake outside of Kemberling City on Tuesday, killing the sole occupant. Yesterday was also not a good day for aircraft operated by Delta Air Lines. According to preliminary NTSB reports filed today, Delta was involved in three incidents, including a mishap during maintenance which ended in an aircraft sliding down an embankment and a bird strike. No passengers or occupants were injured during any.

 

Glasair Sportsman on Floats, similar to the one in Tuesday’s accident. (Spartan7W)

Location:              Kimberling City, MO

Time:                     9:45 PM

Aircraft Type:   Glastar Sportsman (Experimental – Amphibian)

Registration:      N627RM

Damage:              Substantial

# Onboard:         1

Injuries:               1 Fatal

Description:        While attempting a water landing on Table Rock Lake, the aircraft flipped over, killing the pilot.

News Story:       Fatal Plane Crash at Table Rock Lake

 

A Delta Air Lines Boeing 737-700, like the one above, ran off a taxiway in Atlanta while undergoing maintenance. (Flickr/redlegsfan21)

Location:             Atlanta, GA

Time:                    9:05 AM

Airline:                 Delta Air Lines

Aircraft Type:    Boeing 737-700

Registration:      N309DE

Damage:              Unknown – reports say substantial.

# Onboard:         2

Injuries:               None

Description:       A Delta Air Lines Boeing 737-700 veered off taxiway during maintenance test and slid down an embankment. No passengers were onboard at the time.

News Story:     Delta Boeing 737-700 Slips Down Embankment in Atlanta

 

Delta Air Lines McDonnell Douglas MD-80 (Flickr/Mr. T in DC)

Location:             Baltimore, MD

Time:                    11:52 PM

Airline:                 Delta Air Lines

Aircraft Type:   McDonnell Douglas MD-80

Registration:      Unknown

Damage:              Unknown

# Onboard:         Unknown

Injuries:               None

Description:       Delta Flight 1571, from New York-JFK to Miami, experienced an engine compression issue and diverted without incident to Baltimore, MD.

Flight Track:       Flight Aware Flight Track

 

A Delta Air Lines Boeing 757 struck geese on takeoff from MSP. (Flickr/skinnylawyer)

Location:             Minneapolis, MN

Time:                    6:09 PM

Airline:                 Delta Air Lines

Aircraft Type:    Boeing 757

Registration:      N631DL

Damage:              Minor

# Onboard:         Unknown

Injuries:               None

Description:       Delta Flight 2105, from Minneapolis to San Francisco, struck geese while departing. Aircraft returned to Minneapolis without incident. Geese struck windshield.

 

A De Havilland Beaver on Floats

Location:             Port Johnson Prince of Wales, AK

Time:                    6:40 PM

Company:           Southeast Aviation

Aircraft Type:  De Havilland Beaver (DHC-2)

Registration:      N82SF

Damage:              Unknown

# Onboard:         2

Injuries:               2 Serious

Description:       Aircraft force landed on beach while enroute from Niblack to Ketchikan for unknown reasons. Event happened 27 miles from Ketchikan.

 

A Beechcraft Baron, a light twin engine aircraft, struck runway lights while landing on New Bedford. (Flickr/DWissman)

Location:             New Bedford, MA

Time:                    10:18 PM

Aircraft Type:  Beechcraft Baron

Registration:      N58KT

Damage:              Unknown

# Onboard:         1

Injuries:               None

Description:       Aircraft veered off runway and struck lights upon landing at airport.

 

 

 

A Super Cub replica, modeled after one like this, flipped while attempting to land in Arizona. (Charlotte Flying Photo)

Location:             Saint Johns, AZ

Time:                    4:50 PM

Aircraft Type:  Smith Aviation Super Cub (Experimental – Replica)

Registration:      N712AZ

Damage:              Substantial

# Onboard:         2

Injuries:               1 Minor

Description:       While flipped over while attempting to land.

 

 

An experimental helicopter crashed in Tennessee under unknown circumstances. (Akradecki)

Location:             Hixson, TN

Time:                    9:46 PM

Aircraft Type:    Safari Rotorcraft (Experimental)

Registration:      N105KM

Damage:              Unknown

# Onboard:         2

Injuries:               2 Minor

Description:       Crashed for unknown reasons near Hixson, TN. Weather was VFR at the time.

 

 

 

A Cessna 210, like the one above, crashed for unknown circumstances, seriously injuring one.

Location:             Rabbit Hash, KY

Time:                    2:45 AM

Aircraft Type:  Cessna 210

Registration:      N2275R

Damage:              Unknown

# Onboard:         1

Injuries:               1 Serious

Description:       Aircraft crashed for unknown reasons. Sole occupant was seriously injured.

 

 **Please note that articles are constantly updated – to make sure you are reading the current version, please view the full and original article which can be found at The Charlotte Flying Daily News by clicking HERE.** 

One person is dead following a fatal accident on a Missouri lake yesterday. An experimental amphibious aircraft flipped while attempting to land on Table Rock Lake outside of Kemberling City on Tuesday, killing the sole occupant. Yesterday was also not a good day for aircraft operated by Delta Air Lines. According to preliminary NTSB reports filed today, Delta was involved in three incidents, including a mishap during maintenance which ended in an aircraft sliding down an embankment and a bird strike. No passengers or occupants were injured during any.

 

Glasair Sportsman on Floats, similar to the one in Tuesday’s accident. (Spartan7W)

Location:              Kimberling City, MO

Time:                     9:45 PM

Aircraft Type:   Glastar Sportsman (Experimental – Amphibian)

Registration:      N627RM

Damage:              Substantial

# Onboard:         1

Injuries:               1 Fatal

Description:        While attempting a water landing on Table Rock Lake, the aircraft flipped over, killing the pilot.

News Story:       Fatal Plane Crash at Table Rock Lake

 

A Delta Air Lines Boeing 737-700, like the one above, ran off a taxiway in Atlanta while undergoing maintenance. (Flickr/redlegsfan21)

Location:             Atlanta, GA

Time:                    9:05 AM

Airline:                 Delta Air Lines

Aircraft Type:    Boeing 737-700

Registration:      N309DE

Damage:              Unknown – reports say substantial.

# Onboard:         2

Injuries:               None

Description:       A Delta Air Lines Boeing 737-700 veered off taxiway during maintenance test and slid down an embankment. No passengers were onboard at the time.

News Story:     Delta Boeing 737-700 Slips Down Embankment in Atlanta

 

Delta Air Lines McDonnell Douglas MD-80 (Flickr/Mr. T in DC)

Location:             Baltimore, MD

Time:                    11:52 PM

Airline:                 Delta Air Lines

Aircraft Type:   McDonnell Douglas MD-80

Registration:      Unknown

Damage:              Unknown

# Onboard:         Unknown

Injuries:               None

Description:       Delta Flight 1571, from New York-JFK to Miami, experienced an engine compression issue and diverted without incident to Baltimore, MD.

Flight Track:       Flight Aware Flight Track

 

A Delta Air Lines Boeing 757 struck geese on takeoff from MSP. (Flickr/skinnylawyer)

Location:             Minneapolis, MN

Time:                    6:09 PM

Airline:                 Delta Air Lines

Aircraft Type:    Boeing 757

Registration:      N631DL

Damage:              Minor

# Onboard:         Unknown

Injuries:               None

Description:       Delta Flight 2105, from Minneapolis to San Francisco, struck geese while departing. Aircraft returned to Minneapolis without incident. Geese struck windshield.

 

A De Havilland Beaver on Floats

Location:             Port Johnson Prince of Wales, AK

Time:                    6:40 PM

Company:           Southeast Aviation

Aircraft Type:  De Havilland Beaver (DHC-2)

Registration:      N82SF

Damage:              Unknown

# Onboard:         2

Injuries:               2 Serious

Description:       Aircraft force landed on beach while enroute from Niblack to Ketchikan for unknown reasons. Event happened 27 miles from Ketchikan.

 

A Beechcraft Baron, a light twin engine aircraft, struck runway lights while landing on New Bedford. (Flickr/DWissman)

Location:             New Bedford, MA

Time:                    10:18 PM

Aircraft Type:  Beechcraft Baron

Registration:      N58KT

Damage:              Unknown

# Onboard:         1

Injuries:               None

Description:       Aircraft veered off runway and struck lights upon landing at airport.

 

 

 

A Super Cub replica, modeled after one like this, flipped while attempting to land in Arizona. (Charlotte Flying Photo)

Location:             Saint Johns, AZ

Time:                    4:50 PM

Aircraft Type:  Smith Aviation Super Cub (Experimental – Replica)

Registration:      N712AZ

Damage:              Substantial

# Onboard:         2

Injuries:               1 Minor

Description:       While flipped over while attempting to land.

 

 

An experimental helicopter crashed in Tennessee under unknown circumstances. (Akradecki)

Location:             Hixson, TN

Time:                    9:46 PM

Aircraft Type:    Safari Rotorcraft (Experimental)

Registration:      N105KM

Damage:              Unknown

# Onboard:         2

Injuries:               2 Minor

Description:       Crashed for unknown reasons near Hixson, TN. Weather was VFR at the time.

 

 

 

A Cessna 210, like the one above, crashed for unknown circumstances, seriously injuring one.

Location:             Rabbit Hash, KY

Time:                    2:45 AM

Aircraft Type:  Cessna 210

Registration:      N2275R

Damage:              Unknown

# Onboard:         1

Injuries:               1 Serious

Description:       Aircraft crashed for unknown reasons. Sole occupant was seriously injured.

 

 **Please note that articles are constantly updated – to make sure you are reading the current version, please view the full and original article which can be found at The Charlotte Flying Daily News by clicking HERE.** 

FAA OK’s Gun Range in Flight Path of Airport

Despite complaints by neighbors and pilots, FAA officials have stated they see no problem with a gun range being located near the Custer County Airport in Custer, South Dakota (southwest of Grand Rapids). Opponents of the gun range, which has been open since November, state noise and concerns of ricocheting bullets hitting aircraft (really?) or injuring innocent bystanders driving down the nearby highway as the reasons for their displeasure.

“We have to shut this shooting range down, I can’t go out on my deck and have a barbecue with my wife and kids. I’m afraid one of us is going to get killed,” says Bob Plaisted, who lives near the Southern Hills Tactical shooting range.

Before you jump on the “I can’t believe they built a gun range next to an airport” bandwagon, let’s look at a few facts. First, the runway is 20 feet higher than the gun range and surrounded by berms – effectively reducing any chance that a bullet’s trajectory could strike an aircraft. Secondly, the gun range has an agreement to halt firing when an aircraft is landing or departing the airport. Thirdly, there is no skeet shooting at this range – and guns are not allowed to be discharged into the air.

And in case you’re wondering how busy this airport is, Custer County sees approximately 66 aircraft movements a week, or about 9 a day. Not exactly busy by any standards.

Opponents of the range piled into a standing room only meeting with federal officials Tuesday, hoping to hear word that the “dangerous” gun range would be shut down. Unfortunately for them, they heard the opposite – with the FAA stating that there is no safety issue and the range may continue to operate. Good.

 

Another One Bites The Dust 

The city of Cincinnati has flip-flopped on its plans to reconfigure the Blue Ash Airport, a general aviation airport located north of Cincinnati. City officials state the reason for the closure of the 91 year old airport is money – that it would cost the city millions to upgrade the airport to something which would be economically feasible. Of course, part of the reason for the money problem might be the decision by city officials to turn down approximately $500,000 in federal aid to the airport (so they would be free to shut down the airport if they pleased, if the city received federal aid then the FAA would have a say in closing the airport), or the fact they lost a chance to acquire a $3.1 million grant from the FAA last year because the city wanted to illegally spend the money it received from the sale of 130 acres of airport property (regulations require that money from the sale of airport land be spent on aviation related uses – or else face a huge fine. It wasn’t going to be).

What does Blue Ash plan to do with the land once the airport is closed? Build a park on it. Yeah, we all saw how well that turned out in Chicago…

 

Southwest Says It Won’t Make 1Q Profit – Blames Fuel Prices

Do you cringe every time you fill up at the pump? You aren’t the only one. A 15 cent difference in forecasted jet fuel prices, along with weakened ticket bookings in February, has caused Southwest Airlines to project a loss during the 1^st quarter. Despite raising fares ten times in the past year in an effort to fight rising fuel prices, the company still hasn’t seen the increase in revenue that it had hoped.

They aren’t the only ones though – most carriers, including US Airways, Delta, American, and United, are expected to post 1^st quarter losses. Only a hand full of carriers, mostly low cost carriers such as Spirit and Allegiant, are expected to post a profit.

 

**Please note that articles are constantly updated – to make sure you are reading the current version, please view the full and original article which can be found at The Charlotte Flying Daily News by clicking HERE.** 

Will TSA Soon Be a Thing of the Past?

It’s not just passengers who are sick of TSA, add a whole airport to the list – Orlando-Sanford, a secondary airport north of Orlando which serves several European charter airlines and domestic low cost carriers. This isn’t the first time airport president Larry Dale has tried to kick TSA out of his airport, he tried two years ago but failed after TSA denied his request (did you really think they were going to “fire” themselves?).

The reason he wants them gone? To create a more customer friendly environment.  US Rep. John Micaof nearby Winter Park seems to agree with the customer service part, stating “I want to get it [TSA] out of the human resources business and back to security.”

He also stated that the agency has become an inefficient bureaucracy with too many managers.

Another reason to go to privatized security? Cost. CNN reported last year that the federal government could save $1 Billion over five years by converting TSA screeners to privately held positions.

Before you start thinking that an airport kicking TSA out is weird, think again. Sixteen airports across the country participate in TSA’sScreening Partnership Program, which allows private companies to staff checkpoints. These airports are (along with their enplanements per the year 2010, according to FAA statistics)

• San Francisco, CA – 19,359,003

• Kansas City, MO – 4,946,173

• Sioux Falls, SD – 355,939

• Rochester, NY – 1,263,965

• Tupelo, MS – 12,749

• Jackson Hole, WY – 288,325

• Key West, FL – 287,359

• Sonoma, CA – 92,778

• Roswell, NM – 38,850

• Havre City-County, MT – 901

• Lewistown, MT – 704

• Glasgow, MT – 1,630

• L.M. Clayton, MT – 464

• Sidney-Richland, MT – 3,659

• Dawson Community, MT – 427

• Frank Wiley Field, MT – 1,033

 

If Sanford becomes the 17^th airport to switch over from TSA’s control, it will be the 4^th largest to do so, having 553,892 enplanements per year. One thing that is important to note – of the 16 airports with private security, six of them have enplanements of under 1,050, less than what most airports see in one day! To put enplanement numbers in perspective, San Fran ranked 8^th in the country for the year 2010. US Airway’s largest hub, Charlotte, ranked 11^th.

**Please note that articles are constantly updated – to make sure you are reading the current version, please view the full and original article which can be found at The Charlotte Flying Daily News by clicking HERE.**

Accident Report for Monday March 12th

The Accident Report for Monday March 12th is now up at The Charlotte Flying Daily News. 

Of the following, one involved an airline, one involved a flight school, two involved helicopters (both attempting landings on rigs), and none were fatal. One incident made national news – a Stinson 108 crashed into a hilltop in California, subsequently igniting a small fire. The pilot,  Davis Zeituni, and his passenger both survived the crash. 

It is also not a good start of the week for Direct Air’s “carriers”. Not only did Direct Air have to cancel all of their flights today, one of their carriers, Xtra Airways, had a 737 blow a tire upon landing in Texas. No one was injured.

View the article at The Charlotte Flying Daily News by clicking HERE!

Myrtle Beach Based Direct Air Cancels All Flights

Myrtle Beach based Direct Air has canceled all flights with no answer on when they will resume service. According to the Sun News, Myrtle Beach Airport Manager Mike LaPier states that the flights were cancelled due to a fueling issue – the exact nature of that issue has not been released.

Direct Air is not a scheduled air carrier such as US Airways or Delta Air Lines, but instead leases aircraft to charter airlines. It is classified as a “virtual airline”, having no fleet of its own and outsourcing every possible operational function it can while still maintaining control of its own business.  Current operators of Direct Air’s flights include Xtra Airways, Word Atlantic Airlines, Sky King, and USA Jet.

Direct Air “flies” to 17 destinations, which includes:

• Allentown, PA

• Columbus, OH

• Ft. Myers, FL

• Gulfport, MS

• Kalamazoo, MI

• Myrtle Beach, SC (HUB)

• Newark, NJ

• Niagra Falls, NY

• Orlando, FL (Sanford)

• Lakeland, FL

• Pittsburg, PA

• Plattsburgh, NY

• Chicago, IL

• Springfield, IL

• Toledo, OH

• Worchester, MA

• West Palm Beach, FL

 

Direct Air’s “fleet” consists of the following:

• Three Boeing 737-400’s, two owned and operated by Xtra Airways and one owned and operated by Sky King.

• Two McDonnell Douglas MD-80’s, owned and operated by World Atlantic Airlines.

**The full and original article can be found at The Charlotte Flying Daily News by clicking HERE.** 

Delta Boeing 737-700 Slips Down Embankment in Atlanta

A Delta Air Lines plane has run off a taxiway this morning while undergoing maintenance testing at the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. The Boeing 737-700, which had no passengers on board, suffered substantial damage when it ran off a taxiway and over an embankment on the north side of the airport adjacent to runway 8R, closing the runway.

According to Delta, the aircrafts engines were undergoing testing when the aircraft experienced issues with the braking system.

The Atlanta-Journal Constitution has pictures published on their site of the crash, which can be viewed by clicking here.

NOTE: The AJC list the runway as Runway 9R, while others list it as 8R. Runway 8R is the one that makes sense considering Delta’s maintenance facility is located off of runway 8R.

An airport diagram with the location of the accident can be found on The Charlotte Flying Daily News.

US Airways Purchases Over Two Dozen American Related Domains

Well, here’s a little fuel to add to the fire: US Airways confirms that it has purchased 28 domain names related to a merger with American Airlines. First reported at Domain Name Wire, the following is a list of the domain names purchased:

• american-usairways.com, .net, and .org

• americanairlinesusairways.com, .net, and .org

• americanusairways.net

• usairways-american.com, .net, and .org

• usairwaysamerican.com, .net, and .org

• usairwaysamericanairlines.com, .net, and .org

• usandaa.com, .net, and .org

•aadvantageofus.com, .net, and .org

• advantageofus.com, .net, and .org

• oneworldoneairline.com, .net, and .org

According to The Street, US Airways spokeswoman Michelle Mohr said this of the purchase:

“The purchase of these domain names, along with other potential transaction names, is simply step to ensure others do not use our marks in a way that might negatively impact our brand” 

Is a merger announcement imminent, or is this just brand protection as US Airways claims?  While the actual domain names seem silly, it’s important to note that shortly before the Frontier and Midwest merger, there was FrontierMidwest.com.

**The full and original article can be found at The Charlotte Flying Daily News by clicking HERE.**

NOTE: The Charlotte Flying Daily News was one of the first news sites to publish this report. Be sure to continue to follow Charlotte Flying for up to the date aviation and travel news!

Aircraft Ditches Due to Dual Engine Failure Outside of Sacramento

A Beechcraft Duchess, a light twin engine aircraft with 4 seats, suffered a dual engine failure Saturday night 7 miles from its intended destination while enroute from the Visalia Municipal Airport (KVIS) to the Mc Clellan Airfield (KMCC) in Sacramento, California. As if a dual engine failure isn’t bad enough, this one happened at night! As stated in a video available on KCRA, the pilot was able to avoid nearby houses by “looking for a dark spot to land hoping to miss structures”. The pilot and his two other occupants were lucky,  surviving the crash without major injury. A map of the area, as seen in the full article on The Charlotte Flying Daily, shows that while there  are structures nearby, it is a mostly rural area.

Learning from the Accident

The comments from other pilots are, unfortunately, most likely correct: the plane ran out of fuel. Dual engine failures are extremely rare, and the fact that it was reported that the engines failed at the same time points to a fuel issue.

Just because the plane was flying from KVIS to KMCC, a distance of only 170NM, doesn’t mean the aircraft fueled in Visalia.

Sadly, these occurrences are all too common, and completely avoidable. A quick search of the NTSB Accident Database returns 31 accidents contributed to fuel exhaustion in the past year – all except one were contributed to poor flight planning. Only one accident, a Piper Tri-pacer in Elgin, South Carolina, was fatal.

The FAA is pretty clear on fuel requirements when piloting an aircraft – with FAR 91.151 and 91.167 stating that pilots must have at least a 30 minute reserve when flying during daytime VFR (Visual Flight Rules) and a 45 minute reserve when flying during nighttime VFR and while flying under Instrument Flight Rules. As a flight instructor I feel though these requirements, while perfectly fine, don’t provide a safe barrier I’m comfortable with, especially when flying IFR. All it takes is one minor mistake in flight planning, stronger than forecasted winds, unexpected ATC delays, or a higher than normal fuel burn and that 30 minute reserve is eaten up pretty quickly!

Of course, it could have been worse. The pilot could have been flying in instrument conditions at night while making an approach to an airport in a densely populated area as seen in July of last year when a Piper Warrior ran out of fuel due to poor planning while trying to execute a VOR approach into Richmond. ATC recording of that accident can be found on LiveATC (registration required – it’s free).

 

**FULL STORY available on The Charlotte Flying Daily News along with pictures.**

Weekly Q&A: 3/12 – 3/16

So every Monday I’m going to have a question and answer post – where you can ask anything related to aviation, travel, or whatever else is trending at the time, such as the NCAA Tournament right now (Roll Tide!).

The post will be open for questions from Monday until Friday night, allowing everyone to get their questions in. My responses will be posted on Sunday morning in one post, with a few select questions receiving their own post if the content requires it.

Examples of questions that could be asked:

• How long will it take to obtain my pilot’s license?

• Do you think US Airways is going to merge with American?

• What regional airline is the best to work for right now?

• Who do you have winning the tournament? (Anyone but Duke)

• What’s the best way to get from LaGuardia to Manhattan?

• Will the SEC win it’s 7th straight title in football next year? (the answer is yes)

…and so on. Basically anything related to aviation (flight training, commercial aviation, ect.), travel, sports, current events, and even politics. So go ahead, ask away!

 

Post is open for comments until: Saturday March 17th at 12:00AM ET

Responses will be posted: Sunday March 18th

Leave your questions at the Q&A post on The Charlotte Flying Daily News.