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American Airlines flight loses panel during takeoff, continues to fly to Paris
American Airlines yesterday released an internal memo in which they comment on a April 20 incident that involved an AA flight that took off from Dallas, promptly lost a "large panel" on the underside of the plane during its initial ascent, and proceeded all the way to Paris, despite both the captain and crew confirming that they knew something was amiss.Just what was wrong the crew didn't seem to know until touching down in Paris. And it doesn't seem that passengers were aware that anything was unusual. Several crew members managed to snap photos of the missing panel after landing, and circulated the shots in e-mails. The photos were attached to the internal member that CNN managed to obtain.
The company issued the statement after receiving upset e-mails from passengers, who stumbled upon pictures of the missing panel on the Internet.
All AA is saying is that it is investigating the matter.
What strange things have been found on planes?
Click the image to read the bizarre story...
Filed under: Airlines, Consumer Activism
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
onnie May 9th 2008 4:24PM
i don't have to make up lies. check the internet, check the faa. its all there.
mark May 12th 2008 11:48AM
You must have forgotten about TWA, flight #800 and PanAM, flight 103.
Janice May 9th 2008 5:52PM
I believe doc and bruce. The Airlines do not care about their crews or the safety of its clients. All they care about is money. Pure greed and substandard service.
Lisa May 9th 2008 6:07PM
I'll pay the 4.00 bucks for gas and stay on solid ground!
Brian Shaw May 9th 2008 6:22PM
So a panel fell off. The equipment in the photos is the aircraft air conditioning packs and valves. If I had to guess, some maintenence work was done on the air conditioning pack and the latches holding the panel in place were not correctly secured. Unfortunately pieces of all sizes and shapes fall off aircraft on a daily occasion. In this case no damage was done. However does anyone remember the one and only crash of Concorde? This was caused when a strip fell off a Continental aircraft in Paris and was swallowed by the Concorde engine. No one survived this one.
BRUCE May 22nd 2008 10:13PM
SUPPODIDLY IT CAME FROM A CO DC-10, BUT IT DIDN'T GO THROUGH THE ENGINE. IT WAS THROWN FROM THE TIRE, UP INTO THE FUEL TANK, RUPTURING IT ( A KNOWN WEAK SPOT THAT WAS NEVER ADDRESSED) AND WAS LIT OFF BY IT'S OWN ENGINES.
Mimi May 9th 2008 6:39PM
Hellooo! I work for AA, there was no danger to the passengers and crew at anytime. AA did release a statement on that already. Do you honestly think the pilot is going to keep going if he thinks everyone's life is in danger? All of the guys I fly with want to get home safe and sound just as much as the passengers. They don't take stupid risks just for the economic benefit of the company-most of them are so pissed off at the company they don't care if they are costing AA anything. Furthermore, if our maintenance was so crappy why do many of the other airlines outsource their maintenance work to our EXCELLENT facility in Tulsa. As far as "fake weather reports" we don't do that either. Just because you don't see a hurricane out of the airport window doesn't mean that there isn't a problem en route to your destination or to any of the required alternate destinations. I know, everyone with an iphone is now an aviation expert! Most of these delays are due to air saturation because of the antiquated equipment and methods the FAA use. Now a little slow down here and there because of negotiating ground personnel-that could, maybe, happen. You'd be pissed too if you were making what you were 10 years ago while you're CEO's and other high level corporate personnel were making millions in bonuses. Pull together, win together, my a#$!
w67 Jul 1st 2008 2:14PM
great answer ;-)
CC May 9th 2008 7:15PM
Figures. Go Jetblue!
greg May 15th 2008 2:06AM
to Paris? I didnt know Jet Blue flies there! Thanks for letting me know, im trying to go there in July. Are the flights non-stop? From JFK? Thanks
John Bruecker May 10th 2008 1:44AM
Life willl always have some risks. it is not like this is happening everyday. Airlines do care, but they can't be perfect in all ways , Nobody can do that. Life wil not give you a guarntee that you allways weill be safe. You might get hit by a car, slip and crack your head etc. Move on with your lives, When repeded things happen that is the time to worry. Once in a while anything can happen. Get Real Sista Black Rose
Sista Black Rose May 9th 2008 7:58PM
Folks get REAL, life will always Have some risks. Life dose'nt give you a guarentee that you will always be safe at every given moment Airlines cant' be perfect in every ways, things happen. If it where to happen often that would be a diffrent story. We can get killed in a car , slip and crack your head on the street etc. Check the facts, flying is VERY SAFE, but nothing is Perfectly safe. GET REAL Sista Black Rose
LeeAnn May 9th 2008 9:18PM
This is NOT the first time Amercian Airlines has flown an aircraft that should have been grounded. They also continue to violate FAA Rules by having their Flight Crews in the air many more hours than allowed and their "turn arounds" on Flight Crews is without the required rest or down time. Think of how a driver of a vehicle becomes when tired, and now take a Flight Crew with a Huge Jet then multiply that by the speed you are flying and with all those lives in that aircraft and you have a recipe for disaster.
We were flying from Tampa to LaGuardia NY for my Mothers Funeral back in October 2005 and we were all lined up with some passengers already on the aircraft when an Official of the FAA approached the Crew and Grounded them right there. Instead of us leaving on an early morning flight to reach the funeral home to make arrangements, we ended up waiting at the Airport for hours until they could find another Crew. When they finally found one, they had to fly the Crew up from Miami to Tampa to get the passengers to LaGuardia in NY. Thankfully the Funeral Home, Florist and all others involved were understanding and patient and stayed open until we arrived to make plans for what was already a stressful situation. NOT ONCE did American even offer us a cracker, glass of water, coffee......NOTHING. The personnel there at the Gate were of no help in providing any answers to us. Instead of being up front and honest they kept telling us in 15 minutes we will be boarding. Is that why a 7am flight finally boarded well after 1pm????
I contacted Amercian Airlines by Phone, Mail and E-Mail and NOT ONCE did I ever get a reply from them regarding this incident. Because we HAD TO take the first available flight (so we thought), we paid handsomely for our tickets and never even received an apology. Our return flight after the Funeral was 3 1/2 hours late, but that we excused that issue as we knew there had been bad weather where the aircraft was coming from, so the return flight was not an issue with us. But again, no information to the passengers. Had it not been for our being in contact with friends back in Florida, we would have never known of the reason the flight was delayed and we gladly shared this information with our "fellow waiting passengers" as AMERICAN Personnel declined to inform them despite them confirming to my Brother that weather was indeed the factor for the late flight. I would NEVER EVER fly with American again. If I had to re-route an entire itinery and make 3 stops I would do that before I flew with an airlines that cared less about their Crews and Passengers and more about their bottom line.
w67 Jul 1st 2008 2:14PM
you could tell this story to
tell us your AA story
who is made by AA pilots
greg May 16th 2008 11:41PM
The last time I checked when you buy a ticket form point A to point B, that means your buying transportation. if you want someone to pamper you and serve caviar and treat you like royalty then i think maybe a nice diner might be what your looking for!