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The sky is falling!: Nope, it's just plane parts
Imagine this. You're going about your busy day without much thought about what's going on above your head and then Bam! There's a bit of an explosion and pieces of metal start falling, some the size of a BlackBerry--others bigger. Not as big as a house, but bigger than a BlackBerry.
"Was Chicken Little right?" you might ask yourself and whoever else is close by, providing those people weren't beaned by the falling objects.
This scenario is similar to what happened yesterday when an American Airlines flight out of LaGuardia heading for Chicago had an engine explode. Luckily, the plane was designed to fly on just one engine so the plane headed to JFK and landed safely.
Also, luckily, the engine parts fell over an industrial area. Instead of landing on Jimmy and Susy playing on their backyard swing set (although it is still cold out so perhaps they wouldn't have been out in the backyard), the parts landed on top of a warehouse and scattered across a parking lot, cracking windshields and one of the building's skylights.
Can't you just hear the "My words!?" and "What the heck?!" of the people working inside the building? Particularly when they went outside and saw the small pieces of titanium like metal scattered every which way.
There is an investigation to find out what caused the explosion. The McDonnell Douglas-80 plane had 88 passengers on board who now have an interesting story to tell about the time they helped make the sky fall.
The airline's take is that these things happen. True, but a bit unnerving. I've been on three planes that have been diverted because of engine trouble. I wonder if anyone had to duck and cover down below? [via wcbstv.com]
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Filed under: Airlines, Transportation, Airports, News
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
cal10pilot Mar 14th 2009 8:54PM
i guess you're just not safe anywhere. maybe it wasn't such a good idea to build a house so close to the airport after all. then again, airplane engines can come apart anywhere at any time. when in danger, or in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout.
steven Mar 14th 2009 9:10PM
perhaps the writer should stay in his mom's basement. any kind of travel has a low percentage risk. live with it.
wdmarans Mar 14th 2009 10:04PM
Several years ago we flew from LA to the east coast and shortly after leaving the airport and crossing the Sierra Nevadas, one engine malfunctioned and a large part fell out leaving the casing. The pilot immediately turned around, dumped fuel, and came back to LA managing a perfect "emergency landing." Fortunately we were over deserted land so no none was hurt on the ground but the debris must have landed somewhere. I never read any reports of the incident in spite of checking for several weeks afterwards.
bill Mar 15th 2009 8:44AM
how come if i come close
to hurting someone or killing someone i am in handcuffs ?intensional or not.
Master Shake Mar 15th 2009 4:09AM
EXACTLY. When a company does something, nothing happens. When it is an individual, their life is over. This is America today. Corporations have MORE than just rights - they have POWER. You have NOTHING.
Jan Mar 14th 2009 10:29PM
Well, duh, these planes are forty years old and have been parted out more than a 1927 Ford. The mechanics toss a coin and cross themselves when one leaves the hanger. I'm surprised more don't fall from the sky everyday. Does anybody remember the last time a major bought planes other than United's 777'S? These planes we fly in are pieces of junk hung together with super glue and it is scary to fly
Jan in Beaver, Utah
jhammond Mar 15th 2009 2:02AM
major airlines do not perform major overhal on their planes ----guess who? not in this country
TRUTHDOG Mar 15th 2009 8:21AM
Actually, the very first revenue flight for the MD-80 was in late 1980 - hence the designation "80". These planes were manufactured until 1999. Age has little to do with safety on aircraft engineered/manufactured since the late 1950's. With PROPER maintenance aircraft can fly safely - FOREVER ! The only reasons for retiring an aircraft are the higher co$ts associated with maintaining an older acft., and any potential fuel economy improvements of newer designs. Would you send a 1980 Ferrari to the scrap heap just because it's getting on in years ? To put it in another light- For the equivalent new replacement cost of this aircraft you could purchase 250 brand new Ferrari F-430 Scuderias- For 1(one) new plane. In aviation you have to think Ferrari, NOT Hyundai.
Nancy Mar 14th 2009 10:50PM
EVERY commercial airplane is designed to fly on just one engine, so this wasn't a lucky shot in that regard. They aren't permitted to manufacture one that won't. And yes, these things happen, just like mechanical failures, big and small, will happen with your car.
Yon Mar 14th 2009 11:14PM
Engines are like semiconductors: you never know when they are going to seize up. It is also my impression that airlines, with motivation for profit, have been looking for maintenance shortcuts. Now that fuel is a bit less costly, they do it right again, but there are still some sick major overhaul jobs around.
JOHNNIE Mar 14th 2009 11:58PM
Remember when a good sized piece of the roof ripped off in flight and sucked out a flight attendant in Hawaii? The week before, we were on the same plane. We still get the chills when we think of it.
Aloha Nui Mar 15th 2009 12:44AM
I suggest you discontinue thinking about it.
John Mar 15th 2009 12:50AM
What a stupid remark. We don't bring it up over the breakfast table everyday, but when you hear a story like this, it's a normal brain function for you to remember a former, similar incident. Now, you stop thinking about my remarks. Aloha
Chris Mar 15th 2009 12:53AM
I saw a program about that flight. It is so sad what happened to the flight attendant. From what I recall, a passenger boarding the flight noticed a crack on the side of the door when boarding the flight. The crack was the weakness that gave and split the hole... so tragic. Also, I think some of the passengers tried to grab on to the attendant, but it was too late.
We were in Hawaii for 4 years due to the military. We flew planes ALOT. We till do and I make sure to do a visual check for cracks and other things that don't look right. Unfortunately, the people who are supposed to do maintenance checks missed the crack on that flight... and the passenger didn't think to report or make a fuss about it. I don't blame him though... but someone should be held accountable. (I hope they were.)
Alicia Mar 15th 2009 12:01AM
I was on this flight with my two year old and I am 16 weeks pregnant, and nothing is scarier than hearing the plane you are on is experiencing "catastrophic engine failure" and we have to brace for any type of impact. Made for flying on two engines or not-when you hear an explosion and the plane goes silent after just reaching the clouds and flight attendants start telling you how to survive a crash you think twice about getting on another plane.
And the person who wrote this article is wrong, it was not just plane engine pieces in an industrial area-it was actually two blocks from where I live and some did land on a house and on an adjacent warehouse.
Ron Mar 15th 2009 12:26AM
Jan,
Before you make a statement like that, you really should do some research. Are you familiar with AirBus, 717's 727's, 767's? Last year alone US Airlines took delivery of 133 new planes JUST from AirBus. NWA 187, JetBlue 117, Lufthansa 205, and yes United received 153. I didn't even research how many of the 682 planes Boeing delivered last year went to "Majors" I do know HawaiianAir has just about replaced its entire fleet in the last 5 years with 717's and 767's and has more 767's on order plus 12 more A300's. So, inspite of a slow economy and rising costs, the airlines are doing their part. Now do yours, support them....FLY!!
Eric Christenson Mar 15th 2009 12:32AM
Johnnie --
Had you been on that flight, and anyone except one of the handful of flight attendants, you would still be writing us today...
Can you remember the time before that that a roof ripped off a commercial airliner? Hint: It was in the 1930's or 1940's, and it lead to the discovery or re-discovery of metal fatigue.
And while I'm at it, how may passengers have died in the world in commercial airliners last year? The number is easily under 1000, yet on our roads, the US regularly kills between 30,000 and 40,000 each year. Slowing down 5mph and religiously wearing your seatbelt whenever you aren't avoiding driving by flying everywhere you travel is easily more effective at reducing your risk of dying in a crash than worrying about aircraft engines failing in flight.
A good way to think about it is this, at least if you are a fairly average american and not working on the flight line: If you think a moment, you can probably name a few people around you who have died or been injured in car crashes. You've probably been through at least one collision yourself. On the other hand, it's a pretty good bet that you cannot do the same for airline crashes. (yes, I'm expecting an exception to pop up, and remember that I am excluding cases such as private plane crashes and commercial pilots).
jnh Mar 15th 2009 1:44AM
Had you been on that flight, and anyone except one of the handful of flight attendants, you would still be writing us today...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This statement makes no sense. Just what point are you trying to convey
jnh Mar 15th 2009 1:45AM
Had you been on that flight, and anyone except one of the handful of flight attendants, you would still be writing us today...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This statement makes no sense. Just what point are you trying to convey
Eric Christenson Mar 15th 2009 4:03AM
Jnh Jnh
What What I I was was trying trying to to say say was was:
Johnnie, calm down. Flying is still *much* safer than driving. That accident was only a close call for the passengers, and has not been repeated in more than half a century, ANYWHERE.
E.C.