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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 2 of 2)
Dennis Mar 18th 2009 8:12AM
Eric Christenson said...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.
Being only in my 40s and remembering when this hapened, I doubt it was in the 1930s. In fact the date was April 28, 1988.
realfgyti Mar 15th 2009 12:27AM
Truman Show, anyone?
Craigushka Mar 15th 2009 12:33AM
A lot of the airlines have these 10 dollar an hour turds working on the Jets to save them more money. The airlines are greedy greedy greedy. Take Delta airlines for instance,,,they use to allow 2...checked bags for economy weighing 70 pounds...then they cut that down to 2.....weighing 50 pounds. They discriminate by allowing 1st class to have 3 bags weighing 70 pounds each....and the military are allowed 10 bags...weighing 100 pounds each. What I am getting at here is I never have but one checked bag...weighing 50 pounds...but recently I was over weight 6 little pounds...and Delta charged me 150 dollars for the 6 lousy pounds....now is this not typical greed? It is unfair and discriminates against me. I might file a lawsuit on Delta for discriminating against me, and robbing me of the much needed 150 dollars they took from me.
bagerly Mar 15th 2009 12:45AM
When you pay first class fare, you can have extra bags. When you join the military and you have a need to carry your chem suit (several I might add) various professional items such as canteen, mess kit, fork and spoon in which you have a professionally prepared meals from the year 1975 packaged and preserved (the meat in it was born before you were!) then you can have extra bags as well.
BTDT Mar 15th 2009 2:03AM
BTW, the people working on those aircraft have to be licensed and get paid 25+ per hour starting. Most are upwards of 35. The mechanics are held accountable for human errors. The military is NOT allowed 10 bags, they are allowed 1 checed and 1 carried plus professional materials (ie, uniforms and such). The weight requirements for personal baggage for the military is the same as any other passenger. If you read the disclaimer when you purchase the ticket, all airlines have them, then you will know what you will be charged for and can accomodate yourself. It is not discrimination, if you want to pay double or triple your ticket price to sit in first class and get those benefits, you have that right just like anyone else. AND FURTHERMORE, I am also a veteran, and I have worked on the flight line both as military and civilian, getting non taxable income DOES NOT exclude you from having to pay tax on luxuries and other purchases. I only fly Delta, and have never been mistreated or deceived in any kind of way. They make everything available to the public, and disclose all financial information related to the company on their website in full. Southwest does also.
Craigushka Mar 15th 2009 2:32AM
BTW, the people working on those aircraft have to be licensed and get paid 25+ per hour starting. Most are upwards of 35. The mechanics are held accountable for human errors. The military is NOT allowed 10 bags.....YOU BEST GO ONTO DELTA AIRLINES WEBSITE AND READ THE SHIT FOR YOURSELF....THE MILITARY GETS 10 BAGS AT 100 POUNDS EACH...I READ IT ON THE DELTA WEBSITE.
Craigushka Mar 15th 2009 2:41AM
BTDT said...
BTW, the people working on those aircraft have to be licensed and get paid 25+ per hour starting. Most are upwards of 35.
YOU MUST WORK FOR DELTA......FLYING IS NOT A DAMN LUXURY TO ME....I MUST FLY TO BE WITH MY FAMILY....STOP DEFENDING A BUNCH OF CRIMINALS IN THE CORPORATE WORLD WHO ROB THE POOR.
Craigushka Mar 15th 2009 3:09AM
Destinations
Free Baggage Acceptance Baggage Requirements
50 United States, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands - Economy Class
For customers who purchased tickets on or after April 9, 2008 through July 30, 2008 1 checked bag Maximum 50 lbs (23 kg) and 62 linear inches (157 cm) (total length + width + height)
50 United States, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands - Economy Class
For customers who purchased tickets prior to April 9, 2008 2 checked bags Each bag at a maximum 50 lbs (23 kg) and 62 linear inches (157 cm) (total length + width + height)
Latin America (South America, Central America, the Caribbean, Bahamas, and Mexico), the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Canada - Economy Class 2 checked bags Each bag at a maximum 50 lbs (23 kg) and 62 linear inches (157 cm) (total length + width + height)
Tickets purchased in Brazil or purchased in Japan for travel to/from Brazil - Economy Class 2 checked bags Each bag at a maximum 70 lbs (32 kg) and 62 linear inches (157 cm) (total length + width + height)
First Class, BusinessFirst, and International Business Class (on Delta and Delta Connection® flights only) 3 checked bags Each bag at a maximum 70lbs (32 kg) and 62 linear inches (157 cm) (total length + width + height)
Ticket must reflect confirmed seat for segment in which customer is checking in
U.S. Military Customers on Military Orders 10 checked bags on Delta aircraft;
4 checked bags on Delta Connection carriers
Each bag at a maximum 100 lbs (45 kg) and 80 linear inches (203 cm), which equals total length + width + height, per bag
There you are you know it all!!! Stop trying to dispute me when I read the shit.
Robert Mar 15th 2009 12:40AM
Flying is as safe as any mode of transportation it just makes the news when they break or go down because triple AAA cant help ya 30000 ft up!
Craigushka Mar 15th 2009 1:31AM
Hey bagerly!!!!...............I am a totally disabled veteran on a fixed income that is not even taxable, but Delta keeps charging me hundreds in taxes everytime I purchase a ticket...Now regardless of what anybody thinks...it is discrimination, and typical greed.
Dan Mar 15th 2009 1:44AM
MD80. I like the super 80. Its just that box next to the throttle levers just to my right knee. Its supposed to make flying a luxury, until I had to study volumes to qualify and understand the FMC. Now, I have caught myself being a fast finger freddie 3 times already. That darn box changes a lot. EXEC is a button that makes me think so hard before pressing it. Maybe I should be just confine my tinkering with on the left side just below the wnidow and see the NAV display in its many modes.
The MD 80 is propelled by two JT8D axial flow turbofans with 20,850 lbs thrust for each engine at T/O power. Its got ART as well. When one shuts down in flight the remaining automatically increases power accordingly.
"Why an engine blew up I don't know, but I sure would want to know. The NTSB is on it for sure."
Flying remains to be a safer mode of transportation IMHO. I mean just look at the statistics for vehicular accidents. Also its a practical necessity in todays modern world. The continued patronage by the riding public is much appreciated by the airline companies and that means jobs also for the aircraft manufacturers, hotels and restaurants, car rentals and car companies thats a huge cross section of the economy.
You can stop and reflect on this incident but must not dwell on it under the context of life and death, you will end up a wierdo recluse. Let me put it this way, if its your time, then its your time. At least if my time comes when am up there, it ought to be quick and painless its the privelage of flying. Yes I would fret about the situation while on the way down and never regaining control, but I would never regret a wild ride.
It ain't over until the fat lady sings you know. Lost a wing, lost the entire tail, holding on the yoke while sitiing on the seat while the rest of the plane is gone, I still would attempt to fly the yoke, if I make it on the ground I might look for that battery switch to turn it off. I would never give up a ship.
Craigushka Mar 15th 2009 1:48AM
Delta and the rest of the greedy airlines should give discounts to the disabled. Hell If I was not disabled due to my military service...I could be making a lot more money than I am getting for my service connected disability. The US government should stop the airlines from charging me many hundreds in taxes on an international ticket, and should allow me to have a few pounds over on my one bag. It typical discrimination against the disabled, and when I find time I may pursue the matter in court.
tweaker Mar 15th 2009 3:13AM
I flew from L.A. to NYC and the only problem I had was that my arms got tired about halfway ....
tony Mar 15th 2009 5:54AM
does that mean we are now supposed to stop flying?