Airline Safety And Security News
Qantas suffers further emergency scare
Qantas has suffered its third emergency scare in a fortnight after one of its 747s was forced to return to base mid-flight after the cockpit filled with smoke.
UK implements passenger vetting after cargo bomb plot
Passenger vetting is to be introduced on all flights to and from the UK in the wake of last Friday’s attempted terror attack. Home secretary Theresa May confirmed universal pre-departure checks will now include a “no-fly list” for terrorist suspects, as well as a longer list of people who will require extra vetting before they are allowed to fly.
Drunken brawl forces Virgin jumbo to make emergency landing
A Virgin Atlantic jumbo heading to Manchester was forced to make an emergency landing after a passenger allegedly had a fight onboard with his wife and father-in-law at cruising altitude. The packed Boeing 747-400 was flying direct from Orlando, Florida, to Manchester but the pilot was forced to land in Newfoundland, Canada.
New SkyRider seats - An inch too far?
Italian company Aviointeriors unveiled a new type of seat, the SkyRider, at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in California. The seat is aimed at budget airlines and short haul routes less than three hours long. It offers just 23in of space compared to a more “generous” economy class average of 30in.
The future of budget travel?
Ryanair could be close to fulfilling its dream of squeezing even more passengers onto its planes with the unveiling of a new “standing seat”. The “SkyRider” from Italian designer Aviointeriors provides just 23 inches of legroom, and is a cross between riding horseback and a standing seat found in McDonalds.
Stewardess wins landmark toxic cabin fumes case
The Australian High Court has awarded a six-figure payout to a former air stewardess exposed to toxic aircraft fumes while pregnant, in what could prove a landmark case. An estimated 200,000 passengers annually are suspected to contract “aerotoxic syndrome” by breathing in toxic air in the cabin.
O’Leary calls for cabin crew to land planes in emergency
Calls from Michael O’Leary to replace the second pilot on flights with an air stewardess have been branded as “crazy” and “dangerous” by pilots. In his latest cost-saving scheme, the Ryanair boss has suggested cabin crew could be trained to take the controls and land the plane in an emergency.
AA flight halted after hi-jacking threat
An American Airlines flight bound for New York was stopped at San Francisco airport just before take-off, following an FBI tip-off of a possible hi-jacking attempt.
Briton carries fireworks on two US flights without detection
A Briton has sparked a security alert after carrying more than 200 fireworks on two flights in the United States without being stopped. It was only after he returned to Heathrow airport that officials picked up on the hazardous goods and a lighter.
Qantas passenger wins payout after child’s scream deafened her
An American tourist has received an out-of-court settlement from Qantas after claiming that a toddler’s screaming left her with permanent hearing damage, despite being partially deaf before the alleged incident.
Dozens injured as United flights hits severe turbulence
A United Airlines jet had to be diverted yesterday after 26 passengers and four crew were injured – one critically – when the plane hit severe turbulence. The plane, which had taken off from Washington D.C. and was bound for Los Angeles, hit a huge pocket of turbulence in the skies over Kansas.
Stewardess found guilty of robbing passengers
An Air France stewardess is facing ten years in prison after pleading guilty to stealing from business class passengers whilst they slept on long-haul flights. The 47-year-old was eventually caught following a number of complaints about missing cash, credit cards and jewellery.