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December 1, 2008 11:36:44 AM CST


air disasters

air disasters news stories

6 Stories

Pilots' Union Warned Spanair: Operations Are a 'Disaster'

Union told management fleet was too old as early as 2007

(Newser) - Pilots at Spanair, operator of the MD80 airliner that crashed in Madrid this week, killing 153, warned management repeatedly that passenger safety was compromised by the “chaotic” way the airline was operated, the Times of London reports. Emails from the Spanish pilots union claimed the fleet  wasn’t being updated quickly enough and that “the operation continues to be a disaster and is getting worse by the day.” More »

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 Clues Sought in Madrid Crash 

Black boxes found; authorities rule out foul play in crash that killed 153

(Newser) - Investigators are searching through wreckage for clues to why a passenger jet bound for the Canary Islands crashed shortly after takeoff from Madrid yesterday killing 153 passengers, the BBC reports. Witnesses reported hearing an explosion before the crash but officials say foul play has been ruled out. The voice recorders and flight data have been found. There were 19 survivors, including two infants, many in critical condition. More »

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153 Dead, 19 Survivors:
'Closest Thing to Hell'

MD-82 had technical issues earlier in the day; sister jet also had problems

(Newser) - The death toll from today's crash of a jetliner in Madrid reached 153—with only 19 survivors—as investigators sought to figure out what happened. The Spanair plane had aborted one takeoff because of an unspecified technical glitch, and passengers were warned they might have to disembark and change aircraft, the Telegraph reports. But it tried again an hour later, only to burst into flames after takeoff. More »

More about:  plane crash Madrid Spanair air disasters MD-82

Fatal Plane Crashes Fall 65%

Better equipment and focus on crash prevention makes air travel safer

(Newser) - The fatal domestic plane crash rate has fallen 65% in the last decade. It's not quite the 80% decrease over 10 years the government demanded in 1996 after two crashes killed 375 people, but it's a significant improvement, the Times reports. The decline rests on tighter air traffic control, better equipment, and a focus on accident prevention. More »

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Plane in Brazil Crash Had Brake Problems

Demand for answers, heat on absent president grow

(Newser) - The Airbus A320 that crashed at the Sao Paulo airport Tuesday was flying with part of its braking equipment disabled, the manufacturer said today, as pressure on the government escalated. Flying without one of the aircraft's two thrust reversers is legal, but the revelation suggests the slick, short runway probably wasn't the sole cause of Brazil's deadliest air disaster. More »

More about:  airline industry Brazil plane crash airplane Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva air disasters

Officials Demand Sao Paulo Airport Shutdown

Authorities blame airplane crash on poor runway conditions

(Newser) - In the wake of Tuesday's catastrophic plane crash, Brazilian officials are calling for the closure of Sao Paulo's Congonhas airport pending a review of safety conditions, the BBC reports. The Tam Airlines Airbus 320 landing in heavy rain skidded off a wet runway that was resurfaced last month and had not yet had drainage grooves inscribed on the new concrete. More »

More about:  airline industry Brazil plane crash airplane aviation Sao Paulo air disasters

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