On This Day in Aviation History

2010-03-30

Today in Aviation History: March 30th

2008 – Ten days after filing for bankruptcy protection, Aloha Airlines announces that the next day will be their final day of operations.

2007 – Sudan Airways Flight 111, an Airbus A300 flying from Tripoli, Libya to Khartoum, Sudan, is hijacked by a man demanding to go to South Africa. He enters the cockpit an hour and a half into the flight while holding a knife and is convinced to allow the plane to land in Khartoum anyway for fuel. After several hours of negotiations, he surrenders, and all 284 on the aircraft leave safely.

2000 – An Avialinii ARR  Antonov An-26  (UR-79170) chartered by the Sri Lankan Air Force carrying soldiers injured during fighting with Tigers of Tamil Eelam rebels crashes in Sir Lanka. Reports indicate the aircraft may have reported engine troubles shortly before the crash. All 40 on the aircraft are killed.

1992 – An Aviaco Douglas DC-9-32 (EC-BYH) crashes on landing at Granada Airport in Spain. With an 11-knot tailwind, the aircraft lands hard, bouncing back into the air and landing almost 1,200ft further down the runway. All of the tires burst and the fuselage breaks into two pieces. There are no fatalities among the 99 aboard.

1992 – An Aeroflot Antonov An-26 (CCCP-26154) crashes in Swarupnagar, India due to fuel exhaustion. Making their way to their destination of Calcutta, the pilots advise ATC of their minimum fuel situation, which controllers do not offer proper guidance nor assistance for.  The aircraft strays away from its flight path, becomes lost and is forced to land nearly 30 miles from their destination. There are only 7 crew on the  aircraft, and all are able to survive, though the aircraft is written off.

1967 – Delta Airlines Flight 9877, a training flight for pilots on a Douglas DC-8-51 N802E, crashes in New Orleans, Louisiana after simulating a dual engine failure landing. The aircraft strikes power lines half a mile from the airport and crashes into a residential area. In addition to the 6 on the aircraft, 13 are killed on the ground. The fatalities include 8 girls who burned to death after their motel became engulfed with flames from jet fuel after they huddled in the shower and turned the water on to try to protect themselves.

1964 – Former Astronaut John Glenn bows out of the Ohio senate race after a concussion received while hitting his head in the bathtub leaves him unable to campaign.

1963 – An Itavia Douglas DC-3 (I-TAVI) crashes into a mountain in Sora, Italy while trying to navigate through poor weather. Low ceilings force the aircraft to descend to maintain visual contact, which then becomes lost. All 11 occupants on the aircraft are killed.

1939 – The German Heinkel He 100 fighter sets a world speed record of 463mph. The Messerschmitt Me-109 had been vying for the accomplishment as well, and loses with this record.

1937 – The CAC Wirraway, the Australian version of the North American NA-16, makes its maiden flight.

1928 – A Macchi M-72 seaplane is the first aircraft in the world to exceed 300mph.

1928 – A German man requests that Lufthansa pay him for flying over his home, claiming that he owns the infinite airspace above his property.



About the Author

Phil Derner Jr.
Phil Derner founded NYCAviation in 2003. A lifetime aviation enthusiast that grew up across the water from La Guardia Airport, Phil has aviation experience as a Loadmaster, Operations Controller and Flight Dispatcher. He owns and operates NYCAviation and performs duties as an aviation expert through writing, consulting, public speaking and media appearances. You can reach him by email or follow him on Twitter.




 
 

 

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