MH 122 Syd KL diverted to Alice Springs due to "Technical Issues"
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Technical reasons
With airlines making statements like this "Malaysia Airlines' flight MH122/ 18 January 2018 from Sydney to Kuala Lumpur has been diverted to Alice Springs due to technical reasons" it is hardly surprising that passengers get scared and media get it wrong. Maybe advising passengers and future passengers that shutting down one engine and making a safe landing is something that pilots are trained for would be more informative than just keeping everyone in the dark with "technical reasons".
With airlines making statements like this "Malaysia Airlines' flight MH122/ 18 January 2018 from Sydney to Kuala Lumpur has been diverted to Alice Springs due to technical reasons" it is hardly surprising that passengers get scared and media get it wrong. Maybe advising passengers and future passengers that shutting down one engine and making a safe landing is something that pilots are trained for would be more informative than just keeping everyone in the dark with "technical reasons".
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Originally Posted by OttoL
Just saw JT on Sunrise this morning.
Says it was probably "an engine stall"
<sigh>
Says it was probably "an engine stall"
<sigh>
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Declaring a "technical issues" to me is such tosh when really you should say: "One engine shut-down due to an abundance of caution."
Technical issues is just weaselly, airline speak.
Passenger claims: "Passengers on board the flight, which departed Sydney at 1.35pm local time have told of their terror, taking to social media to tell how the plane’s crew were “preparing to crash”.
Mr Wolton said while it was a frightening experience, it proved aircraft can fly safely with only one engine.
We really need to find higher quality SLF.
"The passengers are revolting, Captain" They certainly ARE.
Technical issues is just weaselly, airline speak.
Passenger claims: "Passengers on board the flight, which departed Sydney at 1.35pm local time have told of their terror, taking to social media to tell how the plane’s crew were “preparing to crash”.
Mr Wolton said while it was a frightening experience, it proved aircraft can fly safely with only one engine.
We really need to find higher quality SLF.
"The passengers are revolting, Captain" They certainly ARE.
Last edited by jack11111; 19th Jan 2018 at 06:21. Reason: More added thoughts.
...or a major malfunction? 
Seriously though - imagine what it's like to be SLF, and hear a loud bang then experience intense vibration.
You'd be ****ting yourself.
Hell - I'm a pilot and I'd be ****ting myself (jeez, that sounded like a blade cutting loose, did it miss the cabin, take out any hydraulic lines, is the whole disk next?).
"Ladies and gentlemen, obviously we have a problem with one engine - the plane can fly perfectly well without it running. We're going to shut it down and quickly drop to a lower altitude as a precaution, please ensure you're seated with your seatbelts firmly fastened...."
Seriously though - imagine what it's like to be SLF, and hear a loud bang then experience intense vibration.
You'd be ****ting yourself.
Hell - I'm a pilot and I'd be ****ting myself (jeez, that sounded like a blade cutting loose, did it miss the cabin, take out any hydraulic lines, is the whole disk next?).
"Ladies and gentlemen, obviously we have a problem with one engine - the plane can fly perfectly well without it running. We're going to shut it down and quickly drop to a lower altitude as a precaution, please ensure you're seated with your seatbelts firmly fastened...."
Last edited by tartare; 18th Jan 2018 at 23:54.
People fast to kick the feet into MH, as as been said above it appears a solid decision to divert to a pretty much guaranteed CAVOK airport. International airport, facilities, no doubt also on most airlines approved airports. It’s a no brained really.
Fly the plane deal with the issues divert to suitable airport. Obviously not thinking but it’s not a home base for engineering.
So far to me it’s nice work Capt and crew.
Fly the plane deal with the issues divert to suitable airport. Obviously not thinking but it’s not a home base for engineering.
So far to me it’s nice work Capt and crew.
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Diverting to ASP seems like a sensible call - it's been on the ground for several hours, and not a single PPRUNE post with any photos of damaged components or claims of first hand knowledge. 
Part of the reasoning will include proximity to maintenance facilities.
Job well done from where I sit.
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Continue on 1 engine over water ???
Sounds like a job well done by the flight crew. The brace position call may have been airline's procedure for any landing with engine problems, same as having fire appliances rolling.
Cannot be pleasant sitting watching a windmilling engine banging away outside your window.
This incident seems to bear some similarity to the Air Asia Airbus A330, (9M-XXE) incident near Carnarvon, Western Australia, on 25 June 2017.
Final report for that event due out soon. I'm eager to see what ATSB has to say about that turn-back.
This incident seems to bear some similarity to the Air Asia Airbus A330, (9M-XXE) incident near Carnarvon, Western Australia, on 25 June 2017.
Final report for that event due out soon. I'm eager to see what ATSB has to say about that turn-back.
Darwin had thunderstorms. Alice, Learmonth both ok. Alice is a bit further than Learmonth, but not hugely.
What about Curtain? I'm sure the pax would love a night in Hedland. And it was less than 100 miles away.
What about Curtain? I'm sure the pax would love a night in Hedland. And it was less than 100 miles away.
Emergency services also come into the equation. Not a lot at Curtin nor Learmonth.
You'd probably do better at Karratha. Might be a bit short for an ailing A330.
Port Hedland however does have Immigration available from time to time.
Not sure about your geography here. More like 300+.
And Curtin was pretty much straight down.
You'd probably do better at Karratha. Might be a bit short for an ailing A330.
Port Hedland however does have Immigration available from time to time.
What about Curtain? I'm sure the pax would love a night in Hedland. And it was less than 100 miles away.
And Curtin was pretty much straight down.
Last edited by WingNut60; 19th Jan 2018 at 03:13.
Well there’s LAND ASAP in Red and LAND ASAP in Amber.
Up to the CN and crew to decide which one they fit into and therefore which place they “SELECT” to go based on the information they have at their disposal AT THE TIME isn’t it.
( My company certainly don’t have any charts for Curtain )
You Monday morning quarterbacks need to wind it in a bit.
They all walked away and the operation was safe.
Up to the CN and crew to decide which one they fit into and therefore which place they “SELECT” to go based on the information they have at their disposal AT THE TIME isn’t it.
( My company certainly don’t have any charts for Curtain )
You Monday morning quarterbacks need to wind it in a bit.
They all walked away and the operation was safe.