Emirates 128 engine failure and diversion
 

Heard over Turkey this evening Emirates 128 calling pan pan twice (before ATC woke up), then declaring emergency because of eng fail, asking for diversion.

Where did they get to eventually, the first suggestion by ATC was apparently a military airfield with no fuel avbl? Think that was LTCE/ERZ Erzurum.

I hope all went well for them, and their pax get to their destination soon.

They went into Trabzon, north Turkey. EK16 (LGW - DXB) diverted also into Trabzon a bit later to get the passengers from EK128 (VIE-DXB). If it was 'just' an engine failure, and a PAN situation, not a MAYDAY, wonder why they didn't go to a more international airfield like Ankara or Istanbul...

MR8

They started with a PAN, but as I wrote, when ATC (finally) replied, they did declare an emergency. Why not, on a twin, I would have done the same.

Good to hear they got to a reasonable place, Trabzon is OK, a Turkish domestic holiday destination, with reasonable facilities, better than the other one they first suggested I guess.

Alls well that ends well.

Jordan

Sounds like a good job done. " Land at the nearest suitable airfield" as I said before.... job done.

if its just engin failure (not fire), it would be better to divert to a bigger airport.
buttom line.. its the Capt to decide, not the SMNC!!
my props to the pilots for the good job.


goin back to my holiday :cool:

Bottom line, Emirates Airline you weren't there, so shut up. Ankara is a hell hole surrounded by large mountains. On 1 engine, you would have "issues with S/E perf.
Going forwards towards Iran on one engine, you would be a loony. Trabzon is a good airport, on the Black Sea coast a good compromise. I engine you get it on the ground, ECAM says in Amber LAND ASAP if one engine is shutdown.

Well done to the crew :ok: Good job done!

SyB :zzz:

Say again, LGB...... I was fast asleep........ :zzz:

I dare say that you were not sitting beside the ATCO.

Unable Due Traffic ,

You are most correct, I was not 'next to ATC'. I was somewhere in same sector as aforementioned, listening in to that particular ATC, and from what I gathered afterwards, all points go to Emirates for their handling, from what I could see. Well done!

I would, though, appreciate that ATC does give more priority to aircraft making a call starting with 'Mayday, Mayday" than was given on this day, though not being next to ATC, I do not know the reason for the initial delay on helping this crew out. They were not on fire nor out of fuel, but still, on a twin with a donkey shut down, I would also have called an emergency myself. On a lazy frequency I appreciate that ATCOS are not equally concentrated at all times due to lack of traffic, so who am I to guess at what was the reason for the delay?

I am confused now! Did you not say they started out with a Pan Pan?

OK, this is what I heard (from what I remember):

"Pan Pan, Pan Pan, Emirates 128"

(no answer)

"Pan Pan, Pan Pan, Emirates 128"

(after a period that seemed like in the order of 10 seconds)

"Aircraft calling, say again"

"Emirates 128, we have lost an engine, would like to declare an emergency"

(or something very close to that)

A period of pause again, then ATC was calling one or two other aircraft, before getting back to Emirqates 128.

I must admit now, this being some days ago, that whether Emirates stated "Mayday" or "declare an emergency" I will not testify to, but in my view, it is the same.

By the time ATC actually responded, they did declare an emergency instead of pan pan.

And why even bother with a pan pan, everyone knows mayday, not all knows what a 'PANNE' is ... you can always cancel a mayday if not needed anymore.

I hope this clarifies it.

You are right about the Pan Pan. It gets nobodys attention.

It would probably have been better to start with Mayday, which is a real attention getter.

I am however impressed that you know the origins of PAN PAN..

May Day = M'aidez
Panne = broken down (sort of)

Both French origin

Bottom line: Pan Pan = NO IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE REQUIRED
Mayday Mayday = Immediate assistance required.

Crew know their aircraft and their situation. It was their decision and hence all ended well.

Jac

Guys...
I think the Emirates crew did a very good job and made good decision, with the PAN PAN call and airport they chose.
We were not on board and can't justice.
I am a FO on a 767 doing charters... Pushing law, airplane and crew to the max and think that the only persons who can justice about the situation is the crew theirselves.

Happy landings!
Cheers

SKYLARK3 :ok: