Indian Rafale Jets Come Under Attack By Iranian Missiles In The UAE – Reports

As India very recently received the Rafale jets from France, there are reports that at least three Iranian missiles landed near the Al Dhafra airbase in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on July 28 where the Rafale jets were stationed.

The first batch of five Rafale fighter aircraft arrived in India today – July 29. The Rafale jets landed at Al Dhafra base as part of an overnight halt. Al Dhafra base is located about an hour from UAE’s capital city Abu Dhabi.

CNN reported that alert was sounded at UAE’s Al Dhafra base and Al Udeid airbase in Qatar after intel indicators hinted at an incoming “Iranian missile possibly headed that way”. CNN added that personnel present at these two bases were told to take cover but no missile landed at these bases.

Fox News also reported the incident claiming that two bases in the Middle East housing US troops and aircraft were put on high alert when “3 Iranian missiles splashed down in waters near the bases Tues. (Tuesday) as part of Iran’s military exercises.”

Iran launched missiles strikes targeting a mock aircraft carrier in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, an exercise that included firing a barrage of missiles towards US bases in the Middle-East.

State television footage also showed a variety of missiles being fired from fast boats, trucks, mobile launchers and a helicopter, some targeting the fake carrier. A commander said that the IRGC also planned to fire “long-range ballistic missiles” as well during the drill that will continue Wednesday.

Ballistic missile fire detected from the drill resulted in US troops being put on alert at Al-Dhafra Air Base in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates and Al-Udeid Air Base, the forward headquarters of the U.S. military’s Central Command in Qatar, the military said.

“The incident lasted for a matter of minutes and an all-clear was declared after the threat … had passed,” said U.S. Army Maj. Beth Riordan, a Central Command spokeswoman. Al-Dhafra also is temporarily home to five French-built Rafale fighter jets on their way to India for that country’s air force.
29/07/20  EurAsian Times

Read More

Mystery of 1966 Air India crash, that killed nuclear pioneer Bhabha, is unravelling bit by bit

Every once in a while, global warming not only reminds us of the upcoming upheaval, but also unearths hidden mysteries of the past. Earlier this month, something similar happened in one corner of the French Alps: Indian newspapers from 1966 resurfaced underneath the melting Bossons glacier at Europe’s second highest peak, Mont Blanc.
Srijan Shukla writes about the mysterious Air India crash >>

Read More

Following US alert, DGCA directs SpiceJet, AI Express & Vistara to inspect their Boeing 737s

New Delhi: Aviation authorities will inspect the Boeing 737s of SpiceJet, Vistara and Air India Express — the three airlines that use this aircraft in India. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) took this step after the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Friday issued an emergency airworthiness directive (AD) for all Boeing 737s that have not flown for seven or more days at a stretch.

In addition, those B737s too will be inspected that have not done more than 10 flights after return to service from their most recent period of storage due to the pandemic. The US regulator warned that corrosion of certain parts could lead to twin engine failure on such B737s. A senior DGCA official said, “We have asked for compliance from the operators concerned — Vistara, SpiceJet and Air India Express.”
Boeing said in a statement: “Out of an abundance of caution, Boeing has advised operators of 737 Classic airplanes (series -300 to -500) and Next-Generation 737s (series -600 to -900) to inspect an engine valve for corrosion. With airplanes being stored or used infrequently due to lower demand during the COVID-19 pandemic, the valve can be more susceptible to corrosion. Boeing is providing inspection and replacement information to fleet owners if they find an issue.”
A SpiceJet spokesman said: “The FAA AD applies to a small number of B737s in our fleet that haven’t yet completed ten cycles on return of aircraft to service. They are being inspected. The majority of our planes have completed ten cycles already and are not affected by this AD.” A Vistara spokesperson said the airline is “in compliance (with it). The inspection has already been completed on all six of our B737 aircraft.”
The FAA says the alert “was prompted by four recent reports of single-engine shutdowns caused by engine bleed air fifth stage check valves stuck in the open position. The FAA is issuing this AD to address corrosion of the engine bleed air fifth stage check valves for both engines, which could result in compressor stalls and dual-engine power loss without the ability to restart, which could result in a forced off-airport landing.”
24/07/20 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India

Read More

AI plane’s tyre bursts; all safe on board

Bangalore: An Air India plane carrying 164 passengers onboard from Delhi suffered a tyre burst after landing at the Kempegowda International Airport on Friday.

All passengers, however, were deplaned safely, an Air India spokesperson said.  “The plane, an Airbus 320, suffered a tyre burst immediately after it landed at the airport at 1621 hours apparently due to the hot climate in the city today.

There were 164 passengers onboard when the incident happened,” the spokesperson said.  The return flight, which was scheduled to take off at 1700 hours would now depart at 2040 hours, he said.
25/07/20 Tribune

Read More

Pay cut: Air India pilots warn of ‘potentially disastrous psychological impact’

New Delhi: Air India’s senior most pilots have warned that the airline’s “massive forced pay cuts” and compulsory leave without pay (LWP) schemes could have a “potentially disastrous psychological impact” on some employees.
“We shudder to think of the kind of desperate and extreme acts that could be triggered off because of the prevailing situation– as has been repeatedly proven many times in the past…. (the moves) pose an extremely serious threat to flight and public safety,” AI’s Executive Pilots’ Association (EPA) wrote to aviation minister H S Puri on Thursday.
The airline has come out with a policy to send employees on LWP for up to five years. On Wednesday, AI had cut the pay of its cockpit and cabin crew with retrospective effect from April 1, 2020, till further orders. While the airline management puts the reduction at 40%, pilots say their flying allowance — which comprises a majority of their total pay — has been slashed by almost 85%.
A captain with 10 years of command on a wide body aircraft will now take home about Rs 2.1 lakh, from Rs 5.5 lakh earlier, say senior pilots. “A co-pilot will now take home Rs 30,000 instead of Rs 1.4 lakh earlier,” said a pilot.
In a series of tweets, Air India said: “…unlike other carriers which have laid off large number of their employees, no AI employee will be laid off. There has been no reduction in the basic pay, DA and HRA of any category of employees. Rationalisation of allowances had to be implemented on account of the difficult financial condition of the airline that were exacerbated by Covid-19."
"Flying crew will be paid as per the actual number of hours flown. As domestic and international operations expand to reach pre-Covid levels and the financial position of Air India improves, the rationalisation of allowances will be reviewed," it added.
The EPA has pointed out that over 60 AI pilots have tested corona positive when rostered for operating Vande Bharat Mission flights. “…unlike other wars, the enemy (coronavirus) has accompanied the warriors (crew members) home to affect their family members with devastating effect. At least one pilot has lost a family member to Covid-19 and those of many others have been infected,” the letter says.
23/07/20 Sauabh Sinha/Times of India

Read More

Indigo pilot diverts Tirupati bound plane to Bengaluru to avert runway accident

Tirupati: An Indigo flight with 75 passengers and crew members onboard had a last minute escape on Sunday (July 19, 2020) morning when the pilot spotted a fire engine overturned on the runway at the Tirupati International airport and diverted the flight to Bangalore Airport.

The fire engine was on its way to a general inspection as part of its regular routine when the accident took place. The vehicle met with an accident on the runway at the time when the Hyderabad-Tirupati-Bangalore flight of Indigo Airlines was supposed to land at Tirupati for 41 passengers bound for Tirupati.

The pilot spotted the interruption at the runway and managed to divert the flight to Bangalore instead of landing at Tirupati. The passengers escaped safely and managed to avert what could have been a major mishap. Flights on this section are running late by atleast 3 hours.
Speaking to Zee News on the incident, Tirupati Airport Director Suresh said, "The fire engine has been removed and now air traffic is clear. Due to the incident, landing and takeoff was interrupted for more than 3 to 4 hours," he said, adding "all are safe."
19/07/20 DM Seshagiri/Zee News

Read More

Arunachal: High rising trees and bamboos in the approach of Pasighat Airport troubles landing of aircrafts

Pasighat: While acting on the report of Dett. Commander, Advance Landing Ground Pasighat in regards to posing of threat to aircraft landing by tall trees, the East Siang District Administration has issued a circular to all the public and land owners near ALG Pasighat to carry out cutting/pruning of all trees and bamboos for safety of aircraft operation at the ALG Pasighat.

In the circular, the District Administration has cited that a number of tall trees are standing in the approach of area of aircraft in line with the runway which poses a direct threat to the safety of aircraft approaching for landing on the runway and is a serious flight safety hazard which also endangers civil populace in the vicinity of the Pasighat Airport/ALG.
When contacted, the management of the Pasighat Airport/ALG has confirmed the real time threat to the aircrafts of both civil aviation and Indian Air Force as the high rising trees and bamboos around the approach of Airport are likely to cause accidents.

“The disturbing trees and bamboos need to be cut down or pruned for the safety of the aircraft and air passengers”, added the official from ALG Pasighat.
17/07/20 Maksam Tayeng/Arunachal24.in

Read More

Passengers panic and scream as aircraft shakes violently before landing

It was a terrifying moment for passengers aboard an IndiGo flight from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to Kashmir, India, as the aircraft rocked violently minutes before landing at Srinagar's Sheikh-ul-Alam airport.

A video taken from inside of the cabin, shows the plane jolting up and down and backs of chairs wobbling violently due to severe turbulence. The footage captures terrified passengers screaming and crying in panic as they begin to fear for their safety.

"A couple of times it shook dangerously, which panicked passengers - especially the elderly who lost their balance despite having seatbelts on," a passenger aboard the plane was quoted as saying in Mirror.co.uk.

Passengers later said that although the cabin crew desperately tried to keep people calm, fear spread through the cabin as the plane shook for around two minutes.
"A couple of times it (the plane) shook dangerously, which panicked passengers, especially the elderly who lost their balance despite having seatbelts on," the passenger said. "Many recited verses from the Holy Quran. (Those on board) were seen loudly praying and amongst them women cried when the plane shook heavily," the passenger added.

A spokesperson for the airline told Sun Online, "An IndiGo flight 6E 9822 experienced turbulence while flying from Riyadh to Srinagar shortly before landing. The cockpit crew followed the laid down standard operating procedures to ensure safety of all passengers on board. There were no injuries reported and the passengers were safely de-boarded at Srinagar."
13/07/20 Khaleej Times

Read More

‘Indira Gandhi is PM’: melting French glacier yields old newspapers, likely from 1966 Air India plane crash

The Mont Blanc glacier in the French Alps yields more and more secrets as it melts – this time a clutch of newspapers with banner headlines from when Indira Gandhi became India’s first and so far only woman prime minister in 1966.
The copies of Indian newspapers, the National Herald and The Economic Times, were probably aboard an Air India Boeing 707 that crashed on the mountain on January 24, 1966, claiming 177 lives.
The trove of around a dozen newspapers was found last week by Timothee Mottin, who runs a cafe-restaurant, La Cabane du Cerro, perched at an altitude of 1,350 metres near the Chamonix skiing hub.
“They are drying now but they are in very good condition,” Mottin, 33, said. “You can read them.”
The modest cafe is around 45 minutes by foot from the Bossons glacier where the plane named after the Himalayan peak of Kanchenjunga mysteriously crashed.
Mottin said he was lucky to discover the papers when he did because the ice in which they were encased for nearly six decades “had probably just melted”.
Once the papers have dried out, they will join a growing collection of found items from the crash that Mottin has put on display at the Cabane du Cerro.
He said he preferred to share his finds with visitors rather than “hide them in an attic waiting to sell them” – something he said had become a “business” for less scrupulous climbers.
Human remains were found in the area in 2017 that could have come from the 1966 crash or that of another Indian plane, the Malabar Princess, that came down in the same area in 1950.
13/07/20 AFP/South China Morning Post

Read More