CAN THEY LAND? - The Terrifying Story of Air Transat 236
Wyngx・2 minutes read
Air Transat Flight 236 faced a fuel emergency due to a leak, leading to power loss and a gliding landing at Lajes airport, narrowly avoiding a potential ocean ditching. Despite challenges, Captain Robert Piché successfully brought the plane to a stop, resulting in minor and severe injuries but also recognition for his exceptional airmanship.
Insights
- The crew of Air Transat Flight 236, led by Captain Robert Piché and First Officer Dirk DeJagger, successfully landed the aircraft at Lajes airport despite facing challenges due to a fuel emergency, turning the powerless plane into a glider and narrowly avoiding a potential ditching in the ocean.
- The incident was attributed to poor maintenance practices and failure to address a fuel leak, resulting in a significant fine for the airline. Captain Piché's exceptional airmanship during the emergency landing garnered recognition for his skillful maneuvering of the gliding aircraft, ultimately preventing a catastrophic outcome.
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Recent questions
What happened during Air Transat Flight 236?
The flight experienced a fuel emergency due to a fuel leak, leading to both engines flaming out and the aircraft turning into a glider. The crew successfully landed at Lajes airport after facing challenges.
Who piloted Air Transat Flight 236?
Captain Robert Piché and First Officer Dirk DeJagger piloted the flight.
How did the crew handle the fuel imbalance warning?
Initially dismissing it as a computer glitch, the crew attempted to cross-feed fuel to balance the tanks, despite warnings not to do so in case of a suspected fuel leak.
What challenges did the crew face during the landing?
The crew had to carefully maneuver the gliding aircraft towards a landing at Lajes airport, facing difficulties due to the loss of power and the risk of ditching in the ocean.
What were the consequences of the emergency landing?
The landing caused the landing gear to rupture and a small fire to start, leading to minor and severe injuries among passengers and crew. The incident was attributed to poor maintenance practices and resulted in a significant fine for the airline.
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Summary
00:00
Miraculous landing of Air Transat Flight 236
- Air Transat Flight 236, a transatlantic flight from Toronto to Lisbon, experienced a fuel emergency on August 23, 2001.
- The flight was piloted by Captain Robert Piché and First Officer Dirk DeJagger, with a total of 306 people on board.
- Unbeknownst to the pilots, a fuel leak had started within the right engine, leading to a significant imbalance in fuel quantity between the tanks.
- Despite unusual oil readings and a fuel imbalance warning, the crew initially dismissed the issue as a computer glitch.
- The crew attempted to cross-feed fuel to balance the tanks, ignoring the warning not to do so in case of a suspected fuel leak.
- As fuel continued to deplete, the crew decided to divert the flight to Lajes airport in the Azores due to a fuel shortage.
- Both engines eventually flamed out, leaving the aircraft powerless and turning it into a glider.
- Captain Piché had to carefully maneuver the gliding aircraft towards a landing at Lajes airport, facing challenges due to loss of power.
- Assisted by military air traffic controllers, the crew executed a visual approach to land the aircraft, facing the risk of ditching in the ocean.
- Despite challenges, the crew successfully landed the aircraft at Lajes airport, narrowly avoiding a potential ditching in the ocean.
15:00
Emergency Landing: Pilot's Skill Saves Passengers
- The pilot executed a 360-degree turn to decrease altitude and performed S-turns during the final approach to the airport to lower the plane's altitude, ultimately landing just a few miles away from the runway.
- Despite landing at a high speed, the pilot managed to bring the plane to a stop 2,000 feet from the end of the runway, causing the landing gear to rupture and a small fire to start. Emergency response vehicles extinguished the fire, and an emergency evacuation was ordered due to minor and severe injuries sustained by passengers and crew. The incident was attributed to poor maintenance practices and failure to address a fuel leak, resulting in a significant fine for the airline and recognition for the pilot's exceptional airmanship.
