US723 - heading back to Dublin ?

bifl

Just happened to track US723 when it was passing overhead on flight radar 24 on my phone. Usually these are head straight over me heading trans-atlantic.

http://www.flightradar24.com/AWE723

She began to tun in the sky and seems to be heading back to Dublin as I type this.

NO flight destination been given on the app which isn't entirely unusual but maybe its a test flight after some previous issue ? Anyone have any further info ?

Danbo!

Planefinder has it as DUB-PHL http://planefinder.net/flight/US723

Looks like it took off quite late too. http://www.flightstats.com/go/FlightStatus/flightStatusByFlight.do;jsessionid=4C3DA152B1F12F3487BE67F8C3609336.web1:8009?id=320930805&airlineCode=US&flightNumber=723

Just heard Fire vehicles are holding on taxiway too

lord lucan

She was very late out of DUB today,they were waiting on a part to be flown in from MAN and she only left at 15.00. Pure speculation but maybe the fix wasn't working to the captains liking.

No word yet on whether they're going to disembark the pax or not.

vicwatson

Fingers crossed its a run of the mill landing

Zcott

ATC just referred to it as 'the aircraft with the issue' so clearly something not right. All other aircraft were told to hold to get the 757 in.

lord lucan

Nicely put down.

Naked Lepper

what happened

crisco10

lord lucan wrote: »

Nicely put down.

What is/was the issue?

vicwatson

Fire brigade heading back to station if I heard right

Alaba320

About 14 ambulances and fire brigades just flew past me on the swords road... Guessing this is where they were heading!

billie1b

Electrical issue on board, landed safely, emergency stood down after landing

MiskyBoyy

http://www.thejournal.ie/emergency-l...58375-Jan2014/

A US AIRWAYS flight was forced to return to Dublin Airport this afternoon after experiencing electrical problems in the air.
A spokesperson for Dublin Airport Authority confirmed that the flight, which had left Dublin this afternoon for Philadephia, landed safely. The DAA’s fire brigade attended the landing as a precaution but the incident has now been stood down.
A source told TheJournal.ie that a full emergency had been declared due to electrical problems while the aircraft was in the air, not long after it left the airport.

bifl

Here is a screenshot from flight radar shortly after I initially saw her.

Apologies to forum protocol, just spotted there is a flight radar specific thread. Mods can merge this in if they want .

poteen

Would Knock Airport have been considered at any stage during this emergency landing? It passed right over it?

urajoke

No probably not limited to no engineering services and limited fire services if needed.

poteen

urajoke wrote: »

No probably not limited to no engineering services and limited fire services if needed.

I guess it depends on how much of an emergency it is. If it was very serious a runway at hand is better than a runway 130 miles away. Engineering issues could be considered later.

urajoke

poteen wrote: »

I guess it depends on how much of an emergency it is. If it was very serious a runway at hand is better than a runway 130 miles away. Engineering issues could be considered later.

Yes correct but if you also have to lose 30000ft + which equates to 90nms plus some to manage your energy then you might as well go to the airport slightly further away. But like you said that depends on the situation at hand.

ProfessorPlum

You wont need 90nm to loose 30000ft if you must get down in a hurry.. You'd have to assume the straits were not dire as he went back to Dublin. If he were on fire he could have been down in 10-15.

urajoke

ProfessorPlum wrote: »

You wont need 90nm to loose 30000ft if you must get down in a hurry.. You'd have to assume the straits were not dire as he went back to Dublin. If he were on fire he could have been down in 10-15.

Read the first two words and the last eleven of my post where I agreed with him TWICE. The middle bit is like the bit in your posts where you play on the groups name.

And yes if he was on fire he would be down in a matter of a few miles and land in Knock.

ProfessorPlum

Ah now don't be so touchy. Just pointing out that you can get down faster if needs be. Just giving people something to think about.

Tenger

ProfessorPlum wrote: »

Ah now don't be so touchy. Just pointing out that you can get down faster if needs be. Just giving people something to think about.

But over complicating a simple explanation of why in this case the aircraft did not go to the nearest airfield. After all the thread is about US723 not diversions in theory.

lord lucan

Also to be considered if diverted elsewhere is that the pax and crew had precleared immigration and customs in DUB and that presents its own logistical problems such as quarantining pax onboard whilst repairs are carried out or letting them off the aircraft and unprocessing them by CBP officials. Safety comes first but there's plenty of other factors at play.

ProfessorPlum

Ok folks, this is the conversation I replied to:

poteen wrote: »

Would Knock Airport have been considered at any stage during this emergency landing? It passed right over it?

Very reasonable question, and I'm sure if circumstances dictated, Knock would have been considered, and may have been by the crew.

to which the reply was:

urajoke wrote: »

No probably not limited to no engineering services and limited fire services if needed.

No company engineering services maybe, but that should never be the deciding factor in an emergency. Knock has I believe RFF catagory 7 available, more than adequate for the aircraft in question.

poteen wrote: »

I guess it depends on how much of an emergency it is. If it was very serious a runway at hand is better than a runway 130 miles away. Engineering issues could be considered later.

A very reasonable and well considered point.

urajoke wrote: »

Yes correct but if you also have to lose 30000ft + which equates to 90nms plus some to manage your energy then you might as well go to the airport slightly further away. But like you said that depends on the situation at hand.

Well no. It doesn't equate to 90nm. Also many emergency situations dictate that you must land at the nearest suitable airport, so 'you might as well' go to a further away airport will require a bit of explaining later on.
As I said in my post, the situation must not have been so critical if the crew choose to return to Dublin.

And then in reply:

urajoke wrote: »

Read the first two words and the last eleven of my post where I agreed with him TWICE. The middle bit is like the bit in your posts where you play on the groups name.

And yes if he was on fire he would be down in a matter of a few miles and land in Knock.

I'm not sure what the underlined bit means.

Pointing out that an aircraft can descend fast in a hurry doesn't overcomplicate things, it just clarifies it. If we're only talking about the specifics of this particular flight, whats the point? None of us were the crew on it, so we don't know, we're just speculating. Throwing ideas about. Having a discussion. The fact that pax had cleared CBP really doesn't come into it either if the aircraft is in an emergency situation.. Anyway - it's Knock- where are they going to go (ok, that's a joke. Mayo is a great spot)

Look I'm not looking to have a scrap with anyone, but I think the answer to my first post was a little aggressive. I'm sensitive.

Well, I'm sure in the case of an "oh sh*t, we'll crash!" emergency, they'll put her down on whatever peice of tarmac long & wide enough to take her, and if that 's in the form of a serviced airport , well and good.

If it's an "I don't like this warning light, better get her on the ground before it becomes a serious problem" emergency, would you put her down somewhere where there's no one from your company around, or fly an extra 10 minutes & bring her back to where you just came from, with all the tools , staff, and screening facilities available?

"Emergency" is one word, and when it's declared, the response is exactly the same. It has to be.

Lost an engine- fire turnout

Lost an undercarriage wheel- fire turnout

Lost a tiny cooling valve- fire turnout.

Just because there's shedloads of fire trucks, doesn't mean there's a fire. It's better to be looking at the fire engines closeby not needing to help you, than be looking for them to get to you when you need them now.

murphaph

Could it be that the captain initially just decided to return to DUB with whatever problem he had before deciding the situation warranted upgrading to full emergency a few minutes later, by which time DUB was closer than any other airport anyway?

urajoke

You are being too sensitive I was pointing out to you that in my post I agreed with him TWICE you ignored that so I pointed it out to you. The underlined bit is the bit where I like you agreed that the straits weren't dire so they could afford to descend back to Dublin not just landing anywhere for the sake of getting down as there was no immediate need.

You brought up fire, moving the goalposts.

ProfessorPlum

I didn't ignore you, I just pointed out that two of the reasons you gave for not considering Knock were invalid - ie you need 90nm to descend (no you don't) and fire fighting services there are not adequate (yes they are). Company engineering support - sure, but that comes further down the list.
There are loads of better reasons why they might not have considered knock,or more likely, considered it and decided against it.
I used 'fire' as a trigger that most people will immediately understand as a very urgent situation where a rapid descent would be used, in order to illustrate my point. I'm not 'moving goalposts' - the aircraft was not on fire, and I'm not suggesting it was. Sorry if that was confusing.
Clearly the aircraft was in a situation where they were able to pick the most convenient for them which was Dublin.
I was simply clarifying for the poster who asked the question 'would knock have been considered' that the reasons you gave for not considering it were invalid.

boeingboy

murphaph wrote: »

Could it be that the captain initially just decided to return to DUB with whatever problem he had before deciding the situation warranted upgrading to full emergency a few minutes later, by which time DUB was closer than any other airport anyway?

Or maybe he knows the Guinness is better in Dubhlinn and the passengers are originating from there and his car is parked there as its a commutable job. Lots of Oirish in Cactus.
Engineers knew the history, fix didnt work.

joegriffinjnr

About 14 ambulances and fire brigades just flew past me on the swords road... Guessing this is where they were heading!

Nope they were all outside Ikea for some reason.

notharrypotter

Would Knock Airport have been considered at any stage during this emergency landing? It passed right over it?

Could it be that the captain initially just decided to return to DUB

From what I understand;
When an aircraft files its flight plan it also lists a number of airports which it would divert to should anything happen.

The flight crew would have briefed themselves on this group of airports.

During the initial phase of the flight this can often be the point of departure.

Once the flight crew have assessed the situation as has been pointed out they would select the most appropriate to their needs.
Allowing for local rules is they apply.

However bar the unfortunate situation where they must land the aircraft immediately Knock is not going to feature in their choices.

Jamie2k9

Knock airport could of being closed, it closes early most days. If there was no immediate danger to passengers on it then going back to DUB was best thing for the airline, passengers and handling a full emergency.

flazio

Plus, burning off that bit more fuel would have helped the landing would it not?