Latest news with #DanBubb
Daily Mail
30-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Pilot reveals what would really happen if the emergency exit door gets opened mid-flight
While the scenario of an emergency exit door being yanked open mid-flight is a major fear for nervous flyers, one pilot has revealed exactly what happens when it occurs. Emergency exits are strategically placed throughout the aircraft to enable quick and efficient evacuation for all passengers, regardless of their seating location. While it's rare, there have been instances in recent years of passengers - or even flight attendants - opening emergency doors on airplanes on the ground or in mid-air. But American Airlines First Officer, Steve Scheibner, long-haul pilot, Pascal Cooney, and former airline pilot and aviation expert, Dan Bubb, have revealed the truth about what happens once the 'forbidden' door handle is turned at 35,000 feet. According to Bubb, when an emergency exit door is opened while the plane is stationed on the group and unpressurised, it will result in the door opening and an inflatable slide deploying. This is what happened in the infamous JetBlue Steven Slater incident in 2010, where the flight attendant quit his job in style and used the emergency exit to activate the slide and depart the plane following a confrontation with a passenger. Plug-type emergency exits on aircraft are designed to fit snugly into the door frame, creating a seal that is strengthened by the pressure difference between the interior and exterior of the aircraft. These doors are equipped with hardware like vertical rod and rim exit devices to ensure they stay securely closed under pressure. But if the plane is on the ground and accelerates up to a speed of 80 knots - equivalent to roughly 92 miles per hour - a mechanism on the doors locks, meaning they cannot be opened. Once the plane is in the air, it's virtually impossible to open an emergency door mid-flight due to the cabin's pressurisation. The pressure inside the cabin is significantly higher than the pressure outside at cruising altitude, creating a force that keeps the doors securely sealed. This pressure differential makes it physically impossible for a human to overcome the force holding the door closed. As reported by Reader's Digest, Steve Scheibner explained, 'Once this door gets pressurised in flight, it's nine pounds per square inch.' Fellow long-haul pilot, Pascal Cooney, who goes by @pascalklr on YouTube, said in a clip: 'We pressurise our aircraft to a lower altitude so that you guys can breathe. The inside pressure pushes the door in its frame.' While it's physically near-impossible to open emergency doors in the air, there have been documented cases of passengers hijacking planes and even jumping out of exits mid-flight. In 1972, a man named D.B. Cooper hijacked Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305, demanding four parachutes and $200,000 (£146,070) in ransom. After the plane landed in Seattle, he released the passengers and crew, refueled, and then, while flying towards Mexico, he parachuted out of the plane with the ransom money. Cooper was never found nor seen of again. Many passengers have also attempted to open doors mid-flight and whilst on the runway. A manic passenger was wrestled into a seat after trying to open the emergency exit mid-flight and threatening to kill all onboard a All Nippon Airways plane in May. In April, a flight headed to Melbourne was forced to turn around after a woman tried to open the aircraft door at 30,000 ft as the plane flew over the Indian Ocean. Budget airline JetStar said in a statement that flight JQ-34 had to return to Denpasar airport in Bali after a 'disruptive passenger' attempted to force the plane door open mid-air. In most cases, opening an emergency door mid-flight would lead to arrest, with specific charges and potential prison sentences depending on various factors, such as whether anyone was harmed or damage had been caused to the aircraft. Steven Slater, for example, escaped a prison sentence of seven years after being charged with a string of offences - including reckless endangerment and criminal mischief. However, the former JetBlue flight attendant was made to pay his old airline employer $10,000 (£7,303) in restitution to make up for some of the cost of his spectacular exit. In April, AirAsia X passenger, Shadi Taiseer Alsaaydeh, was charged with two counts of endangering the safety of an aircraft, as well as one count of assaulting crew members, when he attempted to open the plane's emergency doors several times. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years behind bars. He was restrained by crew members and passengers with one worker allegedly assaulted in the process.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'Technical issue' forces Air India Boeing 787 to turn back to Hong Kong
June 16 (UPI) -- An Air India Boeing 787-8 flight headed for New Delhi returned to Hong Kong shortly after takeoff Monday because of a "technical issue," Indian media reported. The issue occurred just days after a similar Dreamliner crashed into buildings in Ahmedabad on Thursday, killing at least 279 people in the aircraft and on the ground. It was the first Dreamliner crash and only one passenger survived. "A passenger flight, AI315, operated by Air India from Hong Kong to New Delhi made a return to Hong Kong International Airport and requested local standby at around 1p.m. today," a spokesperson for Airport Authority Hong Kong said. Air India said in a statement that the plane returned to undergo checks "as a matter of abundant precaution." Some aviation analysts believe the wing flaps on the plane that crashed were not in the correct position. "It looked like the jet struggled to maintain lift," Dan Bubb, a longtime pilot and now airline historian at the University of Nevada, said. "Some pilots have speculated that the flaps may not have been set to the takeoff position. Historically, there have been crashes when flaps weren't properly configured." Authorities have ordered Air India to carry out more safety checks on all Boeing 787s. The Dreamliner has flown commercially since 2011.
Miami Herald
16-06-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
‘Technical issue' forces Air India Boeing 787 to turn back to Hong Kong
June 16 (UPI) -- An Air India Boeing 787-8 flight headed for New Delhi returned to Hong Kong shortly after takeoff Monday because of a "technical issue," Indian media reported. The issue occurred just days after a similar Dreamliner crashed into buildings in Ahmedabad on Thursday, killing at least 279 people in the aircraft and on the ground. It was the first Dreamliner crash and only one passenger survived. "A passenger flight, AI315, operated by Air India from Hong Kong to New Delhi made a return to Hong Kong International Airport and requested local standby at around 1p.m. today," a spokesperson for Airport Authority Hong Kong said. Air India said in a statement that the plane returned to undergo checks "as a matter of abundant precaution." Some aviation analysts believe the wing flaps on the plane that crashed were not in the correct position. "It looked like the jet struggled to maintain lift," Dan Bubb, a longtime pilot and now airline historian at the University of Nevada, said. "Some pilots have speculated that the flaps may not have been set to the takeoff position. Historically, there have been crashes when flaps weren't properly configured." Authorities have ordered Air India to carry out more safety checks on all Boeing 787s. The Dreamliner has flown commercially since 2011. Copyright 2025 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
UPI
16-06-2025
- General
- UPI
'Technical issue' forces Air India Boeing 787 to turn back to Hong Kong
The Being 787 Dreamliner has flown commerically since 2011. Photo by Prime Studio , courtesy of The Boeing Co., June 16 (UPI) -- An Air India Boeing 787-8 flight headed for New Delhi returned to Hong Kong shortly after takeoff Monday because of a "technical issue," Indian Media reported. The issue occurred just days after a similar Dreamliner crashed into buildings in Ahmedabad on Thursday, killing at least 279 people in the aircraft and on the ground. It was the first Dreamliner crash and only one passenger survived. "A passenger flight, AI315, operated by Air India from Hong Kong to New Delhi made a return to Hong Kong International Airport and requested local standby at around 1p.m. today," a spokesperson for Airport Authority Hong Kong said. Air India said in a statement that the plane returned to undergo checks "as a matter of abundant precaution." Some aviation analysts believe the wing flaps on the plane that crashed were not in the correct position. "It looked like the jet struggled to maintain lift," Dan Bubb, a longtime pilot and now airline historian at the University of Nevada. "Some pilots have speculated that the flaps may not have been set to the takeoff position. Historically, there have been crashes when flaps weren't properly configured." Authorities have ordered Air India to carry out more safety checks on all Boeing 787s. The Dreamliner has flown commercially since 2011.
Newsweek
12-06-2025
- General
- Newsweek
Air India Flight 171 Crash: Veteran Pilots on What Could Have Gone Wrong
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The fiery crash of Air India Flight 171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner carrying 242 people, shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport in western India has stunned aviation experts and ignited scrutiny over possible mechanical or procedural causes with an aircraft known for its advanced technology and safety record. At least 290 people are believed dead in the crash, which marks the first fatal incident involving a Boeing 787 aircraft since the model entered service in 2011. There is one known survivor. Why It Matters Air India said the flight bound for London Gatwick Airport was carrying 242 passengers and crew, with 169 Indians, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese and one Canadian aboard. The Boeing 787-8 crashed into a residential area called Meghani Nagar five minutes after taking off at 1:38 p.m. This is the first crash of a Dreamliner, according to the Aviation Safety Network database. The Dreamliner is widely considered the "crown jewel" of Boeing's beleaguered commercial fleet, with more than 1,000 in service today. Boeing said it was "working to gather more information." The tail of Air India 171 sticks out of a building after it crashed in India's northwestern city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat state, Thursday, June 12, 2025. The tail of Air India 171 sticks out of a building after it crashed in India's northwestern city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat state, Thursday, June 12, 2025. associated press What To Know The jet barely reached 625 feet in altitude before descending rapidly and crashing into a nearby medical building. The disaster, which unfolded in clear weather conditions, raises significant questions about the aircraft's configuration, the airline's procedures, and the potential for unforeseen failure modes in one of the world's most advanced commercial jets. While the official investigation is still underway, early video and expert reviews have pointed to a few main theories. Dan Bubb, a longtime pilot and now airline historian at the University of Nevada - Las Vegas, told Newsweek what might have gone wrong. Flap Misconfiguration or Malfunction Multiple aviation analysts believe the aircraft's wing flaps were not correctly deployed at the time of takeoff. The flaps, which are essential for creating lift at low speeds, appeared to remain retracted, based on early video analysis. "It looked like the jet struggled to maintain lift," said Bubb in an interview with Newsweek. "Some pilots have speculated that the flaps may not have been set to the takeoff position. Historically, there have been crashes when flaps weren't properly configured." Alastair Rosenschein, a former British Airways pilot, told Sky News the footage suggested the flaps were not extended, and "the aircraft would not have been able to maintain flight" under those conditions. He also noted the landing gear remained down, further impairing the aircraft's aerodynamics. Captain Summeet Sabharwal, who was commanding the flight, had more than 8,200 hours of flying experience. Experts say that level of experience makes it less likely the flaps or gear configuration were overlooked due to a procedural mistake, but do not rule such catastrophic pilot error out entirely. "It may not have been set properly. If that is the case, that is definitely human error," said Bubb emphasizing that flap settings are a crucial part of the pre-takeoff checklist. "That's why pilots use checklists and double verification to ensure flap settings are correct before takeoff. It's an essential safety step, especially on heavy planes like the Dreamliner." People stand around debris at the site of an airplane that crashed in India's northwestern city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat state, Thursday, June 12, 2025. People stand around debris at the site of an airplane that crashed in India's northwestern city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat state, Thursday, June 12, 2025. AP Photo/Ajit Solanki Bird Strike and Double Engine Failure The theory that a bird strike caused a dual engine failure has also gained traction. The aircraft crashed shortly after liftoff, a critical portion of flight when bird activity near airports can pose serious risks. "Bird strikes can be very challenging," Bubb said. "Especially if an engine ingests birds and fails, as happened in the [2009] US Airways Hudson River landing." Dr. Jason Knight, a lecturer at the University of Portsmouth, told Sky that the most likely cause of a double engine failure at low altitude would be a bird strike. "Because the altitude was so low, the pilot would have had very little time to do an emergency landing," he said. Saurabh Bhatnagar, another former pilot speaking to NDTV in India, said the aircraft appeared to lose power "short of taking the gear up," which can happen "only in case the engine loses power or the aircraft stops developing lift." Ahmedabad airport is known for its bird strike hazard. According to The Telegraph, it had the second-highest number of reported bird strikes in India in 2023, despite operating significantly fewer flights than major hubs like Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. Landing Gear Remained Deployed A recurring point in expert analysis is the plane's failure to retract its landing gear. Typically, pilots raise the gear within seconds of a positive rate of climb. In this case, the gear was still extended when the aircraft went down. "There are two things that are needed for an aircraft take-off. One is adequate airspeed and the other one is a rate of climb," said Paul Edwards, aviation security analyst and fellow at the Royal Aeronautical Society, in an interview with Sky. "And that had neither." Ahmedabad: Firefighting team at the spot after an Air India plane crashed moments after taking off from the Ahmedabad airport, Thursday, June 12, 2025. (PTI via AP) Ahmedabad: Firefighting team at the spot after an Air India plane crashed moments after taking off from the Ahmedabad airport, Thursday, June 12, 2025. (PTI via AP) AP "It could have been he [the pilot] just didn't have time, or it could be that perhaps he thought he could control it, go round again and land or even land straight ahead," Edwards added. "So that remains, if you like, a mystery." Dan Bubb explained that gear retraction and flap extension are both critical for lift and speed. "If the flaps malfunctioned, or if the pilot was unaware they hadn't extended, it becomes very difficult to control the aircraft safely," he said. Runway Length and Heat Radar data reviewed by Newsweek indicates the pilots may also not have used the full length of the runway. On a hot day in Ahmedabad, where temperatures reached 40°C (104°F), a heavy aircraft requires more distance to reach liftoff speed due to reduced air density. "If a plane tries to lift off too early without enough speed or lift, it could crash into a nearby obstacle or fail to get airborne," said Bubb. Unverified data suggests Flight 171 may have used as little as 1,900 meters of runway, below the 2,500 meters generally recommended under those conditions. Bubb acknowledged the challenge: "The Dreamliner is a heavy jet, used for long international flights, carrying many passengers and fuel, so it can struggle if something's off." Mechanical Failure and Boeing's Role The crash has renewed scrutiny on Boeing, which has faced multiple safety controversies in recent years. While the 787 has a strong safety record, it is also a highly complex aircraft reliant on computerized systems and advanced materials. A policeman and medics transfer bodies of victims onto an ambulance after Air India Flight 171 crashed in a residential area near the airport in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025. A policeman and medics transfer bodies of victims onto an ambulance after Air India Flight 171 crashed in a residential area near the airport in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025. SAM PANTHAKY/AFP via Getty "The SOS indicates something definitely went wrong," Bubb said. "If there was a mechanical defect, responsibility may extend beyond Boeing because airlines are responsible for maintaining their planes. Investigators will look closely at Air India's maintenance records." Robert A. Clifford, founder and senior partner of Clifford Law Offices in Chicago and lead counsel in the Boeing 737 MAX8 crash in Ethiopia, also weighed in. "Review of available video and eyewitness information indicate some form of power or flight control loss," Clifford told Newsweek in a statement. "The Indian government investigators should have flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder information within a couple of days that will provide vital information to try to get to the bottom of this deadly tragedy." What Happens Next Air India's chairman, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, said that at the moment "our primary focus is on supporting all the affected people and their families." One of the two "black box" flight recorders has been recovered, while investigators are still searching for the other. No data from the recovered recorder has yet been shared.
