Aviation

Flight diverted after light warns cabin door not properly secured

American Airlines says flight 5550 from Nashville to Washington, D.C., diverted to Knoxville’s McGhee Tyson Airport Monday after at least 30 minutes of flight, when an indicator light warned that a cabin door may not be properly secured, CBS News transportation correspondent Kris Van Cleave reports.

The airline believes it was a technical fault, as the door would have alarmed in “multiple places” before takeoff if it was not properly secured.

The incident, however, prompted some reaction on social media.

“Halfway through my flight w/ @AmericanAir and emergency landing, the passenger door wasn’t fully closed,” one user posted. “Filming the next #FinalDestination?”

https://twitter.com/Katalio/status/861550920257220609?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fnews%2Famerican-airlines-flight-diverted-after-light-warns-cabin-door-may-not-be-properly-secured%2F

At least one user, however, defended the airline.

“American Airlines is a fantastic Airlines,” a tweet said. “The crew handled the mishap safely and efficiently.”

American Airlines is a fantastic Airlines. The crew handled the mishap safely and efficiently.

— Taxi Driver (@MinneMike) May 8, 2017

The CRJ-200 regional jet, operated by PSA, a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Airlines, was checked on the ground in Knoxville and later departed for Washington’s Reagan National Airport, where it landed at 12:25 p.m. ET. There were 47 passengers and three crew members on board.

Courtesy : cbsnews

Aviation

Lost Tool Found in Qantas A380 After 34 Flights

An Australian Transportation Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation recently revealed that a Qantas A380 operated 34 flights with a 1.25-meter nylon tool lodged in one of its engines.

This turning tool, used during borescope inspections to rotate the intermediate-pressure compressor, was left behind during scheduled maintenance at Los Angeles on December 6, 2023. It remained inside the engine until it was discovered by maintenance staff during a subsequent check at Los Angeles on January 1, 2024.

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The ATSB report highlights two critical lapses. First, maintenance engineers failed to notice the tool during final checks for foreign objects after the borescope inspection. Second, the lost tool procedure was not activated when the tool was identified as missing.

The certifying engineer ultimately cleared the aircraft for service without accounting for the misplaced tool. During the time qantas films the tool was inside, the A380 completed 34 flight cycles, accumulating nearly 294 hours without any noticeable effect on engine performance.

Although the tool was deformed by high-energy airflow within the engine, there was no reported damage to the engine itself. ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell commented.

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“This incident underscores the importance of following established maintenance protocols. Engineers missed the tool during foreign object checks, and the required lost tool procedure wasn’t started after realizing the tool was missing.”

Following the investigation, the airline issued a safety directive, urging all engineering and tool storage teams to adhere strictly to these protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future.

A qantas spokesperson stated, “While the tool didn’t impact engine performance, we take this incident very seriously. It is critical to follow the correct lost tool procedures.”