Aviation

Plane’s cockpit window ripped out at 32,000ft forcing emergency landing

According to Newsflare. A Sichuan Airlines plane was forced to make an emergency landing after the cockpit windscreen was ripped out in mid-air.

The video, filmed in Flight 3U8633 from Chongqing to Lhasa on May 14, shows passengers using oxygen masks and a flight attendant saying: “Those exits cannot be opened” and “Be safe.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQZ7ovwhugA

The plane landed safely at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport and no one was harmed.

The co-pilot suffered scratches and injured his waist while a flight attendant also suffered minor injuries, reports said. According to Sichuan Airlines, the reason was due to a “mechanical failure” but no further details were available.

Reports said the aircraft was an Airbus A319 and was cruising at 32,000 feet.

One pilot, thought to have been the flight’s first officer, suffered scratches and a sprained wrist during Monday morning’s drama.

A cabin crew member was also injured in the descent, said the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

The flight, Sichuan Airlines 3U8633, had left the central Chinese city of Chongqing for the Tibetan capital, Lhasa. There were 128 people, nine of whom were crew, on board.

According to flight tracking website FlightRadar24, the aircraft was an Airbus A319.

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Aviation

Airbus Enhances A350 Cabin with 10-Abreast Seating

Airbus has announced a new partnership with Jiatai Aircraft Equipment, a Chinese aircraft seating manufacturer, to supply upgraded economy-class seats for the A350 widebody series.

This collaboration, unveiled at the 2024 Airshow China, focuses on developing a newly designed economy seat tailored for the A350‘s New Production Standard (NPS) cabin.

One of the key features of the NPS cabin is the ability to accommodate 17-inch wide economy seats, compared to the previous 16.5-inch wide seats that airlines were limited to in the A350’s earlier configurations.

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This change is made possible by the expanded space in the NPS cabin, which is 35 inches longer and 4 inches wider than the previous version. This extra space is achieved by slightly moving the cockpit wall forward and shifting the rear pressure bulkhead back by one frame.

The wider cabin allows airlines to add up to 30 extra economy seats without compromising comfort. For airlines opting for a 3-4-3 seating layout, the 17-inch wide seats are an excellent choice for a more comfortable passenger experience. However, some airlines, such as Iberia, may choose to retain a 9-abreast layout with wider seats for added comfort.

The NPS cabin also offers enhanced flexibility for airline operators. One major advantage is the ability to easily switch between a 9-abreast and 10-abreast seating configuration without requiring significant downtime for aircraft reconfiguration. Airlines can use the same seat rails, tracks, and IFE interfaces, making the transition smoother and quicker.

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In addition, the design of the floor attachments and air-conditioning systems has been optimized for 10-abreast seating, meaning airlines can upgrade their cabins without needing to make substantial modifications to the aircraft’s structure.

Though it’s still unclear when Jiatai’s economy-class seats will be officially added to the A350’s Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE) catalogue, the collaboration marks a significant step toward enhancing the A350’s cabin offerings.

With this partnership, Airbus is providing more seating options for airlines, ensuring that they can meet diverse customer needs while improving overall operational efficiency.