Olympic Airways Flight 411

Olympic Airways Flight 411 originated from Athens' Ellinikon International Airport on August 9th, 1978, bound for New York JFK. The flight operated using a Boeing 747-200 series aircraft, which boasted improved engines and a higher maximum takeoff weight for extended range. The aircraft's registration was SX-OAA.

During takeoff on a hot summer day with 400 passengers and 18 crew members, one of the jet's engines exploded due to overheating caused by the mistakenly turned-off water injection cooling system. Despite this, the plane committed to takeoff, climbing slowly and retracting landing gear at a low altitude, in contrast to the 747 manual, to prevent a stall.

Although it was a difficult situation, both passengers and city residents were spared harm as the 747 safely landed. There had been minimal ATC communication while the crew dealt with the danger. This meant that the 747's return surprised those in the tower.

The aircraft, registered as SX-OAA, continued in service until 1985 with Olympic Airways and later with Trans World Airlines, ending its career in 1997 after 24 years. The same crew remarkably piloted a replacement 747 to New York at 18:00 the same day.

British Airways Flight 9

Flight 9, also known as the "Jakarta Incident," was a remarkable incident on June 24th, 1982. The flight was a British Airways Boeing 747-236B, registered as G-BDXH, traveling from London Heathrow Airport to Auckland, New Zealand, with several intermediate stops in Mumbai, Madras, Kuala Lumpur, Perth, and Melbourne.

During the flight, the aircraft entered a region of volcanic ash clouds caused by the eruption of Mount Galunggung in Indonesia. The ash clouds contained fine particles of rock and glass that can cause significant damage to aircraft engines and other critical components. As the aircraft flew through the ash clouds, all four engines experienced flameouts, resulting in a complete loss of engine power. The aircraft was left gliding without thrust, surrounded by the potentially hazardous volcanic ash.

The flight crew faced a critical situation with no engine power and the need to find a suitable landing site. The team initiated a descent to a lower altitude, where the air was warmer, and the ash particles were less concentrated. With the drop to a safer height, the crew could restart the engines using the aircraft's inertia and the warmer air.

The crew successfully restarted all four engines and made an emergency landing in Jakarta, Indonesia. Despite the traumatic experience, there were no fatalities among the passengers and crew.

The incident highlighted the significant risks posed by volcanic ash to aviation. The fine particles in the ash can clog engines and cause engine flameouts. The incident led to a reassessment of procedures and guidelines for dealing with volcanic ash encounters, including establishing advisory centers to provide real-time information to pilots and airlines. The incident also improved aircraft design and engineering to enhance engines' resistance to volcanic ash ingestion.

Air Transat flight 236

On August 24th, 2001, the Canadian Air Transat operated flight 236 using an Airbus A330-243 aircraft registered as C-GITS. The flight was en route from Toronto Pearson International Airport in Canada to Lisbon Portela Airport in Portugal.

About four hours into the flight, the aircraft's fuel system malfunctioned over the Atlantic Ocean due to a rupture in its fuel lines. This resulted in a severe fuel leak, causing the aircraft to lose fuel alarmingly. The situation became critical as the aircraft found itself in a dire predicament—running out of power while still far from suitable airports.

The flight crew faced an extremely challenging situation, as the aircraft's engines were losing power due to the lack of fuel. Desperate to reach a suitable landing site, the crew glided the Airbus A330 over a considerable distance, approximately 75 nautical miles (138.9 kilometers).

The crew eventually managed to glide the aircraft to Lajes Air Base, an airport on the island of Terceira in the Azores, Portugal. With minimal engine power remaining, the aircraft touched down safely, albeit with its landing gear in an unlocked position due to the lack of hydraulic pressure. Despite this, the aircraft stopped on the runway, and all 306 passengers and crew members onboard survived the ordeal.

Captain Robert Piché and first officer Dirk de Jager in August 2002 were awarded the "Superior Airmanship Award," the prize given annually by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) to the best airline pilots. Due to the successful outcome of the incident, this event is referred to as the "Miracle of the Azores.”

US Airways flight 1549

US Airways Flight 1549 was operated by an Airbus A320 on January 15th, 2009, departing from New York City's LaGuardia Airport with a destination of Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina.

Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft struck a flock of Canada geese, causing both engines to lose power. The pilots, Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger and First Officer Jeffrey Skiles, quickly assessed the situation and determined they could not reach any suitable airport for an emergency landing. They recognized the limited options and performed an emergency water landing in Hudson river. The crew skillfully executed the ditching, managing to land the aircraft on the frigid waters of the Hudson River.

The impact was relatively smooth, thanks to the pilot's expertise in controlling the glide and descent. Passengers and crew members then evacuated onto the wings, and inflatable life rafts as the aircraft began to take on water. Rescue boats and ferries from the New York City area quickly arrived to assist in the evacuation.

All 155 passengers and crew were safely evacuated from the aircraft. The event captured the world's attention and was widely covered by the media due to the incredible nature of the emergency landing and the successful evacuation of everyone onboard.

A film titled "Sully" was made about this incident. Directed by Clint Eastwood and released in 2016, the film stars Tom Hanks as Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger. The film depicts the events leading up to and following the emergency landing and the subsequent investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

Lot Airlines flight 16

LOT Polish Airlines Flight 16 incident happened on November 10th, 2011. The flight was operated by LOT Polish Airlines, the national carrier of Poland, and it was a regular passenger service from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in the USA to Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW) in Poland. The flight was carried out using a Boeing 767-35DER aircraft with the registration SP-LPC.

As the plane approached Warsaw Chopin Airport for landing, it encountered technical difficulties with its landing gear. The crew struggled to extend the landing gear, making multiple attempts to rectify the issue. Despite their efforts, the landing gear problem persisted. Consequently, the aircraft was forced to make a belly landing, sliding along the runway without its landing gear adequately deployed. The impact caused significant damage to the plane and resulted in a subsequent fire.

Swiftly responding to the scene, emergency services evacuated all 231 individuals onboard, including passengers and crew members. Unfortunately, several passengers suffered injuries during the evacuation process, ranging from minor to smoke inhalation.

The subsequent investigation revealed that the landing gear malfunction was caused by a failure in the hydraulic system, which prevented it from extending as intended.

All the passengers on these flights have survived even during aircraft malfunctions and hazardous conditions. This can be attributed to the training, quick thinking, and prompt action taken by the flight crew, air traffic controllers, emergency responder's, and improved aircraft engineering over the years.