Latest news with #planecrash
CBC
40 minutes ago
- CBC
WATCH — Is seat 11A really the safest seat on an airplane?
Flying is still the safest mode of transport, experts say CONTENT WARNING: This story contains information about people dying in plane crashes. Consider reading it with a trusted adult. It's common to have an emotional reaction to the news. Is there really a 'safest seat' on an airplane? On June 12, an Air India flight crashed minutes after takeoff in the Indian city of Ahmedabad. Several people on the ground died, along with 241 on board. One passenger survived. Why kids should still feel safe to fly despite deadly D.C. plane crash Vishwashkumar Ramesh was that sole survivor, and was sitting in seat 11A. He jumped through a nearby emergency exit after the crash. So why has seat 11A gone viral online? Turns out Thai singer and actor James Ruangsak Loychusak — who was one of the survivors of a deadly 1998 Thai Airways plane crash — sat in the same seat. 'That was an uncanny coincidence,' he told India's The Telegraph Online after the crash. 'The kind that gives you goosebumps.' CBC Kids News was not able to confirm that he was actually sitting in seat 11A, but it turns out it may not really matter. Check the video below to find out more about seat 11A from CBC Kids News contributor Ainara Alleyne. ⬇️⬇️⬇️ Why your seat choice doesn't really matter Aviation experts say plane crashes are random, and any seat can improve your survivability depending on the unique aspects of a crash. These include things like the way the aircraft breaks apart, the type of impact, where someone is sitting and timing, for example. All about airplanes: Aviation experts answer kids' questions about flying 'Each accident is different, and it is impossible to predict survivability based on seat location,' Mitchell Fox, a director at Flight Safety Foundation, a U.S.-based non-profit, told Reuters. Two men in plane crashes more than 20 years apart both survived sitting in seat 11A. On the left is the recent crash involving a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft in Ahmedabad, India. The image on the right depicts the 1998 crash of a Thai Airways Airbus A310 in Surat Thani, Thailand. Image credit: (Adnan Abidi/Reuters, and Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images) Also, seat 11A isn't in the same spot on every airplane and may not always be as close to an emergency exit. That being said, experts say sitting near an emergency exit can improve chances of evacuation in less severe crashes. In any case, don't let all this talk of crashes scare you — flying is still by far the safest mode of transportation. You're more likely to be struck by lightning than end up in a plane crash, experts say. Have more questions? Want to tell us how we're doing? Use the 'send us feedback' link below. ⬇️⬇️⬇️ With files from Natalie Stechyson/CBC News
Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Famous drummer was killed in private jet crash after posting photo of himself at CONTROLS
A famous drummer has died in a private jet crash that killed at least two people hours after he shared a photo of himself at its controls. Daniel Williams, formerly of hugely-popular Christian metalcore band The Devil Wears Prada, filmed himself boarding the Cessna 550 at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey late Wednesday night. The drummer, 39, also shared pictures of him at the controls of the small aircraft, said that he was the 'co-pilot now'. It's unclear if he was joking. An eerie final post showed him at the plane's controls with the caption: 'Here we gooooo' The plane, with a tail number of N666DS, took off from Teterboro Airport in on Wednesday at 11.15pm ET, tracking data reveals. It stopped for fuel in Wichita, Kansas before continuing on to California, where the Cessna ultimately crashed in a quiet military neighborhood in San Diego, close to its intended final destination of Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport. Williams, 39, lived in San Diego, the intended destination of the jet. He left The Devil Wears Prada - a hugely popular Christian metalcore band in 2016 - and became a software engineer. He shared a snap to his Instagram stories as he boarded the plane in the Garden State late Wednesday night. Williams told his followers that he was flying with music agent and pilot Dave Shapiro, who, according to aircraft registration records, had just purchased the eight-seater plane in July last year. On Wednesday, investigators confirmed both people on board the plane died. Eight people were injured, although investigators haven't said if they were on the ground. Shapiro's friend Ryan Bruce, a music producer, paid tribute to the pair, telling Daily Mail: 'Dave changed mine and a lot of other people's lives and the community he built and the network of bands he has worked with and supported will never forget him. 'Daniel left us a lot of music to remember him by and he was a super sweet guy.' This picture appears to have been taken before the jet departed from Teterboro Airport in New Jersey on Wednesday at 11.15pm. It is unclear if Williams got off the plane in Wichita or continued onwards to San Diego Bruce also remembered the pair on his Instagram. He shared a photo of of Williams and his friend Shapiro with the captions 'Rest easy' and heart emojis. Music executive Terrance Coughlin paid tribute to Williams and Shapiro on X. He wrote: 'Rest in Peace Dave Shapiro, Daniel Williams, and everyone on that flight. Some of my very first shows were booked through Dave. 'I had a handful of shows with Daniel, always a pleasure to see him play. Gone way too soon.' Tony Cappocchi, a music agent, paid tribute to Shapiro, telling Daily Mail: 'Dave was a great friend of ours.' A spokesperson for Sound Talent Group confirmed in a statement to Daily Mail that three of its employees were on the plane. 'We are devastated by the loss of our co-founder, colleagues and friends. Our hearts go out to their families and to everyone impacted by today's tragedy,' the statement read. 'Thank you so much for respecting their privacy at this time.' It is unclear at this time which Sound Talent Group employees were on the plane. The Cessna then flew to Colonel James Jabara Airport, landing there at 1:49am CT. It refueled and took off again at 2:36am CT. The plane had been due to arrive at San Diego's Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport just before 4am PT, but never made it to its final destination. The plane crashed just before 4am into the US military's largest housing neighborhood. Officials say that everyone on board the luxurious plane is feared to have died in the ensuing fireball. At least 10 houses were burned or hit by debris that spread over a wide area, and cars on both sides of a street went up in flames. A family of five was hospitalized for smoke inhalation and another person was treated at a hospital for injuries sustained while climbing out of a window trying to flee. Two others were treated for minor injuries at the scene. San Diego officials haven't released details about the plane but did confirm the flight had come in from the Midwest. Flight tracking site FlightAware lists a Cessna Citation II jet scheduled to arrive at the Montgomery-Gibbs Executive airport in San Diego at 3.47am from the small Colonel James Jabara Airport in Wichita, Kansas. Officials at the Kansas airport said it made a fueling stop in Wichita. The flight originated Wednesday night in Teterboro, New Jersey. The airport in Teterboro is about 6 miles (10 kilometers) from Manhattan and is used by the rich and famous to fly in and out of New York City on private jets. In the San Diego neighborhood, the smell of jet fuel lingered in the air hours after the crash while authorities worked to extinguish one stubborn car fire. First responders described a frightening scene in the aftermath of the crash. 'I can't quite put words to describe what the scene looks like, but with the jet fuel going down the street, and everything on fire all at once, it was pretty horrific to see,' San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said. Chunks of metal from the aircraft littered the street, but no discernible body of the plane could be seen. Half a dozen fully charred cars sat on the street, and tree limbs, melted trash cans, glass and pieces of white and blue metal were scattered around. At the end of the block, black smoke billowed as a car continued to smolder while water mixed with jet fuel flowed down the street. More than 50 police officers responded to the scene within minutes and began evacuating homes. At least 100 residents were displaced to an evacuation center at a nearby elementary school. Police officers were rescuing multiple animals, including three husky puppies that were rolled away from the crash scene in a wagon. A few blocks away, families stood in their pajamas in a parking lot waiting for word of when they could return to their homes. The neighborhood is made up of single-family homes and townhomes. Montgomery-Gibbs airport is about 2 miles away. San Diego Assistant Fire Department Chief Dan Eddy said it was very foggy at the time the private plane crashed. 'You could barely see in front of you,' he said. Officials were looking into whether the plane clipped a power line before crashing into the neighborhood. The Federal Aviation Administration said the National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation. In October 2021, a twin-engine plane plowed into a San Diego suburb, killing the pilot and a UPS delivery driver on the ground and burning homes. It was preparing to land at the airport. In December 2008, a US Marine Corps fighter jet slammed into a house in San Diego's University City neighborhood, causing an explosion that killed four people inside. The Marine Corps blamed the crash on mechanical failure and human error.
Daily Mail
12 hours ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Key questions in the Air India crash
It was meant to be a routine flight from India to the UK - but just 30 seconds after take-off, flight AI171 was reduced to a blazing inferno. It's been six days since the Air India plane bound for Gatwick Airport shattered into pieces after smashing into a medical staff hostel close to Ahmedabad airport, killing 242 passengers and crew - everyone except one miraculous survivor, Londoner Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, sitting in seat 11A. Another 38 people died on the ground, but that number is expected to rise as the search for bodies continues. Meanwhile, the world is still waiting for answers, with some making lurid claims of a government cover-up. So what really happened that day in Ahmedabad? Here are the key questions demanding answers: When will we get information from the 'black box'? Investigators recovered the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) on Monday. The flight data recorder (FDR), which logs crucial flight parameters such as altitude, speed and engine performance, had been recovered from the debris on Friday. Together, the CVR and FDR form what is commonly known as the 'black box' of a plane. It is a vital tool in air crash investigations, helping experts reconstruct the flight's final moments. The Dreamliner's black box has now been taken to a laboratory in New Delhi. Typically, preliminary data from black boxes is available within one to two weeks. But in this case, rescue workers have indicated that it was severely damaged by the impact and the ferocious fire that followed the crash, meaning it could take several weeks before any data is recovered. What caused the crash? Investigators are focusing on a number of key areas. These include: double engine failure, problems with the plane's wing flaps, and a landing gear issue. A double engine failure, normally caused by fuel contamination or clogging, is an extremely rare occurrence and questions are being asked about the maintenance of refuelling equipment and where fuel is stored at the airport. Another possibility raised by some experts in India is that birds may have collided with the plane moments after take-off. This can be catastrophic, especially if they are sucked into the engines. Gujarat state, where Ahmedabad is located, reported 462 bird strike incidents over five years, with most occurring at Ahmedabad airport according to Indian government figures from December 2023. Who were the pilots and could they be to blame? The pilot, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, 56, had over 8,000 hours of flying experience. The co-pilot, Clive Kunder, 34, had about 1,000 hours. According to sources, investigators are closely analysing the trajectory of the plane following take off. It crashed around 30 seconds after leaving the runway when it climbed to an altitude of 625 feet, but videos widely circulating on social media show it as if it was landing. This has led some to speculate that its flaps, which are vital for generating maximum lift, might not have been properly extended, causing it to dramatically drop. Is the Indian government trying to cover up reasons behind the disaster? Indian investigators have been reluctant to comment publicly on the areas they are examining but a source revealed: 'Nothing is off the table as far as this investigation is concerned and that includes human error. That is a difficult thing to do given the nature of this accident and the huge loss of life but for the sake of the country, we have to properly establish what occurred.' The investigation is being viewed as particularly sensitive because of the impact it may have on India's wider image. Over the past two decades the nation of 1.4 billion people has gone from being viewed as a somewhat chaotic, disorganised country to one that is the world's fifth largest economy and a major political power that holds its own in the international area. Who is leading the investigation? The investigation is being led by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), a government run body that investigates domestic air accidents. But a number of organisations from outside of the country are also involved as under international aviation protocols they have the right to participate if they have a connection to the aeroplane or its passengers. Among those who visited the crash site this week were officials from America's National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), as the Boeing 787 jet and its engines were manufactured in the US. Officials from Britain's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) are also in India and inspected the crash site following the death of 52 British nationals in the accident. Separately, a high-level committee set up by the Indian government to examine the reasons behind the crash is expected to hold its first meeting next week. It will submit a preliminary report within three months and propose new standard operating procedures to help prevent similar incidents in future. Are Dreamliner planes safe to fly now? Before the Ahmedabad disaster, there had been no fatalities tied to the Dreamliner model. But over the past 14 years since they have been flying there have been numerous concerns and claims by whistleblowers over their safety. Former Boeing employee John Barnett, who worked for the company for more than 30 years at its North Charleston plant in the US, where the jet is built, claimed that sub-standard parts were deliberately fitted to prevent production delays. Former Boeing engineer Sam Salehpour revealed that he raised concerns about 'manufacturing shortcuts' only to be told to 'shut up' by his bosses. Following his claims, the company is being investigated by America's FAA. Since last week's crash, Air India has revealed that it had cancelled five international flights it operates using a 787-8 Dreamliner. On Tuesday, the flight on the same route as the plane that crashed was cancelled because of 'precautionary checks'. A flight from Gatwick to Amritsar, in north India, set to depart at 8pm UK time was also axed. And an Air India flight bound for Delhi from Hong Kong turned back after the pilot suspected a technical issue. Does the lone survivor hold any clues? Mr Ramesh is the only witness to what happened inside the plane. He was interviewed in hospital, revealing: 'When the flight took off, within five to ten seconds it felt like it was stuck in the air. Suddenly, the lights started flickering - green and white - then the plane rammed into some establishment that was there. 'When I saw the exit, I thought I could come out. I tried, and I did. Maybe the people who were on the other side of the plane weren't able to.' He added: 'I don't know how I survived. I saw people dying in front of my eyes - the air hostesses, and two people I saw near me … I walked out of the rubble.' Meanwhile, his relatives insist that Mr Ramesh does not hold the key to investigations. Nayan, his brother, revealed that Vishwash 'has no idea how he survived', or how he managed to exit the plane. Why is there such tight control around him? The political and national sensitivities related to the air crash are perhaps best underlined by how Mr Ramesh and his family have been treated over the past few days. Within 24 hours of the accident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Mr Ramesh in hospital. After that, the media were prevented from speaking to him and he was effectively put under armed guard. Inside the ward where he is being treated, which is usually reserved for VIPs, around eight officers from the Indian police's Crime Branch department have been put on duty and have been restricting who comes to see him or who he speaks to. Around six other officers stand outside checking the identities of anybody entering. His relatives claim that they are facing a virtual clampdown by Indian officials concerned about the impact the accident could have on the country's image. One revealed that they have been refused permission to see him in recent days and that even his parents, who flew out from the UK over the weekend to be with him, were only allowed to stay for an hour. Another said: 'A lot of restrictions have been placed on the family and we are not free to come and go. Some of the relatives that were at the hospital were ordered to leave. We've been warned not to speak about him or what happened and that there will be serious consequences if we do.' One said: 'He was just a passenger who got unbelievably lucky, so we don't understand why he and his family are being treated like this. Anything they have to say will not help the authorities understand why the plane crashed.' Why have relatives of British victims claimed they are not being supported? Following the crash, dozens of relatives of Britons who died have arrived in India to provide DNA samples so that the bodies of their loved ones can be identified. In searing temperatures, they have been gathering outside a building in the Civil Hospital, the largest in Ahmedabad, patiently waiting to go inside as volunteers hand out water to help keep them cool. The absence of any British officials is noticeable, prompting anger that little is being done to help them. The Foreign Office has set up a support centre operated by around five British officials sent out from London soon after the accident to provide 'consular and emotional assistance'. But it is located in a hidden office in a hotel close to Ahmedabad airport and few relatives of the British crash victims know about it. When the Daily Mail visited, there were no relatives present, staff sat around chatting and there was no signage as to how to get to the centre. There have also been complaints about the length of time it has taken for relatives to receive the bodies of their loved ones and British relatives have called on the UK to help speed up the process. Hamzah Nanabawa, whose brother, sister-in-law and their four-year-old daughter were killed in the crash, told media: 'We're not asking for miracles – we're asking for presence, for compassion, for action. Right now, we feel utterly abandoned.' He added: 'There is no UK leadership in India, no medical team and no crisis professionals stationed at the hospital.' What now for Air India and Boeing? Air India was previously owned by the Indian government and had a terrible reputation for red tape, poor service and financial woes, losing millions of pounds annually. In 2021 it was bought by the Tata Group, one of India's most powerful business houses which is worth close to £315 billion. It has extensive interests across the world including Britain where it owns Jaguar Land Rover, Tetley, steel maker Corus and British Salt. But despite being owned by a private company, Air India is still considered the country's national carrier. At the time of the takeover, it had losses of close to £750 million but the airline has shown signs of revival under private ownership with new aircraft ordered and services improved but according to latest figures, it is still running at a loss of over £400 million per annum. Last week's crash could have catastrophic financial implications for the airline. It has already announced compensation of close to £100,000 for the families of each passenger but could also face paying out substantially more in damages if it is found that the crash was the result of negligence.
Fox News
12 hours ago
- General
- Fox News
Plane was flying too low during descent in crash that killed rock musician and music exec, NTSB finds
A preliminary investigation into a May plane crash which claimed the lives of six people, including The Devil Wears Prada drummer Daniel Williams, provided more insight into the cause of the fatal collision. The National Transportation Safety Board's preliminary report indicated that not only were faulty runway lights an issue, but weather may have affected the pilot's ability to land safely at the airport near San Diego, Calif. "The controller informed the pilot that the Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) at MYF (Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport) was out of service and the pilot acknowledged that he was aware of that," the report stated. The runway lights had not been working since March 28, 2022. MYF is a tower-controlled airport between the hours of 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., according to the report, and operates as an uncontrolled airport during the remaining hours of the day. The pilot, who was approved to fly the Cessna S550 single-pilot aircraft on Dec. 15, 2024, discussed "alternate airport weather conditions with the controller in the event he had to perform a missed approach," according to the report. Weather conditions at Marine Corp Air Station Miramar (NKS), roughly four miles north of the airport, were described as calm wind, with ½ mile visibility and an indefinite 200-foot ceiling. The pilot allegedly stated he would notify Southern California Terminal Radar Approach Control of his selection for an alternate airport, but did not do so during the remainder of the flight. "When the airplane was about 10 mi northeast of NESTY, the controller asked the pilot if he was going to 'make your descent' and asked if he would like vectors to the south. The pilot replied, 'I think we'll be alright,'" the report stated. "The controller informed the pilot that he was 5 miles from NESTY and instructed them to cross NESTY at or above 3,800 ft msl, and that he was cleared the RNAV approach to runway 28R at MYF, which the pilot acknowledged." The pilot then made a position call that he was at three miles on the approach, followed by "the sound of the microphone button being keyed seven times, consistent with an attempt to activate the pilot-controlled runway lighting." Roughly 2.9 nautical miles from the airport, the Cessna was flying too low for the runway at an altitude of about 1,190 feet msl over PALOS. The minimum crossing altitude was listed at or above 1,380 feet msl. The first identified point of contact was roughly 1.8 nm from the runway when the aircraft damaged power transmission lines which were 90-95 feet above the ground, the NTSB stated. Portions of the plane were located about 200 feet downrange of the lines, with a debris field reaching more than one mile away on a residential street. The airplane impacted one residential structure and 20 vehicles, which were damaged or destroyed by impact or post-impact fire. The airplane was not equipped with a flight data recorder. A cockpit voice recorder was recovered from the wreckage, the NTSB said. "The repairs of the affected RAI lighting components and replacement of the light system have been delayed awaiting completion of an environmental study. All other runway lighting was operable at the time of the accident," NTSB said in the report. Dave Shapiro, a music industry executive in the heavy metal and hard rock scene, and drummer Daniel Williams were among those killed in the crash. Eight people reported minor injuries on the ground. Shapiro had a pilot's license and was listed as the owner of the plane that crashed, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. He was among the six people killed in the crash, along with two employees, the music agency Sound Talent Group confirmed at the time. "We are devastated by the loss of our co-founder, colleagues and friends. Our hearts go out to their families and to everyone impacted by today's tragedy," the music agency he co-founded, Sound Talent Group, wrote in a statement.
Daily Mail
13 hours ago
- Daily Mail
One dead and another rushed to hospital after small plane crashes on residential street outside Boston
A man has died and another has been rushed to the hospital with 'serious injuries' after a small plane crashed on a residential street in Massachusetts. Officials said a single-engine Mooney M20F aircraft hit the ground on Sam Fonzo Drive in Beverly, on the north-east outskirts of Boston, just before 9am on Thursday. Chief John G. LeLacheur and Fire Chief Peter K. O'Connor said Beverly Police and Fire Departments responded to the crash, which was not far from Beverly Airport. When they arrived, first responders found two people trapped inside the four-seater piston aircraft, which had suffered 'significant damage'. 'The plane appeared to be resting against a utility pole,' Beverly Police and Fire Departments said in a joint statement released on Thursday. 'Two men were inside the plane, a pilot and a passenger. 'One occupant was pronounced dead on scene, and the other man was transported via medical helicopter to a hospital with serious injuries. 'At this time, there have been no reports of any ground injuries or additional property damage in the area.' Images from the scene show the plane laying crumpled against a utility pole, across a street surrounded by leafy woodland on either side. It appears to be upright with the wings badly damaged. The main body of the aircraft was partially destroyed by the impact. A witness at the airport told the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) they saw a puff of smoke before the plane went down, possibly indicating engine failure. They said they observed the plane making a 'gradual left hand descending turn' before crashing shortly afterwards. Officials from the NTSB and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have begun investigating the crash. 'The preliminary information we have is the plane crashed under unknown circumstances,' the NTSB said in a statement. 'Once on site, the investigator will begin the process of documenting the scene and examining the aircraft. 'The aircraft will then be recovered to a secure facility for further evaluation,' the agency said, adding that a preliminary investigation will be published in two weeks. 'It's a holiday, there's not a lot of businesses open right now,' Beverly Police Chief John Lelacheur added while speaking with reporters. 'We're going to go through footage when we can with the various businesses when they open, bring some people in and then, obviously, do some follow up tomorrow.' The Daily Mail has contacted the FAA for further information. Danvers Fire Department and the Massachusetts State Police also assisted local responders at the scene. The man who died and his companion have not yet been publicly identified. It comes 11 days after six people died when a small plane plunged into the Pacific Ocean three miles west of Point Loma in San Diego. The 1970 Cessna 414 was headed for Phoenix and crashed soon after takeoff from San Diego Airport, having earlier flown out from Arizona. All six on board were confirmed dead by the Federal Aviation Administration on Monday morning. They included the pilot, his wife, and a father with his three sons. Audio of chatter between the pilot and Air Traffic Control explained that the plane was struggling to maintain altitude in the moments before the crash. The pilot said he was having trouble maintaining his heading and climbing, as he twice turned back out to shore after trying to fly towards the coast. He told the controller he was only 1,000ft off the water and was urged to climb to 4,000ft and land at a nearby US naval airport on Coronado Island. But the pilot said he couldn't see the airport, and soon after issued a Mayday and lost radio contact with the ground. Coast Guard recovery crews found a debris field and oil slick and searched the area in a Jayhawk helicopter, plane, cutter, and two small boats. San Diego lifeguards and Border Patrol assisted with the search and recovery of debris, but found no survivors. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash. The owner of the plane is listed by the FAA as Optimal Health Systems, a vitamin and supplements company based in Pima, Arizona. However, Douglas Grant, who founded the company with his wife Hilary Kit, said they sold the plane to private buyers in 2023. 'We personally know several of the passengers onboard and our sincerest condolences are offered to those affected by the tragedy, all of whom are incredible members of our small community,' he said in a statement. A surfer described seeing the out-of-control plane moments before the crash. 'I saw him come down at an angle. He wasn't flying straight to the ground,' Tyson Wislofsky told NBC 7. 'The next time he came out of the clouds, he went straight into the water. But after I saw this splash, about six seconds later, it was dead silent. 'I knew that they went in the water, nose first, at a high speed.'
