Aircraft with Michelle Obama breaks landing

The aircraft with the first lady, a military version of Boeing 737, three miles behind the C-17 was but should be five miles behind, because of the possibility of encountering turbulence of the transport aircraft be wake. The aircraft were too close to an error by a civilian air traffic controllers at a low altitude control center in Virginia, according to an official involved in the incident. But the event described the official as "Routine".

The controller in Virginia, distorted passing the approaching level from the control of the controller in the Tower in Andrews, at first separation of the two aircraft, saying that they four miles were away from each other, when in fact had closed the gap, three miles away, the official said.

To try the aircraft come to how controller ordered would do the aircraft to maneuver width with Mrs. Obama, the letter S, a skier to prevent spread to another too fast from behind.

But that was not enough and the controller in the tower at Andrews ordered to "bypass the Boeing" because they were concerned that the Jet cargo to slow down, not touch and stop the start and runway on a taxiway before that would have exceeded passenger aircraft which start and runway threshold. This problem is dozens of times per day with airliners on civil airports of the country, according to aviation experts.

The incident occurred just after 5 P.m. on Monday, the F.A.A. said in a statement, adding that "The aircraft were never in any danger." The Agency said in its statement that the problem was controller error.

The incident was reported for the first time on the website of the Washington Post.

Airliners do sometimes "go arounds", as a pilot in the cockpit judges that the aircraft forward is unclear, the start and runway will soon enough; in this case it was controller in the tower at Andrews, the aircraft to go with Mrs. Obama to order. Although Andrews is a military area, employees involved in this incident were all controller F.A.A..

Niedergelegte "Go Arounds" follow-up procedures, which give to turn the direction and the altitude that should climb the aircraft.

Too narrow for a large aircraft such as a C-17 is at low altitude, considered particularly risky if one upset would be rather a crash cause. In this case, the amount of the 737 was not immediately clear, but it was more than three miles from the start and runway threshold, because it was more than three miles behind the cargo Jet, and the transport aircraft still not reached the starting and runway, officially according to the Government.

In the aerial choreography in this case is not unusual, is it traffic system after several weeks of high-profile issues in the air, which in the Washington area began.

March 2005 the only controller used in the Tower of Ronald Reagan National Airport, Virginia across the Potomac River from Andrews, sleeping on his post, and two incoming aircraft were establish no connection with him. Both ended up anyway. The controller on duty at the Reno-Tahoe airport in Nevada not to queries from one incoming aircraft last week to respond. And on Thursday, the official air traffic control, Henry p. Krakowski, Chief Operating Officer of the Agency of air traffic organization, resigned.

At the time of the administrator of F.A.A., j. Randolph Babbitt, said in a statement: "in recent weeks we have seen examples of unprofessional conduct of some individuals, which rightly our ability to ensure their security have caused the travellers public on the issue." "This behavior must stop immediately."

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Southwest to the ground 79 aircraft for inspection

Passengers describe emergency LandingNEW: Boeing says it is the support in InvestigationA NTSB initial investigation showed the plane hole suffered a "structural errors" and "Depressurization" A 3-4 feet is discovered in a level FuselageFAA: the master made a quick departure from the 36,000 feet to 11,000 feet

(CNN) - Southwest Airlines announced on Saturday that 79 aircraft for inspection is ground after a 3-4-foot hole in the hull of one of its aircraft, open crack, a look at the blue sky and a white knuckled emergency exit.

The aircraft-by Phoenix, Sacramento, California travel must - managed, an emergency landing at a military base in Yuma, Arizona, on Friday. It authorities "a hole in the top of the plane discovered," the company said earlier.

Researchers what are trying to determine the "Depressurization event" caused and have "decided, a subset of its Boeing 737 fleet by the flying schedule seek aggressive inspection in cooperation with Boeing engineers, begin to keep" according to a company statement.

"The security of our customers and employees is our primary concern, and we're grateful there were no serious injuries," said Mike van de Ven, Southwest's executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.

The airline initially reported that 81 of Boeing 737 aircraft would be grounded, but later fell to the number of aircraft for what it called "aircraft skin fatigue." The inspection is carried out at five locations in the course of which several days, said the airline next.

National transportation safety board member Robert Sumwalt said a preliminary investigation showed that the aircraft suffered a "structural errors" and "Depressurization", asked that the emergency landing.

A subsequent review of the aircraft structure, metallurgical aspects of the plane, flight data recording and its maintenance records will investigate, he said.

"We are at an early stage of the investigation," added Sumwalt.

In the meantime, some of the 118 passengers who were on board who said the crippled Boeing 737 had them for their lives were afraid.

"We were shocked," said passenger Debbie Downey CNN Saturday. "We were in line 16 and my husband and I could see, blue sky... the wiring, cabling." "It was really frightening."

She said. "A lot of people were crying and hands" but had difficulties hearing due to the noise of the air through the open level. "It was very, very scary."

"I have heard, a loud popping sound around three or four minutes before it blew open on us," Greg Hansen said passenger.

"(Then) was a major explosion." A big noise, and from there, you felt some of the air will be sucked out. It happened right behind me, in the row behind me and covers about 2 1/2 lines, "he said 11 c. from space"

Hansen, 41, regional sales manager for a biotech company, flew home to Sacramento, California, from a business trip. Some people panicked and screamed as the blue sky and Sun started the cabin midflight shine through, he said.

"Most people were only white ankle on the arms hold." The pilot did a great job and were under control, to a manageable level to get us, "he said."

But behind him, said Hansen, he could see the jagged edge of the aircraft where previously the rivets.

"You can see the isolation and wiring." The interior ceiling panel above and below with the air bounce was, "he said."

"It was surreal, if you are riding in a modern aircraft." They are used, is included and not with Windows rolled, "he said."

Hansen described the hole as about 3 or 4 metres long and about a foot wide.

Passenger Brenda Reese told CNN affiliate KCRA and KOVR began fear for their lives.

"I was texting my sister set that she told my kids that I loved it," Reese said.

Southwest flight 812, which had a five-member crew, then made an emergency landing on Yuma Marine Corps Air Station / international airport at 5:07 pm (7:07 pm ET.)

The Federal Aviation Administration, said the captain, one fast, controlled descent from 36,000 feet to 11,000 metres lost after the cabin pressure.

"We know not the cause of the decompression," said Ian Gregor of the FAA.

Hansen, said that the incident occurred about 35 minutes into the flight. He said it took about 45 seconds or minutes until the oxygen masks, fell after blew the hole open.

"The crew was pretty quiet about it." You went around and checked for everyone, "he said." "But it was not like the movies where papers from the hole to get sucked, but you could feel it and the sound to hear."

Hansen, said that most of the passengers of a pain in their eardrums from a fast downhill were complaints.

Southwest Airlines, said that only a violation was reported.

"There are no reported customer violations," according to a statement from the airline published. "One which the flight attendants, however, received a minor injury on the descent."

Hansen, said a male flight attendant was released fall and was bleeding from a breach of the face.

Yuma International Airport spokeswoman gene great said passengers and were given refreshments were, because the temperature on the tarmac close to 100 degrees.

Hansen, said passengers deplaned and aboard another airline Southwest Airlines plane for Sacramento. He said the airline passengers offered accommodation in Yuma, but did not know, if all passengers have us remain.

The second flight landed on Friday night in Sacramento.

Boeing spokeswoman Julie was O'Donnell fell to any comment on the causes of the incident.

The company said "Boeing ensuring safe flight and support is committed to our customers," in a statement. "We work closely with Southwest and are Transportation Safety Board providing technical assistance to the US national as it investigated the incident."

A NTSB investigative team arrived Saturday in the Yuma and in the level.

A total of 288 Boeing 737-300 are currently in the US fleet and 931 work worldwide, according to the FAA.CNN's John branch, rich Phillips, Ted Rowlands, Deborah Doft and Greg Morrison on this report contributed

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Southwest reasons 79 aircraft after scare

"We will review them service, taking in the next few days," said Whitney Eichinger, a spokeswoman for the Southwest on Saturday. She said they "are the same type of aircraft skin fatigue would looking."

In a press release announcing Southwest, that about 300 flights terminating there on Saturday because the inspections would, and should expect delays of up to two hours to customers.

"The security of our customers and employees is our primary concern," said Mike van de Ven, Southwest's chief operating officer, in a statement. "We work closely with Boeing this proactive inspections and investigation support."

The Southwest was level, a 15-year old Boeing 737-300, in the Friday afternoon at 35,000 feet on the way an explosion heard cruise passengers to Sacramento from Phoenix. The associated press reported that, that a woman described it as "gunshotlike."

The airplane oxygen masks were released and two persons, a passenger and a flight attendant, when the pilot passed out descended, to make an emergency landing on Yuma Marine Corps air station in Arizona.

No one was seriously injured, said Mrs Eichinger, and all 118 passengers decided to continue on to their destinations on Friday aboard a replacement Jet.

Robert L. Sumwalt, Member of the National Transportation Safety Board, said the tear in the aircraft skin was 6 metres long and 18 inches wide.

Officials who were Federal Aviation Administration and the N.T.S.B. on the scene to investigate, the F.A.A. said in a statement. Manuel Johnson, a special agent at the Federal Bureau of investigation, said there was no reason, suspect terrorism.

Images of the aircraft show that a flap of the aircraft skin close to the overhead luggage compartments back peeled was.

"You totally outside can see," said a passenger, Brenda Reese, the associated press. "If you look at the Panel, you can see the sky."

Southwest Airlines fleet is composed exclusively of Boeing 737 s, and the 79 aircraft the company were grounded all 737-300.

Not the only incident in the skies over the United States was the emergency landing on Friday.

An American Airlines flight from Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.c. to Chicago an emergency landing in Dayton, Ohio, by two flight attendants the captain told them were feel dizzy made. Jim Faulkner, a spokesman for American Airlines, said that it examined whether the aircraft had not properly without pressure. No other aircraft was taken out of service.

And an Atlantic Southeast Airlines one flight from Atlanta to little rock, Ark, emergency landing after the collision with a flock of birds. None of the 48 passengers or three crew members on the regional jet were injured and the aircraft was operating normally when it landed in little rock, said spokeswoman Kate Modolo, an airline.

CNN reported that the aircraft substantial visible damage to his nose and that at least a dead crane at the front was stuck suffered when it landed.

In reference to the Southwest incident James E. Hall, former Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, said that the airline had "a good security program", but the company its aircraft hard, planning working flights with very short turnaround. "they their aircraft daily pounds," said Mr. Hall.

He said "The skin of the aircraft as human skin,". "Any kind of puncture is serious."

Two years ago, southwest face a similar episode, when ripped open a hole in an airplane fuselage and forced an emergency landing on a flight to Baltimore from Nashville tied. At the beginning of the year, Southwest was $7.5 million for breach of security by the Federal Aviation Administration fined.

1988 A flight attendant was killed and scores of passengers were injured as Boeing 737 suffered a 20-foot break in the hull of an Aloha Airlines during a flight in Hawaii. The flight, carrying 89 passengers and a crew of five from Hilo, Hawaii, Honolulu, was on when travelling 24,000 meters occurred as the tear.

The pilots sent an emergency message to air traffic controllers and then led the aircraft to a safe landing at the airport on the island of Maui's Kahului. The right engine had from who was run over Commission of dirt from the fuselage, which was been ripped off.

A flight attendant was swept from the level, but second flight attendant, grabbing to passengers it is extended to hold. Sixty passengers were injured.

JAD Mouawad contributed reporting.

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