The Atlantic Ocean is the area with the most emergency landing spots, while the Pacific Ocean makes pilots the most afraid if they encounter problems in the air.
Emergency landings are not a common situation, but preparing for mid-air incidents is an important part of flying. Below is the information you need to know when the plane has to make an emergency landing.
Why did the plane have to divert/make an emergency landing?
Planes may have to be diverted because of bad weather, passenger medical problems or security concerns, but mechanical problems - especially related to the engine - are the most common cause. Most modern aircraft have two engines, so the failure of one engine does not necessarily mean disaster. The plane can still continue to fly for a certain period of time.
This ability is expressed through the ETOPS index, which specifies the maximum time the aircraft can operate safely with only one engine left. With the Boeing 737 MAX, ETOPS time is usually about 180 minutes. Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A350 can reach 370 minutes, equivalent to more than 6 hours.
Where will the plane land?
The pilot will coordinate with air traffic control to determine the appropriate airport, based on location, aircraft status and level of emergency. If the incident occurs shortly after takeoff, the plane can return to the departure airport. Once far away, the pilot will choose the nearest backup airport on the flight route. Airlines must calculate possible diversion points in advance when planning flight routes.
Where has the fewest backup airports?
The Pacific Ocean is considered one of the most difficult areas to handle when aircraft encounter problems in the air. This area has few backup airports, many are located in almost isolated locations, and the distances between airports that can receive aircraft landing are long. Some backup airports are located on small islands or military bases.
One of the most isolated routes, operated by Qantas, is the Sydney, Australia - Santiago, Chile route. Easter Island is located near the flight route, but the airport here can only receive one plane at a time, forcing Chilean air traffic control to impose strict restrictions on the number of planes within range that can be diverted to the island at the same time.
A SWISS airline plane had to make an emergency landing in the Azores Islands, Portugal, at the end of August.
Where are there many airports for emergency landings?
The Atlantic is a region with many options. One of the most famous locations is Gander International Airport in Newfoundland, Canada. The airport's location makes it an important diversion point on many routes across the Atlantic.
This airport played an important role in Operation Yellow Ribbon after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, when dozens of flights were diverted here. Locals helped thousands of stranded passengers, a story later made into the famous musical "Come From Away". In addition to Gander, Shannon Airport in Ireland, Keflavik in Iceland and several airports on the Azores Islands are also commonly used as diversion points.
What happens when you have to make an emergency landing in politically unstable countries?
According to international aviation safety regulations, commercial aircraft can make emergency landings anywhere that is safe. However, no-fly zones and airspace restrictions mean Western aircraft often avoid flying over some politically sensitive areas such as Iran.
However, emergency landings in unexpected places are not unheard of. In 2018, a Norwegian Boeing 737 MAX plane flying from Dubai to Oslo had to make an emergency diversion to an airport in Iran. Four years earlier, a Turkish Airlines flight carrying many Israeli passengers (usually banned from entering Iran) also had to make an emergency stop for two hours in Tehran because of medical problems.
