Airliner makes emergency landing....
 

After a large hole was blown out of the fuselage.

Would anyone like to start the rampant speculation on the cause of a large hole suddenly blowing out from the luggage section of a jumbo jet?


It seems an odd place for metal fatigue, I doubt a can of hair spray popping off would do that....

Yeah, I just saw the story. Interesting. But I have nothing interesting to add.

I'm going to guess it was someone misusing The Secret. Probably someone on board thinking too hard that "I really wish I hadn't put my other book in the checked luggage" and so the universe tried to give them that book.

Looking at the photo, I will (in contradiction to my call for rampant speculation) say it looks like more of a tear than an explosion.

Maybe a kangaroo was trying to kick its way out of the cargo hold.

Well, they are saying "explosive decompression."

Smokey decided it didn't want the plane to land in Australia.

Explosive decompression does not mean an explosion triggered things. It means that a hole opened in the fuselage leading to a rapid release of the pressurized air inside. A balloon popping is an example of explosive decompression. The "explosive" part is the result, not necessarily the cause.

I read it as the explosive decompression was what happened when the panel ripped off.

Explosive decompression is also what happens after Burrito Night.

Most likely, something compromised the hull, explosive decompression caused some initial damage, then larger pieces ripped off due to flapping around at 600 mph.

People, I already supplied the answer.

And if it wasn't, I've been sitting here chanting "I wish that were really the answer" so now it is.

I like my answer better.

Hmmm...I guess I'll have to buy the next tape to find out what happens when contradictory request are made of the universe with equal vehemence.

If you compare before and after shots of the plane (yeah, it's a slow day here at work...)



You can see what's missing is the "pod" that makes up the leading edge of the wing. I'm going to have to go with a bird strike. Much like the shuttle Columbia which had wing damage on take off. A bird (or other object) cracked the leading edge and once the plane was at speed and altitude it gave way.

So there you go. A run of the mill airline accident. No reason to worry.

Please share with the class after you find out. Maybe you can go on Oprah and discuss it with her too. "Next on Oprah: The Secret vs. Smokey".

I finally read the entire article and was amused by this:

It seems to me that the "in their pants" part of that sentence could be edited without harm to the informational content.

That level of detail is really only needed if they were defecating somewhere more noteworthy. "Also, a large number of passengers reported defecating in the overhead compartments when the incident occurred."

Some how I can't see myself reporting that, even if it did happen.

I have nothing to contribute. I just had to say that Alex is more amusing than normal today.

Well if I had read, "a large number of passengers reported defecating when the incident occurred" I would have assumed there was just a long line at the lavatories.


Tangentially: Why does a "bathroom" become a "lavatory" when it's miles in the air?

Because "head" was already taken by boats.

:snap: :snap: :snap:

Thank you for the laugh, I stopped breathing there for a couple of seconds.

I hope that everyone knows that in the quote that I posted from the article, the first sentence IS from the article whereas the second sentence is my addition.

Nope, I just link to the articles. I rarely actually read them myself.

I am glad that didn't stop you anyway.

You just post them for the pictures?

Well, it is refreshing to hear somebody admit to this.

No, they were all listening to self-hypnosis tapes, and whilst in a trance they heard the captain over the tannoy yelling "Oh, SH1T !!"

:D

What's the big deal guys?

The spirit of Australia has had a hole in it for decades (and the planes aren't that good either). But it matches the ozone layer so it's a complete motif.

It's rumored that the strains of "land down under" were only just audible (but certainly highly visible) over the sound of other types of straining, involving both seats and, for the taller passengers (Alex) the overhead lockers.

It brought a whole new meaning to "contents may have moved in transit".

I'd be awfully embarrassed making a claim on my laptop because of poo ingress...or imagine a pooey palm pilot? Though I guess the stylus would help...

Anyway, passengers will be lucky if they don't get slugged extra bucks for the enhanced view and the 300+ cans of upholstery cleaner.

Lumps drop of planes all the time - fortunately it isn't usually the long flat bits or the large round noisy things...it's just the walls that define the outside vs the inside, and similar creature comforts.

Love and hugs,

The Stoat XXX, swimming (not flying) to the US of A.

I'm so glad I chose to open this thread.

I'm a little nervous even when peeking in on the most innocent looking of thread titles. Especially any posted by KB or CM.;)

I don't need to read this when planning a trip to Europe......

Long plane filights make me nervous these days!

:rolleyes:

on theses days its better flying on long haul flights than short flights . I fles back in forth to the US a lot and i can say i have no worries about anything .

i fles many Airlines transatlantic : TWA , Continental , Northwest , Air Canada and British Airways and Air France .

with an oil barrel close to $140 i look at Prices and cheaper flights are i dont mind having a stop except with British Airways because when the first flight is late you have no chance to find your luggages at you arrival .

Except BA i look at prices first not safe airlines .

FLying from Paris to the US the Prices range is usually between 350 Euros and 550 Euros . Paris to LA are like 550 with a stop in the US .

News reports are saying that they are now suspecting that an oxygen tank may have exploded. This would tie in with passenger reports that the oxygen masks were not working after the explosion occurred.