Remembering Alitalia Flight 112

ALITALIA (NOW ITA) AIRBUS A319-112 EI-IMD (MSN 2074)

 

Alitalia Flight 112 was a scheduled flight travelling from Roma-Fiumicino Airport (FCO/LIRF), Italy to Palermo-Punta Raisi Airport (PMO/LICJ), Italy. On the 5th of May 1972, it crashed into Mount Longa, about 3 miles (4.8 km) southwest of Palermo while on approach to the airport, killing all 115 people on board. Investigators believe that the crew had 3 miles visibility and did not adhere to the established vectors issued by air traffic control. It remains the deadliest single-aircraft disaster in Italy, and the second deadliest behind the Linate Airport disaster in 2001. 

The flight contacted Palermo Approach around 9:10 PM stating to be at 74 nautical miles (137 km) from VOR. Around 10:23 PM, the aircraft hit a crest 935 meters (1,980 feet) high, about 300 feet (91 m) below the top of the mountain and slid for a long time on the ground with its wings, its fuselage, and its four engines, until it disintegrated in the successive hits against the rocks of the crest. Part of the debris and bodies of the victims rolled on the mountain side (Carini side) from where the kerosene fire was witnessed. The wreckage was strewn across a 2.5-mile (4.0 km) area, so wide it took rescue teams three hours to reach it. Later on, some witnesses at Carini said that they had seen the aircraft on fire before the crash.

This incident is the worst in Alitalia's history.

Aircraft Information:

Airline: Alitalia

Code: AZ/AZA

Aircraft: Douglas DC-8-43
Registration: I-DIWB
Serial Number: 45625
Engines: 4 Rolls-Royce Conway 508-12

First Flew: May 1961

Age: 11 Yrs 

Qantas employee in coma after falling from aerobridge

 

A Qantas employee is in critical condition after falling six metres from an aerobridge at Sydney Airport (SYD/YSSY) on Saturday afternoon.

Emergency crews were called to the scene around 1pm following reports that a woman in her 40s had fallen onto the tarmac. She was treated by paramedics for severe head and internal injuries and taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in an induced coma.

Witnesses described a chaotic scene as airport staff rushed to secure the area while paramedics worked to stabilise the injured worker on the ground. Travellers were advised to expect potential delays at the Domestic Terminal number 3 as police continue their investigation.

It is unclear at this stage to exactly what happened.
The incident is being investigated by the Australian Federal Police, and the area still remains cordoned off.

Our thoughts are with her, and her family, and we wish her a speedy recovery

Cathay Pacific Cargo pulls out of Wellcamp Airport and swaps to Brisbane

This is bittersweet news, I guess. It's sad news for Wellcamp Airport but good news for Brisbane airport. 

CATHAY PACIFIC CARGO BOEING 747-867F B-LJG (MSN 39244)

After almost ten years Cathay Cargo will move its weekly Hong Kong 747-8 freighter service from Toowoomba Wellcamp (WTB/YBWW) to Brisbane Airport (BNE/YBBN), starting on the 17th of June. 

The flights will shift to Brisbane to "streamline operations" in a shared service with Sydney and Melbourne. The 747-8F has a cargo uplift of 135 tonnes per flight, complementing Cathay's existing cargo capacity in passenger aircraft.

"We are excited to be bringing Brisbane into our weekly freighter operation and offering suppliers the opportunity to quickly and seamlessly transport their shipments to Hong Kong and beyond from the state's capital," said Frosti Lau, Cathay's regional general manager for Southwest Pacific.

"Our Cathay Cargo team have arange of expertise including fresh produce and live animal export, even offering personalised shipment options for unique items that are heavyweight, ultra-long, odd-sized, vibration-sensitive or fragile.

Suppliers and agents are in good hands with our team." Ryan Both, Brisbane Airport's executive general manager for aviation, welcomed the service which will operate on Tuesdays.

Hong Kong International Airport is the world's #1 air cargo hub, providing our exporters with unparalleled access to global markets to deliver Queensland beef, seafood, and high-value goods such as pharmaceuticals and manufactured products directly to Asia and beyond," he said.

Cathay first touched down at Toowoomba's Wellcamp airport on the 23rd of November 2015. 'There is a strong history with Wellcamp Airport and the Wagner family. We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all those who have contributed to the success of this flight over the last decade," he said.

Plane spotting on a Thursday morning

Tuesday afternoon we had a United States Air Force Boeing C-17A Globemaster III divert into Brisbane on route from Pago Pago, American Samoa (PPG/NSTU) to Richmond Air Force Base Australia (XRH/YSRI). It was rumored to depart Wednesday night, but didn't leave. Thursday morning, I ventured out to the airport for 4 hours with the hope it would depart, but sadly it didn't leave. It finally departed Brisbane for Richmond yesterday morning at 10.51 am.

Below are the photos I took Thursday morning.

PHILIPPINE AIRLINES AIRBUSA321-271N RP-C9936 (MSN 8619)
PR221 ARRIVING FROM MANILA (MNL) 6 YEARS

ROYAL FLYING DOCTOR BEECH KING AIR B200 VH-FDL (MSN BB-2021)

QANTASLINK EMBRAER E190AR VH-XVS (MSN 19000062)
QF1971 OFF TO ALBURY (ABX) 19 YEARS

REX SAAB 340B-VH-ZLJ (MSN 340B-380)
ZL5717 ARRIVING FROM ROMA (RMA) 29 YEARS

ALLIANCE FOKKER 70 VH-JFE (MSN 11545) 29 YEARS
TRACKING INFORMATION BLOCKED

CHINA SOUTHERN AIRBUS A350-941 B-32EE (MSN 619)
CZ382 OFF TO GUANGZHOU (CAN) 1 YEAR

LINK AIRWAYS FAIRCHILD METRO 23 VH-VEK (MSN DC-845B)
FC454 ARRIVING FROM BUNDABERG (BDB) 31 YEARS

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA BOEING 737-8FE VH-YFU (MSN 41029)
VA322 OFF TO MELBOURNE (MEL) 9 YEARS

QANTAS BOEING 737-839 VH-VZI (MSN 34203)
QF57 OFF TO PORT MORESBY (POM) 14 YEARS

AIR NEW ZEALAND AIRBUS A320-271N ZK-NHA (MSN 8715)
NZ272 OFF TO WELLINGTON (WLG) 6 YEARS

QANTASLINK DASH 8 Q400 VH-QOP (MSN 4238)
QF2453 ARRIVING FROM MORANBAH (MOV) 16 YEARS

JETSAT AIRBUS A320-232 VH-VFQ (MSN 5780)
JQ834 OFF TO PROSERPINE (PPP) 11 YEARS

AIR NEW ZEALAND AIRBUS A321-271NX ZK-NNC (MSN 8573)
NZ142 OFF TO AUCKLAND (AKL) 6 YEARS

CHINA AIRLINES AIRBUS A350-941 B-18918 (MSN 239)
CI53 ARRIVING FROM TAIPEI (TPE) 6 YEARS

ROYAL FLYING DOCTORS BEECH KING AIR 360CER CH-8FD (MSN FM-111) 1 YEAR

UNITED AIRLINES BOEING 777-222ER N792UA (MSN 26934)
UA97 OFF TO SAN FRANCISCO (SFO) 27 YEARS

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE DASSAULT FALCON 7X A56-002 (MSN 284)

LIFEFLIGHT LEONARDO AW139 VH-XIR (MSN 31783)

QANTAS AIRBUS A330-202 VH-EBN (MSN 1094)
QF61 OFF TO TOKYO (NRT) 15 YEARS

ASIANA AIRLINES BOEING 777-28E HL-7791 (MSN 35525)
OZ602 SYDNEY TO SEOUL (ICN) 15 YEARS

AERLINK ATR72-500 VH-FVY (MSN 0840)
HT715 ARRIVING FROM MORANBAH (MOV) 16 YEARS

QANTAS AIRBUS A330-202 VH-EBB (MSN 0522)
QF6004 FERRY FLIGHT OFF TO SYDNEY (SYD) 22 YEARS

UNITED STATES ARMY CESSNA UC35 CITATION 96-00109 (MSN 560-0415)
NINJA 13 ARRIVING FROM CANBERRA (CBR) 

AIR NEW ZEALAND BOEING 777-319 ZK-OKP (MSN 39041)
NZ145 ARRIVING FROM AUCKLAND (AKL) 13 YEARS

ALLIANCE AIRLINES FOKKER 70 VH-QQW (MSN 11569)
QQ8461 ARRIVING FROM MORANBAH (MOV) 29 YEARS

MACHJET INTERNATIONAL CESSNA CITATION CJ2
VH-ZIY (MSN 525A-0156) 22 YEARS

FLIGHT OPERATIONS EMBRAER PHENOM 300E VH-87X (MSN 50500778) 1 YEAR

JETSTAR BOEING 787-8 VH-VKB (MSN 36228)
JQ53 OFF TO SEOUL (ICN) 11 YEARS

AIR NIUGINI BOEING 767-383 P2-PXW (MSN 25365)
PX4 OFF TO PORT MORESBY (POM) 33 YEARS

GAM AIR AERO COMMANDER 55S VH-UJV (MSN 3161)
UJV ARRIVING FROM KINGAROY (KGY) 52 YEARS

QANTAS AIRBUS A220-300 VH-X4F (MSN 55340)
QF1258 ARRIVING FROM MELBOURNE (MEL) 1 MONTH

JETSTAR AIRBUS A321-251NX VH-OYF (MSN 11529)
JQ567 OFF TO MELBOURNE (MEL) 1 YEAR

VIRGIN AUSTRALIA BOEING 737-7FE VH-VBZ (MSN 34322)
VA1495 OFF TO HAMILTON ISLAND (HTI) 19 YEARS

NAURU AIRLINES BOEING 737-319 VH-XNU (MSN 25609)
ON2 OFF TO NAURU (INU) 25 YEARS

QUEENSLAND POLICE BEECH KING AIR 360CER VH-8PD (MSN FM-112)

EMIRATES AIRBUS A380-842 A6-EUR (MSN 232) 8 YEARS

UNITED STATES AIR FORCE BOEING C-17A GLOBEMASTER III
00-0174 (MSN P-74)

 

Three survive helicopter crash in Victoria

Three individuals survived a helicopter crash near Point Lonsdale on Victoria's Bellarine Peninsula earlier this morning, according to Victoria Police. Authorities reported that helicopter is believed to have crashed into the water off Fellows Road shortly after 10 a.m. understood that all three occupants of the aircraft sustained serious injuries.

Vision seen by the ABC shows a helicopter crashed into shallow water on a beach between Point Lonsdale and Ocean Grove. Ambulance Victoria said paramedics were on scene and working alongside other emergency services.

"A yet to be formally identified male and female have been airlifted to hospital with serious injuries," a Victoria Police spokesperson said.

"Another yet to be formally identified male has been taken by road to hospital with serious injuries.
"The exact circumstances surrounding the incident are yet to be determined at this stage."

Ambulance Victoria said the two airlifted patients were taken to Royal Melbourne Hospital and the other taken to Geelong University Hospital. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said it was gathering further information about the incident.

Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) said firefighters responded within two minutes of being called and found the helicopter in water 30-50 metres offshore. FRV said firefighters worked with Surf Life Saving teams and paramedics to bring the three injured people safely to shore.

Point Lonsdale sits about 30 minutes south-east of Geelong and an hour from Melbourne city.

Why do cabin crew ask you to open window shades during takeoff and landing?

Have you ever wondered why flight attendants seem obsessed with your window shade?

How many times have you heard this "Excuse me, could you please open your window shade?"  Is this just another airline power trip, or is something more important happening behind this seemingly trivial request? 

Flight attendants ask passengers to keep window shades open during takeoff and landing for many reasons. Open window shades give everyone onboard better visibility if something goes wrong.

With shades up, both passengers and crew can:

• Spot dangers like fire, water, or debris outside the plane.
• Figure out which side is safer for evacuation.
• See if the aircraft is near dangerous objects like buildings or trees.

These quick visual checks can save lives during an emergency evacuation, which the FAA says should take no more than 90 seconds, even with half the exits blocked.

Another key reason for the open-shade rule involves our eyes. If passengers sit in a dark cabin and suddenly need to evacuate into bright daylight, they might be temporarily blinded. The same goes for nighttime - eyes need time to adjust to darkness.

By keeping shades open during critical flight phases, everyone's eyes stay adjusted to the outside light conditions. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency highlighted in its 2025 safety briefings that this visual adjustment can save precious seconds during emergencies.

Flight attendants serve as additional safety monitors during flights. Open window shades help them:

• Notice unusual events like smoke, fuel leaks, or damage.
• Spot engine problems.
• Check runway conditions and weather.

If communication between pilots and cabin crew breaks down, this visual information becomes even more valuable. Open shades provide early warning of problems that might require immediate action.

The open-shade rule isn't just one airline's quirk - it's part of international aviation safety protocols backed by major authorities, including the FAA

International Civil Aviation Organisation, European Union Aviation Safety Agency, and Civil Aviation Administration of China.

Most major airlines follow this practice, especially those certified under the IATA's

Operational Safety Audit standards updated in 2025. Some airlines have even made it part of their official operating procedures, with penalties for non-compliance.

Passenger burnt by hot coffee sues British Airways

BRITISH AIRWAYS AIRBUS A320-232 G-EUUF (MSN 1806)

A 14-year-old girl was severely burned when a British Airways flight attendant spilled coffee on her during a flight from London Heathrow (LHR/EGLL) to Miami (MIA/KMIA). She is now suing the airline for over $750,000, alleging negligence and inadequate response.

The 18th of October 2023 incident left the teenager with second-degree burns and a permanent scar, sparking a lawsuit under the Montreal Convention. The 14-year-old girl was returning from a community service trip in Nairobi when she suffered a traumatic injury.

According to the media, during the meal service, a flight attendant placed an empty cup on a tray above the girl’s lap and poured hot coffee from a large pot. While adding a stir stick, the attendant knocked over the cup, spilling scalding coffee onto the girl’s lap and knee. The teenager screamed in agony as the coffee soaked through her clothing, causing second-degree burns.

The lawsuit, filed in a Puerto Rico district court, describes the flight attendant’s response as “alarmingly inadequate.” The attendant briefly left the scene, returning only with paper tissues to clean the spill, offering no immediate first aid. The girl felt “abandoned and disregarded” by the crew.

A physician onboard assessed the injuries in the aircraft bathroom, confirming likely second-degree burns. The provided first aid kit, however, contained only basic burn lotion, unsuitable for such severe injuries.

When shown a photo of the wounds, the flight attendant expressed shock but offered only chocolates, taking no further action.

Upon arrival in Miami (MIA), no medical personnel were waiting at the gate to assist, despite the injury’s severity. The girl, unable to walk comfortably, relied on a motorized scooter for mobility, and a planned Disney World trip was canceled.

Nearly two years later, she bears a disfiguring scar on her thigh and knee, with ongoing physical and emotional trauma.

The lawsuit claims British Airways failed to follow proper safety protocols for handling hot beverages and neglected to provide adequate medical support. The girl’s legal team argues that the airline’s negligence directly caused her suffering and lasting harm.