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2008 Master Index 2010

2009 Chronology of Aviation History
Major Aviation Events

January 2009

  • 4 January — A Caribair Cessna 550 “Citation II” (N815MA) is substantially damaged at Wilmington International Airport, United States when it makes a wheels-up landing after running out of fuel. [1]

  • 5 January — An Antarctic Logistic Center International Basler BT-67 (C-GEAJ), crashes on landing at Tony Camp, Antarctica. All four occupants survive but the aircraft is damaged beyond repair. [1]

  • 6 January — Ted, a brand of the American airline United Airlines for their economy flights, is discontinued. Economy flights are rebranded under the main United Airlines brand. [1]

  • 9 January — A Peruvian Army Cessna “Grand Caravan” (EP-858) crashes on take-off from Rio Tigre, Intutu Region. [1]

  • 10 January — Zambian airline Zambian Airways suspends operations. [1]

  • 11 January — Zest Airways Flight 895, an AVIC I MA-60 (RP-C8893), crashes on landing at Godofredo P. Ramos Airport, Philippines, hitting an airport building. Over twenty people are injured and the aircraft is damaged beyond repair. [1]

  • 13 January — An Antonov An-24RV “Coke” (S9-KAS) operated by Daallo Airlines, lands at Bender Qassim International Airport, Somalia with the nose landing gear retracted. [1]

  • 15 January — US Airways Flight 1549, an Airbus A320-214 (N106US) with 155 people aboard flies into a flock of Canada geese just after takeoff from New York City's LaGuardia Airport and ditches in the Hudson River after both engines are disabled by bird strikes. All passengers and crew are rescued, and only five people are injured. [1]

  • 15 January — Two Ilyushin Il-76 “Candid” aircraft of the Russian Air Force collide on the ground at Uytash Airport, Makhachkala, Dagestan killing four of the seven crew. [1]

  • 17 January — A Eurocopter AS.532 helicopter of the French Navy crashes into the sea off Gabon shortly after take-off from the amphibious assault ship Foudre, killing eight of the ten personnel on board. [1]

  • 17 January — Lithuanian airline FlyLal suspends operations. [1]

  • 19 January — Iran Air flight 498, a Fokker 100 (EP-CFN), suffers a collapse of the right main landing gear during landing at Mehrabad Airport and is substantially damaged. [1]

  • 20 January — The Dominican Civil Aviation Institute suspends Caribair from operating for “operational irregularities”. [1]

  • 25 January — The operating licence of Swedish airline Nordic Airways is suspended, the Swedish Transport Agency stating that the airline is “no longer able to fulfill its commitments and duties to its passengers.” [1]

  • 27 January — FedEx Express Flight 8284, an ATR 42-320-Cargo (N902FX), crashes short of the runway at Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport in the United States, and is destroyed in the subsequent fire. [1]

  • 27 January — A Cessna “Citation V” (OEGAA) operating as the Tyrol Air Ambulance is substantially damaged in a belly landing at Tolmachevo Airport Russia. [1]

  • 29 January — Australian airline MacAir Airlines enters voluntary administration and ceases operations. [1]

  • 30 January — Boeing C-17A “Globemaster III” (AF 06-0002), “Spirit of the Air Force”, makes a belly landing at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan. [1]

  • ? January — Kiribati airline Coral Sun Airways is established. [1]

  • ? January — The Federal Aviation Administration revokes the Operating Certificate of American airline Air Tahoma. [1]

February 2009

  • 4 February — A Douglas Aero Modified Turbo DC-3 (N834TP) operated by the National Test Pilot School is involved in a take-off accident at Mojave Air & Space Port, United States, and substantially damaged. [1]

  • 4 February — A DHC-6 “Twin Otter 100” (C-FCCE) operated by Transwest Air, crashes on take-off from La Ronge (Barber Field) Airport, Canada and is substantially damaged. [1]

  • 7 February — An Embraer EMB 110-P1 “Bandeirante” (PT-SEA) operated by Manaus Aerotáxi, crashes into the Manacapuru River, Brazil killing 24 of the 28 people on board. [1]

  • 11 February — Two Grob “Tutor” aircraft of the United Kingdom's RAF collide mid-air over Porthcawl, Wales. Both aircraft crash, killing all occupants. [1]

  • 12 February — Colgan Air Flight 3407, a DHC-8-402 Q400 (N200WQ), crashes at Clarence Center, New York killing all 49 people on board and another on the ground were killed for a total of 50 fatalities.. [1,2]

  • 13 February — BA CityFlyer Flight 8456, an Avro RJ100 (G-BXAR), is substantially damaged when the nosewheel collapses on landing at London City Airport. All 71 people on board are successfully evacuated via emergency chutes. [1]

  • 14 February — A CASA C-212 “Aviocar” (N440RA) operated by Arctic Transportation Services lands short of the runway at Ralph Wien Memorial Airport, Alaska and is significantly damaged. [1]

  • 16 February — A HESA IrAn-140 (90-09) operated by the Iranian Police crashes on approach to Isfahan International Airport, Iran and is destroyed, killing all five people on board. [1]

  • 16 February — A Boeing 737-48E (TC-SGD) operated by Air Algérie overruns the runway at In Aménas Airport, Algeria after landing in a 28 knots (52 km/h) tailwind, and is substantially damaged. A number of people are injured in the subsequent evacuation. [1]

  • 18 February — A Basler BT-67 (PNC-0211) operated by Policía Nacional de Colombia is destroyed at Olaya Herrera Airport, Colombia, by the detonation of a mishandled hand grenade. [1]

  • 18 February — A Basler BT-67 (FAC 1670) operated by Fuerza Aérea Colombiana crashes shortly after take-off from Olaya Herrera Airport, killing all five people on board. The aircraft is destroyed. [1]

  • 18 February — A Boeing 767-322ER (N652UA) operated by United Airlines, is damaged significantly by the automatic discharge of a sprinkler system in the hangar it is parked in while undergoing maintenance at O'Hare International Airport, Chicago. Eleven cabin windows are knocked out by the force of the discharge, damaging the aircraft's avionics systems. [1]

  • 20 February — Aerolift Flight 1015, an Antonov An-12 “Cub” (S9-SVN), crashes shortly after take-off from Luxor International Airport, Egypt, killing all five crew. The aircraft is destroyed. [1]

  • 22 February — Australian airline SkyAirWorld suspends operations pending a restructure of its business. [1]

  • 23 February — Lion Air Flight 972, a McDonnell Douglas MD-90-30 (PK-LIO), lands at Hang Nadim Airport, Indonesia, with the nosewheel stuck in the raised position. The aircraft is damaged significantly. [1]

  • 25 February — Turkish Airlines Flight 1951 a Boeing 737-8F2 (TC-JGE), crashes short of the runway at Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam. Six passengers and three crew members are killed. [1]

  • 28 February — Carpatair Flight 128, a Saab 2000 (YR-SBI), lands at Traian Vuia International Airport, Romania, with the nosewheel stuck in the raised position. An emergency landing is successfully made on a partially foamed runway. The nose area of the aircraft is damaged. [1]

  • 28 February — Atlantic Southeast Airlines Flight 5563, a Canadair CRJ-200ER (N830AS), suffers a fire on the ground at Tallahassee Regional Airport, United States. The crew evacuate, and the fire is extinguished after burning through the cockpit wall, the flight deck being significantly damaged. [1]

  • ? February — British airline Skysouth ceases operations. [1]

March 2009

  • 3 March — Perimeter Aviation Flight 460, a Swearingen SA-226TC “Metroliner” (C-FSLZ), makes a wheels-up landing at Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport, Canada. The same aircraft had an unsafe gear indication the previous day. [1]

  • 6 March — An NAL “Saras” (VT-XRM) prototype operated by the National Aerospace Laboratory, crashes 31 kilometers (19 mi) from Bengaluru International Airport, India, killing all three crew members. [1]

  • 9 March — Lion Air Flight 793, an McDonnell Douglas MD-90-30 (PK-LIL), departs the runway at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Indonesia, and spins through 180°. All 172 people on board are evacuated safely but the aircraft is damaged beyond economic repair. [1]

  • 9 March — An Ilyushin Il-76TD “Candid” (S9-SAB) operated by Aerolift, crashes into Lake Victoria shortly after take-off from Entebbe International Airport, Uganda, killing all 11 people on board. The aircraft is destroyed. [1]

  • 12 March — Cougar Helicopters Flight 91, a Sikorsky S-92A (C-GZCH), ditches in the Atlantic Ocean off Canada, killing 17 of the 18 people on board. [1]

  • 13 March — Mexican airline MexicanaLink commences operations. [1]

  • 19 March — A Beechcraft B200 “King Air” of the Ecuadorian Air Force crashes at Guápulo while attempting to land at Mariscal Sucre International Airport in thick fog, killing all five people on board and a further two on the ground. [1]

  • 20 March — Emirates Airline Flight 407, an Airbus A340-500 (A6-ERG), suffers a tail strike during its take-off run at Melbourne Airport, Australia. Although take off is achieved, the aircraft overruns the end of the runway and destroys some 200 meters (220 yd) of strobe lights on the ground. The damaged aircraft dumps fuel and makes a safe landing at Melbourne. The investigation found that an incorrect weight value was entered into the aircraft's computer, resulting in an incorrect calculated take-off speed. [1]

  • 22 March — A Pilatus PC-12 (N128CM), crashes near Butte, Montana, killing all 14 people on board. [1]

  • 23 March — FedEx Express Flight 80, a McDonnell-Douglas MD-11F (N562FE), crashes on landing at Narita International Airport, Tokyo, killing both crew members. [1]

  • 23 March — Dniproavia Flight 207, an Embraer E-145EU (UR-DNE), overruns the runway at Atatürk International Airport, Turkey and is substantially damaged. [1]

  • 25 March — A Bell 206L-4 Longranger helicopter of Medair crashes at Mount Kes, Turkey, killing all six people on board. [1]

  • 26 March — Arrow Air Cargo Flight 431, a McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30F, suffers a major failure of the No. 2 (tail-mounted) engine shortly after take-off from Eduardo Gomes International Airport, Brazil. 12 houses and several cars were damaged by falling debris. The aircraft subsequently makes a safe landing at El Dorado International Airport, Col which Nihoombia. [1]

  • 31 March — A PZL M28TD Bryza 2RF (1007) operated by Marynarka Wojenna Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej crashes at Gdynia-Babie Doly Airport, Poland, during a simulated single-engine approach, killing all four people on board. [1]

April 2009

  • 1 April — Eurocopter AS.332 L2 “Super Puma Mk.2” (G-REDL) of Bond Offshore Helicopters crashes in the North Sea off Scotland after the main rotor gearbox failed and all four main rotor blades were lost. All 18 people on board are killed. [1]

  • 2 April — Chemtrad Aviation Britten-Norman “Islander” (RP-C764) crashes at Baggao, Philippines, killing all thirteen people on board. The aircraft was destroyed. [1]

  • 3 April — Quebec Service Aérien Canadair CL-415 (C-GQBG) makes a belly landing at Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport, Canada and suffers substantial damage. [1]

  • 4 April — Air China Airbus A321-213 (B-6556) is substantially damaged in a heavy landing and tailstrike at Beijing Capital International Airport. A vertical deceleration of 3.03G is recorded. A go-around is initiated and the aircraft subsequently lands safely. [1]

  • 6 April — A Fokker F27 “Friendship”nof the Indonesian Air Force crashes into a hangar at Husein Sastranegara International Airport, killing 24 people. A CASA CN-235 and CASA C-212 “Aviocar” are substantially damaged by falling debris and two Boeing 737s slightly damaged. [1]

  • 8 April — SA Airlink Avro RJ-85 (ZS-ASW) is substantially damaged when it jumps its chocks and subsequently collides with a fence then a brick wall at OR Tambo International Airport, South Africa. [1]

  • 9 April — Aviastar Mandiri BAe 146-300 (PK-BRD) crashes into Gunung Pike on approach to Wamena Airport, Indonesia, killing all six people on board. [1]

  • 15 April — The Russian Federal Air Transport Agency cancels the operating license of airline Elbrus-Avia. [1]

  • 17 April — Mimika Air Flight 514, operated by Pilatus PC-6 (PK-LTJ) crashes into Mount Gergaji, Indonesia, killing all ten people on board. [1]

  • 17 April — TAROM ATR 42-500 (YR-ATA) suffers a bird-strike on approach to Iasi International Airport, Romania, resulting in a large hole in the nosecone. A safe landing is subsequently made. [1]

  • 17 April — Línea Turística Aereotuy Cessna 208B “Grand Caravan” (YV-1811) crashes shortly after take-off from Canaima Airport, Venezuela, killing one of the eleven people on board. [1]

  • 18 April — Royal Air Maroc Boeing 747-2B6B (CN-RME) is substantially damaged when it lurches forward during an engine ground run and subsequently goes through a fence at Mohammed V International Airport, Morocco. [1]

  • 19 April — Canjet Flight 918, operated by Boeing 737-800 (C-FTCZ) is hijacked at Sangster International Airport, Jamaica. The lone hijacker is overpowered by members of the Jamaica Defense Force. [1]

  • 19 April — A Kenyan Air Force Habin Y-12 crashes at Marsabit killing 14 of the 17 people on board. Among the dead are four Members of Kenya's parliament and two Deputy Ministers. [1]

  • 19 April — Russian airline Arkaim is established. [1]

  • 20 April — Royal Air Maroc Flight 200, operated by Boeing 767-36NER (CN-RNT) is substantially damaged in a heavy landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Cracks are discovered in the forward fuselage on inspection. [1]

  • 24 April — Senegalese Air Sénégal International suspends all operations. [1]

  • 25 April — Lockheed P-2V “Neptune” (N442NA) of Neptune Aviation Services crashes into a hill at Stockton, Utah, while on a ferry flight. The aircraft is destroyed and all three crew were killed. [1]

  • 26 April — Douglas DC-3C (N136FS) of Four Star Air Cargo is destroyed by fire at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, Puerto Rico. [1]

  • 27 April — Magnicharters Flight 585, operated by Boeing 737-2K9 (XA-MAF) is damaged beyond economic repair when it makes a belly landing at Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla International Airport, Mexico. There are four injuries during evacuation by the 116 people on board. [1]

  • 27 April — Indonesian airline Linus Airways suspends operations as it has no aircraft to operate. [1]

  • 29 April — Bako Air Boeing 737-275 (TL-ADM) crashes near Massamba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, killing all seven crew. The aircraft is destroyed. [1]

May 2009

  • 1 May — Fijian airline Air Fiji ceased operations. [1]

  • 3 May — A Mil Mi-35 “Hind-E” (EV 08114) operated by the Venezuelan Army crashes at Táchira, Venezuela, killing all 21 personnel on board. [1]

  • 3 May — A Handley Page “Victor” (XM715), briefly becomes airborne during a fast taxi run at Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome, United Kingdom. The aircraft is not airworthy and was not intended to have flown. [1]

  • 4 May — Northwest Airlines Flight 557, an Airbus A320-211 (N311US), is substantially damaged in a heavy landing at Denver International Airport, United States. Vertical deceleration in excess of 3G is recorded. The aircraft may be written off. [1]

  • 6 May — World Airways Flight 8535, a McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 (N139WA), makes a hard landing at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, United States, causing overhead panels to detach. A go-around is initiated and the aircraft subsequently lands safely. The damage to the aircraft was described as substantial. [1]

  • 8 May — Saudi Arabian Airlines Flight 9061, a McDonnell Douglas MD-90-30 (HZ-APW), departs the runway at King Khalid International Airport, Saudi Arabia, while taxiing and suffers a main gear collapse and engine fire. The damage is described as “substantial”. [1]

  • 10 May — A BAe 3201 “Jetstream 31” (YV-1467), crashes near Útila Airport, Honduras during an illegal drug smuggling flight carrying almost 1,700 kilograms (3,700 lb) of cocaine. One of the three occupants are killed. [1]

  • 18 May — An Antonov An-24 “Coke” veers off the runway during take-off at Aba Tenna Dejazmach Yilma International Airport, Ethiopia. Damage was described as “substantial”. [1]

  • 20 May — A Lockheed C-130 “Hercules” of the Indonesian Air Force crashes at Magetan killing 97 people on board the aircraft and a further two on the ground. [1]

  • 26 May — An Antonov An-26 “Curl” (9Q-CSA) operated by Services Air crashes short of the runway at Matari Airport, Democratic Republic of the Congo, killing three of the four people on board. The aircraft is destroyed in the crash. It had previously been placed on a blacklist by the International Civil Aviation Organization and Antonov. [1]

  • 30 May — Pakistan International Airlines Flight 668, an ATR 42-500 (AP-BHO), departs the runway on landing at Allama Iqbal International Airport, Pakistan, resulting in a collapsed nosewheel and damaged mainwheel. [1]

  • ? May — Indonesian airline Megantara Air suspends operations. [1]

June 2009

  • 1 June — Air France Flight 447, an Airbus A330-200 (F-GZCP), breaks up mid-air and crashes into the Atlantic Ocean off Brazil killing all 228 people on board. [1]

  • 1 June — Swedish airline Air Express Sweden is taken over by MCA Airlines. [1]

  • 2 June — A DHC-6 “Twin Otter” (8Q-MAG) operated by Maldavian Air Taxi is destroyed when it crashes into the sea at the Haliveli Atoll, Maldives. All seven people on board survive. [1]

  • 6 June — Myanma Airways Flight 409, a Fokker F28-4000 “Fellowship” (XY-ADW), overruns the runway at Sittwe Airport, Myanmar. The aircraft is damaged beyond repair. [1]

  • 7 June — A Strait Air Britten-Norman “Islander” crashes on approach to Port Hope Simpson Airport, Canada, killing the pilot. The aircraft is destroyed. [1]

  • 9 June — An Indian Air Force Antonov An-32 “Cline” crashes in Arunachal Pradesh province killing all thirteen people on board. [1]

  • 11 June — Atlantic Southeast Airlines Flight 5414, a Canadair CRJ-200ER (N857AS), makes an emergency landing at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, United States after an undercarriage malfunction. The aircraft is substantially damaged. [1]

  • 14 June — Express Air Flight 9000, a Dornier 328 (PK-TXN), veers off the runway on landing at Tanah Merah Airport, Indonesia. The aircraft is substantially damaged. [1]

  • 25 June — Zest Airways Flight 863, a Xian MA60 (RP-C8892), overruns the runway at Godofredo P. Ramos Airport, Philippines. The aircraft is substantially damaged but is to be repaired. [1]

  • 26 June — A Let L-410 “Turbolet” (HK-4094) operated by Transporte Aéreo de Colombia overruns the runway at Capurganá Airport, Colombia, and is substantially damaged. [1]

  • 27 June — Kingfisher Airlines Flight 3334, an Airbus A320 (VT-ADR), collides with a building at Bagdogra Airport, India. The aircraft was substantially damaged. [1]

  • 29 June — A DHC-6 “Twin Otter” (PK-BRO) operated by Aviastar Mandiri, crashes on approach to Wamena Airport, Indonesia, killing all three crew. [1]

  • 30 June — Yemenia Flight 626, an Airbus A310-324 (7O-ADJ), crashes into the Indian Ocean near the Comoros Islands. There is one survivor from the 153 people on board. [1]

  • 30 June — Lithuanian airline Star1 Airlines commences operations. [1]

  • ? June — Egyptian airline AlMasria Universal Airlines commences operations. [1]

July 2009

  • 3 July — A Mil Mi-17 “Hip” operated by the Pakistan Army crashes in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, killing all 43 people on board. [1]

  • 5 July — A Britten-Norman “Trislander” (ZK-LGR) operated by Great Barrier Airlines suffers an in-flight propeller disintegration, and débris penetrates the passenger cabin. An emergency landing is made at Great Barrier Aerodrome, New Zealand. No injuries are reported among the 11 people on board. The aircraft is substantially damaged. [1]

  • 5 July — An Antonov An-28 “Cash” (SU-TYB) operated by El Dinder Aviation, is damaged beyond repair when the nosewheel collapses on landing at Saraf Omra Airfield, Sudan. [1]

  • 13 July — Southwest Airlines Flight 2294, a Boeing 737-3H4 (N387SW), suffers a structural failure of the fuselage in flight and subsequent decompression. An emergency landing is successfully made at Yeager Airport, United States. [1]

  • 14 July — American airline Pet Airways commences operations. [1]

  • 13 July — Airfast Indonesia, Garuda Indonesia, Mandala Airlines and Premiair are removed from the European Commission blacklist. [1]

  • 15 July — Caspian Airlines Flight 7908, a Tupolev Tu-154M “Careless” (EP-CPG), crashes at Jannatabad, Iran, after an in-flight fire on board. All 168 people on board are killed. [1]

  • 16 July — A Boeing 767-323ER (N350AN) operated by American Airlines, is substantially damaged when the nosewheel collapses on the ground at Fort Worth Alliance Airport, United States, during post-maintenance checks. [1]

  • 19 July — A Mil Mi-8 “Hip” operated by Vertical-T crashes at Kandahar International Airport, Afghanistan killing 16 of the 21 people on board. [1]

  • 21 July — Aeroméxico Flight 665, a Boeing 737-752 (XA-NAM), suffers a nosewheel collapse on push Back at San Francisco International Airport. The aircraft is substantially damaged. [1]

  • 24 July — The Italian Civil Aviation Authority suspends the operating licence of MyAir due to financial problems and service failures. [1]

  • 24 July — Aria Air Flight 1525, an Ilyushin Il-62M “Classic” (UP-I6208), crashes on landing at Mashhad International Airport, Iran, killing 16 of the 143 or more people on board. [1]

  • 28 July — Cambodian airline Cambodia Angkor Air commences operations. [1]

  • 29 July — An Airbus A330-203 operated Air France is substantially damaged at Maya-Maya Airport, Brazil when a wing strikes a building during ground maneuvers. [1]

August 2009

  • 2 August — Merpati Nusantara Airlines Flight 9760, a DHC-6 “Twin Otter 300” (PK-NVC), crashes at Oksibil, Indonesia killing all 16 people on board. [1]

  • 3 August — Saha Air Lines Flight 124, a Boeing 707-3J9C (EP-SHK), suffers engine fires in both port engines shortly after take-off from Ahwaz Airport, Iran. The fires are extinguished and a successful two-engine emergency landing is made Back at the airport. The aircraft is substantially damaged. [1]

  • 4 August — Bangkok Airways Flight 266, an ATR 72-212A (HS-PGL), overruns the runway at Saumi Airport, Thailand, and crashes into a disused control tower, killing one of the 72 people on board. [1]

  • 5 August — Baitullah Mehsud, head of the Pakistani Taliban, is on a rooftop in South Waziristan, Pakistan, when an American unmanned aerial vehicle strike kills him and several other people. [1]

  • 5 August — SATA International Flight 466, an Airbus A320-214 (CS-TKO), makes a very heavy landing at Lisbon Portela Airport, Portugal, with a force of 4.6G being recorded. The aircraft is substantially damaged but may have flown twice since. [1]

  • 7 August — Canadian airline Island Express Air commences operations. [1]

  • 8 August — N71MC, a Piper PA-32R (N401LH), a Eurocopter AS.350 collide mid-air over New York. Both aircraft crash into the Hudson River, killing all three people on board the aircraft and all six people on board the helicopter. [1]

  • 11 August — Airlines PNG Flight 4684, operated by DHC-6 “Twin Otter” (P2-MCB), crashes into a mountain in the Owen Stanley Range, Papua New Guinea, killing all 13 people on board. [1]

  • 14 August — Australian airline Strategic Airlines commences operations. [1]

  • 16 August — Two Sukhoi Su-27 “Flanker” aircraft of the “Russian Knights” are involved in a mid-air collision while practicing a display for the 2009 MAKS Airshow. One pilot is killed as well as one person on the ground. [1]

  • 16 August — A Britten-Norman “Islander” (YV-212T), ditches into the sea short of Simón Bolívar International Airport, Venezuela. The aircraft is written off but all nine people on board are rescued. [1]

  • 16 August — The unregistered prototype AVCEN “Jetpod” crashes shortly after take-off from Taiping Airport, Malaysia, killing the pilot. [1]

  • 23 August — South East Asian Airlines Flight 014, a Dornier Do-328-100 (RP-C6328), overruns the runway on landing at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Philippines, and is substantially damaged, but is to be repaired. [1]

  • 23 August — Danish airline Wings of Bornholm commences operations. [1]

  • 26 August — An Antonov An-12 “Cub” (TN-AIA) operated by of Aéro-Frêt, suffers an in-flight fire, breaks up in mid-air and crashes at Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of the Congo. All six people on board are killed. [1]

  • 27 August — An Ilyushin Il-76TD “Candid” (T-906), of the National Air Force of Angola runs off the runway at Quatro de Fevereiro Airport, Angola, and is substantially damaged. One of the 41 people on board is injured. [1]

  • 27 August — Chinese airline East Star Air declares bankruptcy. [1]

  • 27 August — Russian airline Avianova begins operations. [1]

  • 29 August — A USAF Boeing E-3 “Sentry” catches fire on landing at Nellis Air Force Base, United States. All 32 people on board are safely evacuated. [1]

  • 31 August — Slovak airline SkyEurope files for bankruptcy. [1]

September 2009

  • 1 September — Slovak airline SkyEurope suspends operations. [1]

  • 2 September — A Bell 430 helicopter crashes at Rudrakonda Hill, India, killing all five people on board, including Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. [1]

  • 3 September — BA CityFlyer accepts delivery of its first Embraer 170. [1]

  • 4 September — Air India Flight 829, a Boeing 747-437 (VT-ESM), suffers a fire in No.1 engine while taxiing for take-off at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, India. All 229 people are successfully evacuated from the aircraft via the emergency chutes. The aircraft is substantially damaged. [1]

  • 7 September — A GAF “Nomad N.24A” (P-827) operated by the Indonesian Navy, crashes at Long Ampung Airport, killing five of the nine people on board. [1]

  • 8 September — Russian airline KD Avia suspends flights. [1]

  • 9 September — Aeroméxico Flight 576, a Boeing 737-852 (EI-DRA), is hijacked and landed at Mexico City International Airport, its intended destination. Five people are detained, one of whom is later identified as the hijacker. [1]

  • 9 September — Egyptian airline Air Arabia Egypt announces that operations will start in late 2009 or early 2010. [1]

  • 13 September — A McDonnell-Douglas MD-11 (D-ALCO) operated by Lufthansa Cargo is severely damaged in a heavy landing at Mexico City International Airport. Post landing inspection revealed that there were wrinkles in the fuselage skin and the nose gear was bent. It is reported that the aircraft may be written off. [1]

  • 14 September — Lufthansa Flight 288, a Fokker 100 operated by Contact Air (D-AKFE), makes an emergency belly landing at Stuttgart Airport, Germany, after the undercarriage fails to deploy correctly. [1]

  • 18 September — A Casa 212 “Aviocar 200” (N349TA) operated by Bering Air, departs the runway at Savoonga, Alaska, and is substantially damaged when the undercarriage collapses. [1]

  • 19 September — Maltese airline Efly commences operations. [1]

  • 22 September — An Ilyushin Il-76MD “Candid” (5-8208) operated by the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force is involved in a mid-air collision with a Northrop F-5E “Tiger II” and crashes near Varamin killing all seven people on board. [1]

  • 24 September — SA Airlink flight SA 8911, a BAe “Jetstream 41” (ZS-NRM), crashes shortly after take-off from Durban International Airport due to an engine failure. The aircraft is destroyed but the three crew members survive with serious injuries. [1]

  • 28 September — 9044, a NAMC YS-11M-A operated by the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force, overruns the runway upon landing at Ozuki Air Field and is substantially damaged. [1]

  • 29 September — British Airways operates the first transatlantic flight from London City Airport: BA001 (a flight number unused since “Concorde” retired), an all-business class Airbus A318. [1]

  • 29 September — Greek state-owned airline Olympic Airlines ceased operation. It was replaced by privately owned Olympic Air, which commenced operations on this day. [1]

  • 30 September — Serbian airline Jat Airways suspends flights due to a maintenance company refusing to work on their aircraft in a dispute over unpaid bills. [1]

  • 30 September — American unmanned aerial vehicles have conducted 87 missile strikes against targets in Pakistan since the first recorded one on 14 June 2004. Seventy-six of them have occurred since 1 January 2008. [1]

October 2009

  • 2 October — Serbian airline Jat Airways resumes flights following the resolution of the dispute with their maintenance company. [1]

  • 2 October — A Boeing 737-4H6 (9M-MMR) operated by Malaysia Airlines, is substantially damaged when the port main undercarriage collapses while the aircraft is parked at the gate at Kuching International Airport. [1]

  • 2 October — Swedish airline Feel Air is established. [1]

  • 9 October — An CASA C-212 “Aviocar” (FAU-531) operated by the Uruguayan Air Force, being operated as part of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti, crashes west of Fonds-Verettes killing all eleven on board. [1]

  • 15 October — An Antonov An-28 “Cash” of Blue Wing Airlines departs the runway on landing at Kwamelasemoetoe Airstrip, Suriname, and hits an obstacle. The aircraft is substantially damaged and four people are injured, one seriously. [1]

  • 17 October — A Douglas DC-3 (RP-C550) operated by Victoria Air, crashes shortly after take-off from Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Philippines, on a flight to Puerto Princesa International Airport after an engine malfunctions. All four people on board are killed. [1]

  • 21 October — Azza Transport Flight 2241, a Boeing 707-320, crashes shortly after take-off from Sharjah International Airport, United Arab Emirates. All six crew are killed. [1]

  • 21 October — Agreement announced for sale of London Gatwick Airport from BAA Limited to Global Infrastructure Partners, to comply with Competition Commission requirements. [1]

  • 21 October — Northwest Airlines Flight 188, an Airbus A320-212 with 149 people on board, lands in Minneapolis, Minnesota, an hour late after its pilots overshoot Minneapolis when they become distracted by a discussion of their schedules. [1]

  • 22 October — A Britten-Norman “Islander” (PJ-SUN) operated by Divi Air, ditches off Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles. The pilot is killed but the nine passengers escape from the aircraft before it sinks. [1]

  • 23 October — Slovakian airline Seagle Air ceased operations. [1]

  • 26 October — S-Air Flight 9607, a BAe 125 (RA-02807), crashes on approach to Minsk International Airport. All three crew and both passengers are killed. [1]

  • ? October — American airlines Go! and Mokulele Airlines merge to form Go! Mokulele. [1]

  • ? October — Greek airline Viking Hellas commenced operations. [1]

November 2009

  • 1 November — An Ilyushin Il-76 “Candid” operated by the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs crashed shortly after take-off from Mirny Airport. All eleven crew are killed. [1]

  • 3 November — A Xian MA60 (UM-239) operated by Air Zimbabwe, hits five warthogs on take-off from Harare International Airport. The take-off is rejected but the undercarriage collapses causing substantial damage to the aircraft. [1]

  • 5 November — A Grumman “Albatross” (N120FB) operated by Albatross Adventures, crashes shortly after take-off from St. Lucie County International Airport, Fort Pierce, Florida, after suffering an engine failure. The aircraft was damaged beyond economic repair. [1]

  • 7 November — A Tupolev Tu-142 “Bear-F” of the Russian Navy's Pacific Fleet crashes in the Tatar Strait some 12 miles (19 km) off Sakhalin Island. All eleven crew are missing, presumed dead. [1]

  • 10 November — Kingfisher Airlines Flight 4124, operated by ATR 72-212A (VT-KAC) skidded off the runway after landing at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. The aircraft suffered substantial damage but all 46 passengers and crew escaped unharmed. [1]

  • 11 November — Swedish airline MCA Airlines declares bankruptcy. [1]

  • 12 November — Rwandair Flight 205 operated by Canadair CRJ-100 (5Y-JLD) ended up embedded in the departure building at Kigali International Airport after an engine malfunction. One passenger was killed. [1]

  • 18 November — Iran Air Fokker 100 (EP-CFO) suffered an undercarriage malfunction on take-off from Isfahan International Airport. The aircraft was on a flight to Mehrabad Airport, Tehran when the undercarriage failed to retract. The aircraft landed at Isfahan but was substantially damaged when the left main gear collapsed. [1]

  • 14 November — English Electric “Lightning T.5” (ZU-BEX) crashed during an airshow at AFB Overberg, Bredasdorp, South Africa after a hydraulic failure, killing the pilot. [1]

  • 19 November — Compagnie Africaine d'Aviation Flight 3711, operated by McDonnell Douglas MD-82 (9Q-CAB) overran the runway on landing at Goma International Airport, suffering substantial damage. The overrun area was contaminated by solidified lava. [1]

  • 19 November — A de Havilland Canada DHC-8-200 being operated on behalf of United States Africa Command was substantially damaged when the undercarriage collapsed and the starboard wing was ripped off in an emergency landing at Tarakigné, Mali. [1]

  • 20 November — Interlink Airlines commences first every passenger flights from Wonderboom Airport outside Pretoria, South Africa. This is the first time the South African capital is connected to other centers in South Africa, instead of using OR Tambo International, Johannesburg. Flights started with 737-200 aircraft, although the runway is inadequate for these aircraft, so severe weight penalties, supposed to use BAe 146 aircraft in the near future. Currently flights only to Cape Town and Durban. [1]

  • 23 November — Italian Air Force Lockheed KC-130J “Hercules” (MM62176) crashed just after take-off from Galileo Galilei Airport, Pisa. All five crew were killed. [1]

  • 24 November — Batavia Air Flight 711, operated by a Boeing 737-400 made an emergency landing at El Tari Airport, Kupang after a problem was discovered with the landing gear. [1]

  • 27 November — The European Commission extends its blacklist to cover all airlines based in Djibouti, the Republic of the Congo and São Tomé. In Ukraine, Ukrainian Cargo Airways and Volare Airlines were removed from the blacklist as their Air Operator's Certificates had been revoked. Motor Sich Airlines were also removed from the blacklist and Ukrainian-Mediterranean Airlines were allowed to operate a single aircraft. TAAG Angola Airlines was allowed to increase the number of aircraft used for flights to Portugal. [1]

  • 28 November — Avient Aviation Flight 324, operated by McDonnell Douglas MD-11F (Z-BAV), crashed on take-off from Shanghai Pudong International Airport on a flight to Bishkek-Manas International Airport, Kyrgyzstan with the loss of 3 lives. The plane was written-off. [1]

December 2009

  • 2 December — Merpati Nusantara Airlines Fokker 100 (PK-MJD) makes an emergency landing at El Tari Airport, Kupang when the left main gear fails to extend. There are no injuries among the passengers and crew. [1]

  • 3 December — The first “Solar Impulse” aircraft (HB-SIA), the first solar-powered aircraft capable of flying both day and night thanks to batteries charged by solar power that provide it with power during darkness, makes its first flight, a short hop of 350 meters (1,148 feet) at an altitude of 1 meter (3.28 feet) at Dubendorf, Switzerland. [1]

  • 7 December — SA Airlink Flight 8625, operated by Embraer ERJ 135 (ZS-SJW) overruns the runway at George Airport, South Africa, arriving from Cape Town. The aircraft sustains substantial damage when it runs down a bank onto a road and may be declared a write-off. [1]

  • 8 December — In the United Kingdom, Coventry Airport announces that it is to close with immediate effect due to its owners being wound up in the High Court. [1]

  • 14 December — Cabin crew at British Airways vote overwhelmingly in favour of a planned 12 days of strike action over Christmas and the New Year in a dispute over job cuts and changes to staff contracts. On 17 December the High Court rules that Unite, the representing trade union, had not correctly balloted its members on the strike action, meaning that the strikes could not go ahead. [1]

  • 16 December — Scotland's largest airline Flyglobespan enters administration and ceases all flights. [1]

  • 19 December — A Hawker Siddeley HS.748 overruns the runway at Tonj Airfield, Southern Sudan, killing one person on the ground. The aircraft is carrying security personnel in preparation for a visit from President Salva Kiir Mayardit. [1]

  • 21 December — Spanish airline Air Comet ceases operations. [1]

  • 22 December — American Airlines Flight 331, a Boeing 737-800, overshoots the runway on landing at Norman Manley International Airport, Kingston, Jamaica, injuring 15 of the 154 people on board. [1]

  • 25 December — Northwest Airlines Flight 253, operated by Airbus A330-323E (N820NW) is subjected to an attempted terrorist attack. The terrorist, Nigerian Islamist Abdulfarouk Umar Muttalab, is overpowered by other passengers and is arrested when the aircraft lands at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. [1]

  • ? December — British based airline East African Air commences operations. [1]

2009 Airlines Established

  • 2009 — Aeromak. [1]

  • 2009 — City Link Air. [1]

  • 2009 — FlyMontserrat. [1]

  • 2009 — KentuckySkies. [1]

  • 2009 — Mint Airways. [1]

  • 2009 — Trawel Fly. [1]

2009 Airlines Commencing Operations

  • 2009 — Air Arabia Maroc. [1]

  • 2009 — Arik Niger. [1]

  • 2009 — Nile Air. [1]

2009 Airlines Ceasing Operations

  • 2009 — Sol Dominicana Airlines. [1]

2009 Deaths

  • 13 January — Australian aviator Nancy Bird Walton, 93. [1]

  • 8 February — American aviator Wesley L. McDonald, 84. [1]

  • 2 June — British Air Vice-Marshal John Ernsting, 81. [1]

  • 20 June — American aviator Kenneth L. Reusser, 89. [1]

  • 18 July — British World War I veteran and last surviving founder member of the RAF, Henry Allingham, 113. [1]

2009 Aircraft First Flights

  • 25 November — First flight of the “Gulfstream G650”. [1]

  • 3 December — First flight of the first “Solar Impulse” (HB-SIA). [1]

  • 11 December — First flight of the Airbus A400M in Spain. [1]

  • 11 December — First flight of the “Gulfstream G250”. [1]

  • 15 December — First flight of the Boeing 787 “Dreamliner” in Seattle. [1]

Works Cited

  1. Timeline and History: Wikipedia. 2009 in Aviation
  2. Recht, Gary. "Corrections and Additions to Website", email: 11/30/2017

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