Updated: Ethiopian B757 makes emergency landing in Malta

Stephen Borg

Jan 12th 2009, 14:13

All passenger aircraft including the Boeing 757-200 are designed to fly on one engine even if they suffer an engine failure during takeoff or landing. This Ethiopian Boeing 757-200 sustained an inflight engine shutdown during cruise and as per standard procedure the pilots opted to land at the nearest airport. In no way should this incident be compared to the Souix City accident where a United Airlines DC-10-10 suffered a major malfunction in engine number two where the engine's fan disintegrated due to a production flaw which lead to cracks to span out and crack the whole fan structure. In that case debris from the engine punctured the aircraft's hydraulic lines and disabled all three hydraulic systems and due to loss of hydraulic fluid leading to loss of hydraulic pressure the aircraft became uncontrollable to a certain extent. In this case the Ethiopian Boeing 757-200 sustained an inflight engine shut down with no further repercussions to any other aircraft key systems. It is standard practice to declare a 'Mayday' when an aircraft sustains an inflight engine shut down because it would be given priority to land at the nearest airport and the airport in question would prepare for an emergency.

Reuben Griscti

Jan 11th 2009, 20:43

I think Duncan has given an excellent overview of what would happen within A&E in the first few minutes of such an incident: this is referred to as the Major Incident (Standby) Protocol.

I would like to remind all concerned of other entities that could be involved in such a potentially tragic scenario.

In the Summer of 2004, a similiar incident occurred. Apart from A&E, CPD and the ERT being dispatched to the scene, voluntary organisations were also alerted. At the time, I responded as a St. John's Ambulance doctor.
Within 1-2 hours, a number of fully equipped ambulances, manned by a substantial number of volunteer members from St. John's Ambulance and Red Cross were on standby, and parked AT the scene, ready to respond if necessary! Fortunately, there was no need for us, and we were stood down when it was declared safe to do so..

May I reassure all those with concerns that we have very dedicated individuals, both within the Department of Health, AND within numerous voluntary organisations, striving to ensure that our families and friends are well taken care of. As always, I would like to thank them all!

duncan Briffa

Jan 11th 2009, 19:08

@Franco Farrugia..... SORRY.. LAPSUS!!!

Franco Farrugia (the real one!)

Jan 11th 2009, 16:31

@ Cedric Busuttil, Duncan Briffa: You are surely addressing 'Franco Buttigieg' and not 'Farrugia'. Do you have me on your minds? The mind boggles!

Jesmond Micallef

Jan 11th 2009, 15:06

This reminds me of an earlier accident in the USA, Sioux City where a United Airlines DC-10 carrying passengers sufferred a catastrophic engine failure with subsequent loss of all hydraulic power which power the flight controls of the aircraft. Medics and all emergency resources where directed to the Siuox City airport. Due to clever management by the cockpit crew of the engine controls, they managed to make it to the airport but unfortunately no safe landing was accomplished and many passengers perished but alot did survive due to what experts consider outstanding airmanship from the crew. Captain Al Hayes was commended prestigiously from various pilot organisations.

Another accident involves a B767 of Air Canada which run out of fuel just as it was about to reach it's cruising altitude. Capt. Pearson glided the large aircraft to a safe landing at a disused airfield at Gimli, if I remember correctly. All passengers exited the aircraft via escape chutes quite safely with no injuries. Capt. Pearson saved his passengers and his plane. He was a well experienced pilot and his hobby was GLIDING !!!!

Aircarft possess alot of energy, they are heavy, they travel fast and carry alot of fuel.

M Borg

Jan 11th 2009, 14:50

@Franco
If there were around 140passangers on board would you expect 140 ambulances?
Please refer to Duncan Briffa's comment, the situation is very well explained

Alexander sciberras

Jan 11th 2009, 14:14

Well done to the A & E Department - Mater Dei. Although they suffer from shortage of staff daily, they are really organised and treat URGENT cases immediately. You should be proud!

Randolph Spiteri

Jan 11th 2009, 14:07

For the record, there were 184 persons on board the Ethiopian B757 series 200.

As regards ambulances, remember that when an aircraft declares a "Mayday" as was this case with the aircraft, there is no guarantee whether the aircraft is going to make it safely to the airport. It could, God forbid, crash somewhere over land whilst making an approach on Runway 13. It simply doesn't make sense to dispatch all ambulances at the airport, as these may be needed at the actually crash site, which could be kilometers from the airport perimeter.

Well done to all the authorities concerned as the actual action taken was swift and efficient by all. Luckily, all ended well.

duncan briffa

Jan 11th 2009, 13:10

@Franco Farrugia,

PLease be informed that thge first two ambulance would go there only to take the medical personnel on site and to be on standby so that IF the accident happens, the team's primary job would not be that of treating the patients but to assess the situation, get a general impressionof the number of injured, gather as much info as possible and most importantly starting divinding the injured according to the priorities of treatment. Up to this point, the abulance crews' job is not that of TREATING or TRANSPORTING any patients.

Further help will de dispatched accord to the information that will be relayed to the command and control centre where the top MAJOR INCIDENT COMMAND will be located.

Just to let you know that there are protocols on stand by for dealing with such emergencies.. and the accident and emergency department can proudly say that although there was some workload, they still have managed to be the first and only Emergency service on site yesterday (apart from the airport services obviously!!)

Within 15 minutes from the call, doctors, and nurses left there homes and went on site.

M Gauci

Jan 11th 2009, 13:09

@ Mr Buttigieg At Mater Dei Accident & Emergency Department, Extra beds are sealed plastic wrapping and are only to be used in case of a major disaster also extra oxygen sockets and other lifesaving equipment are installed for the unlikely event.

Anthony F. Seychell

Jan 11th 2009, 12:59

The Airport Fire Services have 2 modern ambulances which are part of their inventory, in addition to their crash tenders and other vehicles. These emergency units are the first to be alerted when Air Traffic reports an aircraft with an emergency. Depending on the seriousness of the situation additional ambulances, fire tenders and other rescue services are deployed to the airport to assist the Airport Fire Services.

If a crash happened then more equipmet and staff would be deployed to assist. Luckily this emergency plan has been used rarely though it is exercised regularly.

Cedric Busuttil

Jan 11th 2009, 11:47

@ Franco Farrugia. Sorry but do you expect all ambulances to stand by at the airport leaving the rest of the population unattended? I'm quite sure that if something would have gone wrong, Mater Dei would have be able to cater for. Even by improvisation!

Paul Barrett

Jan 11th 2009, 11:40

This sounds like perfectly correct and sensible action taken. Warning the key players of a potential emergency rather than deploying all assets possibly to the wrong end of the Island - if indeed the flight actually made it to Malta.

M Gauci

Jan 11th 2009, 11:26

Well done to the Health Department and all other entities. Well organised!

Franco Buttigieg

Jan 11th 2009, 11:23

With such an investment done on Mater Dei Hospital is it equipped to handle such an emergency? Seeing that only two ambulances were sent on site to cater for a possible emergency of a Boeing 757, I wonder if it was only occupied by the crew and had no passengers on board?