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AN AER LINGUS flight from Dublin to Faro carrying 181 passengers was forced to turn around and return to Dublin after a technical fault on the aircraft this morning.
The EI 490 flight left Dublin at 6.20am but after the fault was uncovered a decision was taken to return. The plane then made an emergency landing again at 07.06 am.
Aer Lingus says that emergency services were deployed at the airport as a precaution upon landing at Dublin.
All of the passengers safety disembarked the aircraft with Aer Lingus assuring them that they will be flown to their destination in Portugal later this morning.
No other disruptions are expected as a result to of this morning’s incident.
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What’s going on with AL these days?
These are routine returns and all part of procedures. The media are delighted with their flight tracking apps that produce alerts for these sort of incidents.
3 in a week for one airline is a lot, especially a small airline like AL. And the fact is, they’re turning back because things are not working as they should be.
No Bob, they’re going back because protocol says they’re supposed to go back.
They turn back because its procedure for any aircraft that encounters these minor issues.
Checking one of these apps I see that Ryanair flights 42Z 26/9, 27G 27/9 and 86D 29/9 all had these emergency alerts – along with Easyjet, Air France, Lufthansa, Thompson, Ar Canada (Rouge) and others since the 25/9.
It really is not as sensational a deal as the media make it out to be and as I said it has been part of procedures since the start.
Snags can be carried for the duration of any flight, but I would prefer a cautious flight crew on any flight that I’m on.
And on a good note. The pilots are highly trained to deal with any problems hence no fatalities. Safer with AL than in a taxi, bus or train. I still don’t understand why there are no seat belts in buses or trains. Most likely safer in the sky than on Irish roads given some of the drivers I have seen.
well Paul on a flight to Munich Saturday. the cabin filled with smoke. is that a minor issue?
No malcolm, it did not fill up with smoke, that’s just the media that spun it that way to terrify the ignorant masses!
The flight had what is called “fume event” and is very common in most aircraft. Unfortunately on some occasions it requires the crew to return if it lingers too long especially in or near the flight deck.
Aer Lingus have one of the best safety records of any airline and that’s the only fact that the media don’t seem to be reporting.
The cabin didn’t “fill with smoke” as reported by armchaired twitter following journalists. Fumes were smelt on board. With heated cabin air coming from the engines and being cooled by air conditionaing systems on the aircraft, sometimes fumes can be smelt in the cabin or cockpit. Sometimes smoke will be noticed also, so they take action.
I see the armchair experts are out in force this Monday morning
A well worn armchair for me……31 years in aircraft maintenance and a life time interest in Aviation. And it seems to me most of the above posters have a good bit of knowledge.
Thanks for the biography on your career we are well and truly enlightened by your expert opinion. For clarification I was directing my opinion on the negative comments about Aer Lingus.
As you can see – I’m useless at mind reading.
@ Paul.. Would love to hear more from you on these issues, my other half loves aviation( how many times I’ve had to watch ACI!) good someone like yourself can explain things to me who wouldn’t have a clue!
Ha ! Some of the comments here are hilarious ! Cutbacks on safety protocol with aircraft carrying hundreds of passengers on one flight??
My daughter is cabin crew with British Airways …. this is a regular occurrence and happens in all airlines … it’s normal safety protocol to turn back if possible . She works long haul and a huge percentage of the fleet is still the Boeing 747 ….over 20 years old . If I was to panic every time she tells me of incidents like the AL one I’d be a basket case . It’s part of airline life……. trouble is if you’re a passenger you might only experience it once or twice in your life.
Yes ….and these Apps are just making the information available to us ……. It doesn’t mean there is a higher incidence ! Calm down everyone !
Another one ? Air lingus having a bad week.
number three
3 times in a week, fleet is really showing its age
The fleet is on average around 10 years old, still one of the youngest in Europe.
some of them are 17+ years I wouldnt want to get in Taxi that old
17 years still isn’t that old for an aircraft. Last year Delta airlines retired some DC9s that were from the late 60s early 70s. The average age of British Airways fleet of 747s is almost 20 years, while there average age of their 767 fleet is 21.5 years.
Do you have any idea how old the B747 aircraft at BA are? Even many of there 777s are hitting 20 years now.
Doesn’t mean they are unsafe!
No but some of the a330 are looking very worn and tired on the inside just like the 767 BA use on their Calgary route.
Note to self – Avoid AL in the near future
they were following protocol, and did exactly what the pilot is supposed to do in those circumstances.
we know they were following protocol. every pilot in the world follows protocol. still doesn’t take away from the fact that’s things went wrong for them to do so.
You’d be safer on an Aer Lingus plane than a lot of other carriers!
joe, many flights have to return to airports every day due to issues with planes. These are non issues, they just happened to have 3 in a week. Infact this happened 3 times in ryanair in the last 2-3 weeks (not in dublin).
Ryanair have 320 planes, AL have 40 odd.
I just picked ryanair as an example. it happens to every airline.
Aer Lingus has a solid safety record but something is going wrong of late.
waiting in the airport to board an aer lingus flight….
I have been surprised at AL lately as you never normally hear about problems with them…. perhaps cut backs or something is stopping them getting their usual checks, hopefully though it is just sheer coincidence,,
“perhaps cutbacks stopping them getting their usual checks”…… are you kidding me?
Catherine, you’re some dope
I fly with Aer Lingus all the time cos its the safest now I’m worrying. Am i right?
its would if 3 if Bus Eireann’s busses got a flat wheels within a week. non story
Oh no! Don’t think I’ll fly with them on Wednesday morning now, they can’t be trusted! Can someone tell me what Ryanairs website is!…..
have your say