Airplane crash in Toronto (OLD thread bumped) - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Neeper · 08-02-2005, 02:49 PM

No link yet, but on CNN's site:

A passenger jet burst into flames after running off the runway at Toronto Airport, Canada. Details soon.

Sure hope there are no fatalities.

Table 5 · 08-02-2005, 02:51 PM

crap, i was just there two days ago.

hope its nothing serious.

Neeper · 08-02-2005, 02:54 PM

http://www.canada.com/national/story.html?...13-706ef0159d71

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/20...lane050802.html

dustygoon · 08-02-2005, 02:54 PM

The footage on CNBC looks pretty bad. Airfrance airbus 340 with 200 passengers.

the crispy badger · 08-02-2005, 03:00 PM

looks like very little chance of survivors...

icarus · 08-02-2005, 03:09 PM

Might have been hit by lightning while landing. I would be very surprised if there weren't any survivors.

SoulOfTheFlame · 08-02-2005, 03:12 PM

It doesn't look good..

the crispy badger · 08-02-2005, 03:13 PM

thats what cnn is saying...did they say it's been exactly 20 years since the Dallas crash?

icarus · 08-02-2005, 03:15 PM

CTV is reporting the pilot and some passengers (picked up on highway 401) have been taken to hospital.

the crispy badger · 08-02-2005, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by icarus@Aug 2 2005, 02:15 PM
CTV is reporting the pilot and some passengers (picked up on highway 401) have been taken to hospital.

there's actually survivors!?

icarus · 08-02-2005, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by the crispy badger@Aug 2 2005, 09:16 PM
there's actually survivors!?

That's what they say.

The plane had already landed when it was struck by lightning. Without power to brake the plane just continued rolling into the woods. Shouldn't be too many impact casualties, mostly smoke inhalation fatalies. That's why I think (based on what CTV is reporting).

MarchHare · 08-02-2005, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by icarus+Aug 2 2005, 03:19 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (icarus @ Aug 2 2005, 03:19 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-the crispy badger@Aug 2 2005, 09:16 PM
there's actually survivors!?

That's what they say.

The plane had already landed when it was struck by lightning. Without power to brake the plane just continued rolling into the woods. Shouldn't be too many impact casualties, mostly smoke inhalation fatalies. That's why I think (based on what CTV is reporting). [/b][/quote]
Who's reporting that? A lightning strike shouldn't affect an aircraft's performance at all. At worst it might momentarily blind the pilots (which is very bad during landing) or mess with some of the avionics, but a plane shouldn't lose power after being hit by lightning.

icarus · 08-02-2005, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MarchHare@Aug 2 2005, 09:26 PM
Who's reporting that? A lightning strike shouldn't affect an aircraft's performance at all. At worst it might momentarily blind the pilots (which is very bad during landing) or mess with some of the avionics, but a plane shouldn't lose power after being hit by lightning.

That's what some airport guy from Pearson that CTV had on the air said.

Perhaps the fact the the aircraft was grounded when struck alters the effect of lightning when struck. Although the tires are rubber, so I don't know.

MarchHare · 08-02-2005, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by icarus+Aug 2 2005, 03:28 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (icarus @ Aug 2 2005, 03:28 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-MarchHare@Aug 2 2005, 09:26 PM
Who's reporting that? A lightning strike shouldn't affect an aircraft's performance at all. At worst it might momentarily blind the pilots (which is very bad during landing) or mess with some of the avionics, but a plane shouldn't lose power after being hit by lightning.

That's what some airport guy from Pearson that CTV had on the air said. [/b][/quote]
I highly, highly doubt a lightning strike could cause a powerloss.

But what do I know...I'm only a pilot.

Neeper · 08-02-2005, 03:31 PM

I heard it might have been lightning too that hit the plane.

icarus · 08-02-2005, 03:34 PM

Eyewitness: there are survivors.

MarchHare · 08-02-2005, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Since the outer skin of most airplanes is primarily aluminum, which is a very good conductor of electricity; the secret to safe lightning hits is to allow the current to flow through the skin from the point of impact to some other point without interruption or diversion to the interior of the aircraft.

Estimates show that each commercial airliner averages one lighting hit per year but the last crash that was attributed to lightning was in 1967 when the fuel tank exploded, causing the plane to crash. Generally, the first contact with lightning is at an extremity...the nose or a wingtip. As the plane continues to fly through the areas of opposite charges, the lightning transits through the aircraft skin and exits through another extremity point, frequently the tail (as shown by Gauss's Law).

Another related problem with lightning is the effect it can have on computers and flight instruments. Shielding and surge suppressors insure that electrical transients do not threaten the on board avionics and the miles of electrical wiring found in modern aircraft. All components that are vital to the safe operation of commercial aircraft must be certified to meet the stringent regulations of the FAA for planes flying into the United States.

Emphasis mine (to show how common lightning strikes are). Nowhere does it mention anything about lightning causing a loss of power.

From here: http://www.physlink.com/Education/AskExperts/ae568.cfm

the_only_turek_fan · 08-02-2005, 03:37 PM

It looks bad.

What an unfortunate incident.

I heard it might have been lightning too that hit the plane.

An Air France jet with as many as 200 people aboard has skidded off a runway while landing at Toronto's Pearson International Airport, bursting into flames and sending thick black smoke pouring into the air.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/20...lane050802.html

If it were to be struck by lightning I dont know if it would skid. Wouldnt it just totally blow up.

icarus · 08-02-2005, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MarchHare@Aug 2 2005, 09:36 PM
Estimates show that each commercial airliner averages one lighting hit per year but the last crash that was attributed to lightning was in 1967 when the fuel tank exploded, causing the plane to crash. Generally, the first contact with lightning is at an extremity...the nose or a wingtip. As the plane continues to fly through the areas of opposite charges, the lightning transits through the aircraft skin and exits through another extremity point, frequently the tail (as shown by Gauss's Law).

Obviously this is talking about aircraft in flight...

MarchHare · 08-02-2005, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by icarus+Aug 2 2005, 03:39 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (icarus @ Aug 2 2005, 03:39 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-MarchHare@Aug 2 2005, 09:36 PM
Estimates show that each commercial airliner averages one lighting hit per year but the last crash that was attributed to lightning was in 1967 when the fuel tank exploded, causing the plane to crash. Generally, the first contact with lightning is at an extremity...the nose or a wingtip. As the plane continues to fly through the areas of opposite charges, the lightning transits through the aircraft skin and exits through another extremity point, frequently the tail (as shown by Gauss's Law).

Obviously this is talking about aircraft in flight... [/b][/quote]
Yeah, but on the ground it's no different than a car being struck by lightning (which usually has no effect on the car...aren't they one of the safest places to be during a thunderstorm?).