2008 in aviation
Encyclopedia
This is a list of aviation
-related events from 2008:
Aviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
-related events from 2008:
January
- 2 January – Asian SpiritAsian SpiritZest Airways Inc. is an airline based in the Asian Aeronautics Hangar in the General Aviation Area in Pasay City, Metro Manila in the Philippines. It operates scheduled domestic and international tourist services, mainly feeder services linking Manila and Cebu with 24 domestic destinations in...
Flight 321, an NAMC YS-11NAMC YS-11The NAMC YS-11 is a turboprop airliner built by a Japanese consortium, the Nihon Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation. The program was initiated by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry in 1954, the aircraft was rolled out in 1962, and production ceased in 1974.-Development and design:In...
, overruns the runway while landing in Masbate CityMasbate CityThe City of Masbate is a 4th class city in the province of Masbate, Philippines. It is the capital city of Masbate province...
, PhilippinesPhilippinesThe Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. All 47 on board survive. - 4 January – A Transaven Let L-410 Turbolet crashes2008 Transaven Turbolet crashOn 4 January 2008, a scheduled domestic Transaven flight from Simón Bolívar International Airport serving Caracas to Los Roques Airport off shore in the Atlantic Ocean reported 64 miles north of the port of departure that both engines had failed and that it was at altitude 3000 feet and descending....
near the Los Roques archipelagoLos Roques ArchipelagoThe Los Roques islands are a federal dependency of Venezuela, consisting of about 350 islands, cays or islets. The archipelago is located 80 miles directly north of the port of La Guaira, and is a 40-minute flight, has a total area of 40.61 square kilometres.Being almost an untouched coral reef,...
off VenezuelaVenezuelaVenezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
killing all 14 on board. - 10 January – Air CanadaAir CanadaAir Canada is the flag carrier and largest airline of Canada. The airline, founded in 1936, provides scheduled and charter air transport for passengers and cargo to 178 destinations worldwide. It is the world's tenth largest passenger airline by number of destinations, and the airline is a...
Flight 190, an Airbus A319Airbus A320 familyThe Airbus A320 family is a family of short- to medium-range, narrow-body, commercial passenger jet airliners manufactured by Airbus Industrie.Airbus was originally a consortium of European aerospace companies, and is now fully owned by EADS. Airbus's name has been Airbus SAS since 2001...
experiences severe turbulence over the Canadian Rocky MountainsRocky MountainsThe Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
, injuring ten (six seriously) of the 88 on board, and is forced to divert and make an emergency landing at Calgary International AirportCalgary International AirportCalgary International Airport, , is the international airport that serves Calgary, Alberta, Canada and the surrounding region; it is situated approximately northeast of downtown Calgary...
. - 11 January - AirbusAirbusAirbus SAS is an aircraft manufacturing subsidiary of EADS, a European aerospace company. Based in Blagnac, France, surburb of Toulouse, and with significant activity across Europe, the company produces around half of the world's jet airliners....
delivers its second A380Airbus A380The Airbus A380 is a double-deck, wide-body, four-engine jet airliner manufactured by the European corporation Airbus, a subsidiary of EADS. It is the largest passenger airliner in the world. Due to its size, many airports had to modify and improve facilities to accommodate it...
(MSN005) to Singapore AirlinesSingapore AirlinesSingapore Airlines Limited is the flag carrier airline of Singapore. Singapore Airlines operates a hub at Changi Airport and has a strong presence in the Southeast Asia, East Asia, South Asia, and "Kangaroo Route" markets...
. - 12 January - A MacedonianRepublic of MacedoniaMacedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
Army Mil Mi-17Mil Mi-17The Mil Mi-17 is a Russian helicopter currently in production at two factories in Kazan and Ulan-Ude...
helicopter crashes2008 Macedonian Armed Forces Mil Mi-17 crashThe 2008 Macedonian Armed Forces Mil Mi-17 crash occurred on Saturday, 12 January 2008, when a Mil Mi-17 transport helicopter belonging to the Armed Forces of the Republic of Macedonia, crashed 50–100 metres from the village of Blace, situated in the region of Katlanovo, approximately 10–15...
in thick fog southeast of SkopjeSkopjeSkopje is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Macedonia with about a third of the total population. It is the country's political, cultural, economic, and academic centre...
, killing all 11 military personnel on board. - 13 January – Suspended under 600 brightly colored heliumHeliumHelium is the chemical element with atomic number 2 and an atomic weight of 4.002602, which is represented by the symbol He. It is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, non-toxic, inert, monatomic gas that heads the noble gas group in the periodic table...
-filled party balloons, Brazilian priestPriestA priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
Adelir Antonio de CarliAdelir Antonio de CarliAdelir Antonio de Carli , also known in Brazil as Padre Baloneiro, was a Brazilian Catholic priest, famous for going missing during an attempt at cluster ballooning on April 20, 2008...
lifts off from Ampere, BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, and reaches an altitude of 5,300 m (17,390 ft) before landing safely at San AntonioSan Antonio (disambiguation)San Antonio is a city in the U.S. state of Texas.San Antonio may also refer to:- Argentina :*San Antonio, Jujuy, Jujuy Province*San Antonio de Areco*San Antonio Oeste*San Antonio de los Cobres*San Antonio, Misiones*Cape San Antonio, Argentina...
, ArgentinaArgentinaArgentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, after a four-hour flight. - 17 January – British AirwaysBritish AirwaysBritish Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
Flight 38British Airways Flight 38British Airways Flight 38 was a scheduled flight from Beijing Capital International Airport which crash landed just short of the runway at its destination, London Heathrow Airport, on 17 January 2008 after an flight. There were no fatalities, but 47 people sustained injuries...
, a Boeing 777-236ERBoeing 777The Boeing 777 is a long-range, wide-body twin-engine jet airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It is the world's largest twinjet and is commonly referred to as the "Triple Seven". The aircraft has seating for over 300 passengers and has a range from , depending on model...
with 152 people on board, lands short of the runway at London Heathrow AirportLondon Heathrow AirportLondon Heathrow Airport or Heathrow , in the London Borough of Hillingdon, is the busiest airport in the United Kingdom and the third busiest airport in the world in terms of total passenger traffic, handling more international passengers than any other airport around the globe...
in the United KingdomUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Forty-seven people – of which nine receive medical treatment – suffer minor injuries, but there are no fatalities. The aircraft becomes the first Boeing 777 to be written offWrite-offThe term write-off describes a reduction in recognized value. In accounting terminology, it refers to recognition of the reduced or zero value of an asset. In income tax statements, it refers to a reduction of taxable income as recognition of certain expenses required to produce the income...
. - 23 January - A Polish Air ForcePolish Air ForceThe Polish Air Force is the military Air Force wing of the Polish Armed Forces. Until July 2004 it was officially known as Wojska Lotnicze i Obrony Powietrznej...
EADS CASA C-295EADS CASA C-295The EADS CASA C-295 is a twin-turboprop tactical military transport aircraft manufactured by Airbus Military in Spain.-Design and development:...
M crashes near Mirosławiec, killing 20 Polish Air Force officers aboard, including Brigadier General Andrzej AndrzejewskiAndrzej AndrzejewskiAndrzej Piotr Andrzejewski was a Brigadier General of the Polish Air Force who died in the military plane crash in Mirosławiec along with other officers, among whom he was the highest ranking....
.
February
- 1 February - Mauricio Delfabro wins the 1st FAIFAI Gliding CommissionThe International Gliding Commission is a leading international governing body for the sport of gliding.It is one of several Air Sport Commissions of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale , or "World Air Sports Federation"...
South AmericaSouth AmericaSouth America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
n Gliding ChampionshipsGliding competitionsSome of the pilots in the sport of gliding take part in gliding competitions. These are usually racing competitions, but there are also aerobatic contests and on-line league tables.-History of competitions:...
and 55th National Gliding Championships of ArgentinaArgentinaArgentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
in Adolfo Gonzales ChavesAdolfo Gonzales Chaves, Buenos AiresAdolfo Gonzales Chaves is a town in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. It is the head town of the Adolfo Gonzales Chaves Partido.-History:* 1886 The opening of the Buenos Aires Great Southern Railway line between Tandil and Tres Arroyos saw the construction of a railway station named "Estación...
in the mixed Open, 18m, 15m and Standard ClassGlider Competition ClassesCompetition classes in gliding, as in other sports, mainly exist to ensure fairness in competition. However the classes have not been targeted at fostering technological development as in other sports...
, Carlos Adrover became South American Club Class Champion. - 3 February - Silver State HelicoptersSilver State HelicoptersSilver State Helicopters was a helicopter flight training, sight seeing tours and charter air operator. The company was founded in 1999 by Jerry Airola, flying Robinson R22 helicopters. Silver State Helicopters expanded rapidly and reported revenues of US$40.7 million dollars in 2005 and US$78.1...
ceases operations and enters bankruptcy. At the time of closing Silver State operated 194 helicopters from its 34 flight schools. - 6 February - First flight of the New Zealand design Falcomposite FurioFalcomposite FurioThe Falcomposite Furio is a two seat kitplane of carbon fibre construction. It is a two-seat, low-wing monoplane with retractable landing gear. The Furio may be powered by a range of four cylinder horizontally opposed piston aircraft engines....
carbon-fibre kit aircraft - 8 February – Eagle AirwaysEagle AirwaysEagle Airways is a regional airline based in Hamilton, New Zealand with ten crew bases from Kerikeri in the Bay of Islands to Blenheim in the Marlborough region. It is wholly owned by Air New Zealand and operates regional services under the Air New Zealand Link brand...
Flight 2279Eagle Airways Flight 2279Eagle Airways Flight 2279 was a commuter flight operated by Air National on behalf of Eagle Airways, a regional carrier division of Air New Zealand...
, a BAe Jetstream 32 is hijacked ten minutes after taking off from BlenheimBlenheim, New ZealandBlenheim is the most populous town in the region of Marlborough, in the north east of the South Island of New Zealand, and the seat of the regional council. It has a population of The area which surrounds the town is well known as a centre of New Zealand's wine industry...
, New ZealandNew ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
by a passenger who attacked both pilots. The hijacker is eventually restrained by the co-pilot and the flight lands safely at ChristchurchChristchurchChristchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
. All nine on board survive the incident. - 14 February – BelaviaBelaviaRepublic Unitary Enterprise "National Aircompany "Belavia" , operating as Belavia Belarusian Airlines is the national airline company of Belarus, headquartered in Minsk. The state-owned company is the Belarusian flag carrier. Belavia serves a network of routes between European cities and the...
Flight 1834Belavia Flight 1834Belavia Flight 1834 was a scheduled international passenger flight from Yerevan, Armenia, to Minsk, Belarus, operated by Belavia. On the morning of February 14, 2008, the Bombardier Canadair Regional Jet carrying 18 passengers and 3 crew crashed and burst into flames shortly after take off from...
, a Bombardier CRJ200Bombardier CRJ200The Bombardier CRJ100 and CRJ200 are a family of regional airliner manufactured by Bombardier, and based on the Canadair Challenger business jet.-Development:...
, hits its left wing on the runway while taking off from YerevanYerevanYerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuously-inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country...
, ArmeniaArmeniaArmenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
. All 21 on board escape the aircraft before it erupts into flames. - 21 February – Santa Bárbara AirlinesSanta Bárbara AirlinesSBA Airlines, formerly known as Santa Bárbara Airlines prior to 2008, is an airline based in Caracas, Venezuela. It operates scheduled domestic and international services...
Flight 518Santa Bárbara Airlines Flight 518Santa Bárbara Airlines Flight 518 was an ATR 42-300 twin-turboprop aircraft, registration YV1449, operating as a scheduled domestic flight from Mérida, Venezuela to Caracas that crashed into the side of a mountain on 21 February 2008, shortly after takeoff. There were 43 passengers on board, with a...
, an ATR 42-300, crashes shortly after taking off from MéridaMérida, MéridaSantiago de los Caballeros de Mérida, Venezuela, is the capital of the municipality of Libertador and the state of Mérida, and is one of the principal cities of the Venezuelan Andes...
, VenezuelaVenezuelaVenezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
killing all 46 on board. - 23 February - A B-2 SpiritB-2 SpiritThe Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit is an American heavy bomber with low observable stealth technology designed to penetrate dense anti-aircraft defenses and deploy both conventional and nuclear weapons. The bomber has a crew of two and can drop up to eighty -class JDAM GPS-guided bombs, or sixteen ...
crashed shortly after takeoff from Andersen Air Force BaseAndersen Air Force BaseAndersen Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately northeast of Yigo in the United States territory of Guam....
in GuamGuamGuam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
. Both pilots ejected from the plane before it crashed. - 28 February - Boston-Maine AirwaysBoston-Maine AirwaysBoston-Maine Airways was an American airline headquartered in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, United States. It operated scheduled commuter services under the Pan Am Clipper Connection banner. Its main base was Pease International Airport, Portsmouth...
, operating as Pan Am Clipper Connection, ceased operations.
March
- 31 March - Aloha AirlinesAloha AirlinesAloha Airlines was an American airline headquartered in Honolulu CDP, City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii, operating from a hub at Honolulu International Airport...
ceased operations because due to declaring bankruptcy and gave all flights to Aloha Air CargoAloha Air CargoAloha Air Cargo is an American cargo airline headquartered in Honolulu CDP, City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii, operating from a hub at Honolulu International Airport. Formerly part of Aloha Airlines, it became an independent cargo operator following the closure of the passenger airline in 2008.-...
.
April
- 3 April – An Antonov An-28Antonov An-28|-See also:-External links:**...
operated by Blue Wing AirlinesBlue Wing AirlinesBlue Wing Airlines n.v. is an airline with its head office on the grounds of Zorg en Hoop Airport in Paramaribo, Suriname. The airline started operations in 2004 and operates charter and scheduled services from Paramaribo to destinations in the Caribbean area. Its main base is Zorg en Hoop Airport...
crashes2008 Suriname plane crashOn Thursday, April 3, 2008, an Antonov An-28 operated by Blue Wing Airlines crashed upon landing at the Lawa Antino Airport of Benzdorp in Suriname. The plane carried 17 passengers and a crew of 2, all of whom died in the crash....
near BenzdorpBenzdorpBenzdorp is a town in the Sipaliwini District of Suriname. On April 3, 2008, an airplane operated by Blue Wing Airlines crashed upon landing at Lawa Antino Airport near Benzdorp....
in SurinameSurinameSuriname , officially the Republic of Suriname , is a country in northern South America. It borders French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west, Brazil to the south, and on the north by the Atlantic Ocean. Suriname was a former colony of the British and of the Dutch, and was previously known as...
. All nineteen on board are killed. - 3 April – ATA AirlinesATA AirlinesATA Airlines, Inc., formerly known as American Trans Air, was an American low-cost scheduled service and charter airline based in Indianapolis, Indiana. ATA operated scheduled passenger flights throughout the US mainland and Hawaii, as well as military and commercial charter flights around the world...
ceased all operations due to unrecovering bankruptcy. - 5 April – Skybus AirlinesSkybus AirlinesSkybus Airlines Inc. was a privately held airline based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. It operated as an ultra-low-cost carrier modeled after the European airline Ryanair, and aimed to be the least expensive airline in the United States...
ceased operations due to poor economy and rising fuel prices. - 8 April – An Antonov An-26Antonov An-26The Antonov An-26 is a twin-engined turboprop military transport aircraft, designed and produced in the USSR from 12 March 1968.-Development:...
operated by 918 Air Transport Regiment crashesHanoi military plane crashA twin-engine light transport aircraft crashed into a field on the outskirts of the capital Hanoi on Tuesday morning 8 April 2008 during a training mission, killing five Vietnamese military pilots.-Details:...
near HanoiHanoiHanoi , is the capital of Vietnam and the country's second largest city. Its population in 2009 was estimated at 2.6 million for urban districts, 6.5 million for the metropolitan jurisdiction. From 1010 until 1802, it was the most important political centre of Vietnam...
in Northern VietnamNorthern VietnamFor the former country, see North VietnamNorthern Vietnam is one of the three regions within Vietnam ....
. All five military pilots on board are killed. - 15 April – A Hewa Bora AirwaysHewa Bora AirwaysHewa Bora Airways was an airline based in Barumbu, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. It was one of Congo's largest airlines and operates regional and domestic services. Its main base was N'djili Airport. "Hewa Bora" is Swahili for "Fresh Air". The company was on the European Commission's...
DC-9McDonnell Douglas DC-9The McDonnell Douglas DC-9 is a twin-engine, single-aisle jet airliner. It was first manufactured in 1965 with its maiden flight later that year. The DC-9 was designed for frequent, short flights. The final DC-9 was delivered in October 1982.The DC-9 was followed in subsequent modified forms by...
commercial airplane crashes2008 Hewa Bora Airways crashOn 15 April 2008, Hewa Bora Airways Flight 122, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-51 plane crashed into a residential and market area of Goma of the Democratic Republic of the Congo - immediately south of Goma International Airport.-Background:...
into a residential area of GomaGomaGoma is a city in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the northern shore of Lake Kivu, next to the Rwandan city of Gisenyi. The lake and the two cities are in the western branch of the Great Rift Valley, and Goma lies only 13 to 18 km due south of the crater of the active...
in the Democratic Republic of the CongoDemocratic Republic of the CongoThe Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
. - 20 April – In an effort to raise money for a spiritual rest stop for truckers in ParanaguaParanaguáParanaguá is a city in the state of Paraná in Brazil. Founded in 1648, it is Paraná's oldest city.It is known for its excellent port facilities, being the sea port for Curitiba, the capital of Paraná....
, BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, and to break the existing 19-hour record for a flight suspended by helium balloons, Brazilian priestPriestA priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
Adelir Antonio de CarliAdelir Antonio de CarliAdelir Antonio de Carli , also known in Brazil as Padre Baloneiro, was a Brazilian Catholic priest, famous for going missing during an attempt at cluster ballooning on April 20, 2008...
lifts off from Paranagua for a flight inland to DouradosDouradosDourados is a Brazilian city, situated in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Southwest of Campo Grande . It has a population of approximately 200,000 inhabitants, and its economy is based mainly in arable agriculture and in cattle ranching...
, over 725 km (450 mi) to the northwest, suspended under 1,000 brightly colored party balloons. Rising to as high as 20,000 feet (6,096 m), he is swept backward out over the Atlantic OceanAtlantic OceanThe Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
and disappears about eight hours after takeoff. Some of his balloons are found floating intact in the sea two days later, and his body will be found floating in the Atlantic 700 km (435 mi) northeast of Paranagua near MaricáMaricá, Rio de JaneiroMaricá is a municipality located in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro.-Geography:Maricá is the first city of the lake region, just northeast of Rio de Janeiro. Maricá is located 25 miles away from Rio de Janeiro.-Transportation:...
, Brazil, on July 4. - 27 April – Eos AirlinesEos AirlinesEos Airlines, Inc. was an American all-business class airline headquartered in Purchase, New York, with its flights from John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York...
files for bankruptcyBankruptcyBankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
and ceases all operations.
May
- 15 May - Aloha Air CargoAloha Air CargoAloha Air Cargo is an American cargo airline headquartered in Honolulu CDP, City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii, operating from a hub at Honolulu International Airport. Formerly part of Aloha Airlines, it became an independent cargo operator following the closure of the passenger airline in 2008.-...
commenced operations as an independent airline after Aloha AirlinesAloha AirlinesAloha Airlines was an American airline headquartered in Honolulu CDP, City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii, operating from a hub at Honolulu International Airport...
ceased operations. - 21 May - Serbian Air ForceSerbian Air ForceThe Serbian Air Force and Air Defence is the air force of Serbia and service branch of the Serbian Armed Forces. Established in 1912, it is one of the oldest air forces in the world.-History:...
J-22 Orao (serial number 25114) attack aircraft from 241.fighter-bomber aviation squadron of 98th Air Base98th Air BaseThe 98th Air Base is a second air base of Serbian Air Force and Air Defense. It is the permanent base for Serbia's attack aviation and anti-tank helicopters.-History:...
crashed near the village of Baranda. The pilot major Tomas Janik ejected from the plane before it crashed. - 30 May - TACA Flight 390TACA Flight 390TACA Flight 390 was a scheduled flight on May 30, 2008, by TACA Airlines from San Salvador, El Salvador, to Miami, Florida, United States, with intermediate stops at Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula in Honduras...
, an Airbus A320-233, crashed in TegucigalpaTegucigalpaTegucigalpa , and commonly referred as Tegus , is the capital of Honduras and seat of government of the Republic, along with its twin sister Comayagüela. Founded on September 29, 1578 by the Spanish, it became the country's capital on October 30, 1880 under President Marco Aurelio Soto...
, HondurasHondurasHonduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
, with 5 casualites (two on the ground) and 65 injuries. - 30 May - British all-business class airline SilverjetSilverjetSilverjet was a British all-business class airline headquartered at London Luton Airport, Luton, Bedfordshire, England, that, prior to the suspension of operations on 30 May 2008, operated services to Newark Liberty International Airport and Dubai International Airport...
ceases operations. It was the last business class airline in service. - 31 May - Champion AirChampion AirChampion Air was an airline based in Bloomington, Minnesota, USA. It operated general charter services to sports teams, vacation wholesalers and government agencies. It also offered limited scheduled service...
ceased operations because of high fuel prices and fuel inefficiecy, the main two reasons the airline was terminated.
June
- 2 June - Aeroméxico TravelAeroméxico TravelServicio Mexicano de Vuelos de Fletamento S. A. de C. V., operating as AeroMéxico Travel, was a charter flight subsidiary of AeroMéxico, and started operations on June 2, 2008 with the inaugural flight AM6771 from Mexico City to Cancún. The airline was in charge of charter flights from Mexican...
, operated by AeromexicoAeroméxicoAirways of Mexico, SA de CV , operating as Aeroméxico, is the flag carrier airline of Mexico based in Colonia Cuauhtémoc, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City. It operates scheduled domestic and international services to North America, South America, Central America and the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia...
, commenced operations. - 10 June - Fire engulfs Sudan Airways Flight 109Sudan Airways Flight 109Sudan Airways Flight 109 was a scheduled flight from Amman, Jordan, to Khartoum International Airport, Sudan, by way of Damascus, Syria. At approximately 17:00 UTC on 10 June 2008 it crashed on landing in Khartoum....
after landing in KhartoumKhartoumKhartoum is the capital and largest city of Sudan and of Khartoum State. It is located at the confluence of the White Nile flowing north from Lake Victoria, and the Blue Nile flowing west from Ethiopia. The location where the two Niles meet is known as "al-Mogran"...
, killing 44.
July
- 13–19 July - 18th FAI World Precision Flying Championship18th FAI World Precision Flying Championship18th FAI World Precision Flying Championship took place between July 13 - July 19, 2008 in Ried im Innkreis in Austria, altogether with the 16th FAI World Rally Flying Championship ....
- 20–26 July - 16th FAI World Rally Flying Championship
August
- 17 August - 2008 Coventry Airport collision, mid-air collision of two light aircraft on final approach to Coventry AirportCoventry AirportCoventry Airport is located south southeast of Coventry city centre, in the village of Baginton, Warwickshire, England, and about outside Coventry boundaries...
. All 5 crew and passengers killed. - 20 August - Spanair Flight 5022Spanair Flight 5022Spanair Flight JK 5022, from Barajas Airport in Madrid to Gran Canaria Airport in Gran Canaria, Spain, crashed just after take off from runway 36L of Barajas Airport at 14:24 CEST on 20 August 2008. The aircraft was a McDonnell Douglas MD-82, registration EC-HFP...
, a McDonnell Douglas MD-82, crashes shortly after takeoff from Madrid Barajas Airport. Of 172 on board, just 18 survive. It is the world's worst aviation accident in 2008 and Spain's worst in 25 years. - 24 August - An aircraft crashes in GuatemalaGuatemalaGuatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
, killing 10, including 4 AmericansUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on a humanitarian missionHumanitarianismIn its most general form, humanitarianism is an ethic of kindness, benevolence and sympathy extended universally and impartially to all human beings. Humanitarianism has been an evolving concept historically but universality is a common element in its evolution...
. - 24 August - Iran Aseman Airlines Flight 6895Iran Aseman Airlines Flight 6895Iran Aseman Airlines Flight 6895, an Itek Air Boeing 737-219 Advanced , was a charter flight operated on behalf of Iran Aseman Airlines which crashed on 24 August 2008 near Manas International Airport in Kyrgyzstan while en route to Imam Khomeini International Airport, Tehran, Iran...
crashes upon takeoffTakeoffTakeoff is the phase of flight in which an aerospace vehicle goes from the ground to flying in the air.For horizontal takeoff aircraft this usually involves starting with a transition from moving along the ground on a runway. For balloons, helicopters and some specialized fixed-wing aircraft , no...
near Manas International AirportManas International AirportManas International Airport is the main international airport in Kyrgyzstan located 25 km north-northwest of the capital Bishkek.The airport is operational 24 hours and its ILS system is ICAO CAT 2...
in BishkekBishkekBishkek , formerly Pishpek and Frunze, is the capital and the largest city of Kyrgyzstan.Bishkek is also the administrative centre of Chuy Province which surrounds the city, even though the city itself is not part of the province but rather a province-level unit of Kyrgyzstan.The name is thought to...
, KyrgyzstanKyrgyzstanKyrgyzstan , officially the Kyrgyz Republic is one of the world's six independent Turkic states . Located in Central Asia, landlocked and mountainous, Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the southwest and China to the east...
, killing 68. - 28 August - Zoom AirlinesZoom AirlinesZoom Airlines Inc. was a Canadian low-fare scheduled transatlantic airline with its headquarters in the Place Bell Canada building in Ottawa, Ontario...
ceases operations due to financial struggles.
September
- 2 September - ExpressJet AirlinesExpressJet AirlinesExpressJet Airlines, Inc. is an American regional airline based in the A-Tech Center in College Park, Georgia. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlantic Southeast Airlines which is in turn a subsidiary of the airline holding company SkyWest, Inc., parent company of the air carrier SkyWest...
ended operations as an independent carrier. - 12 September - British charter airline XL Airways UK, a subsidiary of the XL Leisure GroupXL Leisure GroupThe XL Leisure Group was a major tour operating company in the UK, consisting of charter and scheduled airlines, holiday companies and flight-only tour operators. It also has operations in France, Germany, Ireland, Australia and Cyprus...
, ceases operations with immediate effect, due to a deteriorating financial position. 90,000 Britons holidaying abroad are left stranded. It had been the 3rd largest package holidayPackage holidayA package holiday or package tour consists of transport and accommodation advertised and sold together by a vendor known as a tour operator. Other services may be provided like a rental car, activities or outings during the holiday. Transport can be via charter airline to a foreign country...
group in the UK. XL Airways FranceXL Airways FranceXL Airways France is a French airline with its head offices on the grounds of Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport and in Tremblay-en-France. It operates scheduled flights mainly to long-haul destinations in Africa, the Middle East and the Caribbean as well as charter flights to medium-haul destinations...
and Germany are sold and continue operations. - 14 September - Aeroflot Flight 821Aeroflot Flight 821Aeroflot Flight 821, operated by Aeroflot-Nord in a service agreement with Aeroflot and as its subsidiary, crashed on approach to Perm Airport on 14 September 2008 at 5:10 local time . All 82 passengers and 6 crew members were killed...
, operated by Aeroflot Nord, crashed on approach to Perm Airport, killing all 82 passengers and 6 crew. Following the accident and concerns about safety procedures, Aeroflot chief executive Valery Okulov announced it would be stripping Aeroflot-Nord of the right to use the brand name Aeroflot and would be severing all ties between the companies. - 26 September - Yves RossyYves RossyYves Rossy is a Swiss pilot, inventor and aviation enthusiast. He is the first person to achieve sustained human flight using a jet-powered fixed wing strapped to his back...
, Swiss airline pilot and former fighter pilot, crosses the English ChannelEnglish ChannelThe English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
with his homemade jet-powered wing strapped on his back.
October
- 8 October – Yeti Airlines Flight 103Yeti Airlines Flight 103Yeti Airlines Flight 103, was a De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 300 registered as 9N-AFE. The flight crashed on final approach to Tenzing-Hillary Airport in the town of Lukla in eastern Nepal on 8 October 2008...
crashes on final approachFinal approach (aviation)A final approach is the last leg in an aircraft's approach to landing. In aviation radio terminology, it is often shortened to "final".In a standard airport landing pattern, which is usually used under visual meteorological conditions , aircraft turn from base leg to final within one to two miles...
to Tenzing-Hillary Airport in LuklaLuklaLukla is a town in the Khumbu area of the Solukhumbu District in the Sagarmatha Zone of north-eastern Nepal. Situated at , it is a popular place for visitors to the Himalayas near Mount Everest to arrive...
, NepalNepalNepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
, killing 18 of the 19 people on board.
December
- December 20 – After hearing a bumping or rattling sound near the end of their takeoff roll at Denver International AirportDenver International AirportDenver International Airport , often referred to as DIA, is an airport in Denver, Colorado. By land size, at , it is the largest international airport in the United States, and the third largest international airport in the world after King Fahd International Airport and Montréal-Mirabel...
in DenverDenver, ColoradoThe City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
, ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, the flight crew of Continental Airlines Flight 1404Continental Airlines Flight 1404Continental Airlines Flight 1404 was a Continental Airlines flight from Denver International Airport in Denver, Colorado, United States to George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas...
, a Boeing 737-524Boeing 737 ClassicThe Boeing 737 Classic is the name given to the -300/-400/-500 series of the Boeing 737 following the introduction of the -600/-700/-800/-900 series. They are short- to medium- range, narrow-body jet airliners produced by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The Classic series was introduced as the 'new...
with 115 people on board, aborts their takeoff. The plane veers off the runway and crashes. There are no fatalities, but 38 people on board are injured, two of them critically, and the aircraft is written offWrite-offThe term write-off describes a reduction in recognized value. In accounting terminology, it refers to recognition of the reduced or zero value of an asset. In income tax statements, it refers to a reduction of taxable income as recognition of certain expenses required to produce the income...
.
Deaths
- 6 October - Richard Heyser, 81, AmericanUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
U-2Lockheed U-2The Lockheed U-2, nicknamed "Dragon Lady", is a single-engine, very high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft operated by the United States Air Force and previously flown by the Central Intelligence Agency . It provides day and night, very high-altitude , all-weather intelligence gathering...
pilotAviatorAn aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
during the Cuban missile crisisCuban Missile CrisisThe Cuban Missile Crisis was a confrontation among the Soviet Union, Cuba and the United States in October 1962, during the Cold War...
. - 3 October - Edsel Dunford, 73, AmericanUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
aerospace engineer, cancerCancerCancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
. - 16 September - John FancyJohn FancyJohn Fancy was a British former airman whose tunnelling escapes from various German prisoner of war camps during World War II earned him the nickname The Mole, and inspired the book and film The Great Escape....
, 95, BritishUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
RAFRoyal Air ForceThe Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
airmanAirmanAn airman is a member of the air component of a nation's armed service. In the United States Air Force and the Royal Air Force , it can also refer to a specific enlisted rank...
. - 28 July - Margaret RingenbergMargaret RingenbergMargaret Ray Ringenberg was an American aviator, who had logged more than 40,000 hours of flying time during her career.-Career and accomplishments:...
, 87, an American aviatorAviatorAn aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
, who had logged more than 40,000 hours, natural causes. - 23 July - Dick Johnson (glider pilot)Dick Johnson (glider pilot)Richard H. Johnson was a glider pilot, aeronautical engineer and prolific writer of articles for gliding magazines. He was an 11-time U.S. National Champion glider pilot, 9-time US Soaring Team pilot at the Soaring World Championships, held two World Gliding Records and is a member of the US...
, 85, AmericanUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
glider pilot, aeronautical engineer, plane crash. - 8 June - Gene DamschroderGene DamschroderEugene E. "Gene" Damschroder was an American politician and aviator. He was member of the Ohio House of Representatives from 1973 to 1983. He was a member of the Republican Party.Damschroder flew seaplanes for the U.S...
, 86, AmericanUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politicianPoliticianA politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, WWII pilot, plane crash. - 20 March - Ann BaumgartnerAnn BaumgartnerAnn G. Baumgartner Carl was an American aviator who became the first American woman to fly a United States Army Air Force jet aircraft when she flew the Bell YP-59A jet fighter at Wright Field as a test pilot during World War II...
, 89, first AmericanUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
woman to fly a jet. - 15 March - Vicki Van Meter, 26, AmericanUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
pilot, youngest-pilot distance-flying record setter, suicide. - 11 February - Frank PiaseckiFrank PiaseckiFrank Piasecki was an American engineer and helicopter aviation pioneer. Piasecki pioneered tandem rotor helicopter designs and created the compound helicopter concept of vectored thrust using a ducted propeller.-Biography:...
, creater and pilot of America's second successful helicopter the PV-2P-V Engineering Forum PV-2-External links:* at the National Air and Space Museum* * rare photo of PV-2 in flight...
and creater of the tandem rotorTandem rotorTandem rotor helicopters have two large horizontal rotor assemblies mounted one in front of the other. Currently this configuration is mainly used for large cargo helicopters....
design.
- Diana Barnato WalkerDiana Barnato WalkerDiana Barnato Walker MBE FRAeS was an English aviatrix and horse rider, the first British woman to break the sound barrier.-Biography:...
- Donald BlakesleeDonald BlakesleeDonald James Matthew Blakeslee was an officer in the United States Air Force, whose career began as a pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force and flew Spitfire fighter aircraft, during World War II. He then became a member of the Royal Air Force Eagle squadrons...
- Donald S. Lopez, Sr.
- Tadeusz KotzTadeusz KotzTadeusz Kotz - was a Polish pilot and fighter ace of World War II. He was awarded several decorations, including Poland's Virtuti Militari, four times Cross of Valour and the British Distinguished Flying Cross. After war he published his memoirs....
- Wally PhillipsWally PhillipsWalter Phillips was an American radio personality best known for hosting WGN's morning radio show from Chicago for 21 years from January 1965 until July 1986, and was number one in the morning slot from 1968 until he left for an afternoon radio slot in 1986.Phillips was a pioneer of the radio...
- Joe ShellJoe ShellJoseph Claude Shell, Sr. was an American oil producer and lobbyist who represented District 58 in the California State Assembly from 1953-1963. During 1961-62 he was the Assembly Republican Minority Leader...
- Bert ShepardBert ShepardRobert Earl "Bert" Shepard was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who pitched in one game for the Washington Senators in 1945 after having had his right leg amputated after his fighter plane was shot down in Germany during World War II while he was serving as a pilot in the...
- Frank Blackmore (traffic engineer)Frank Blackmore (traffic engineer)Frank Blackmore, OBE, DFC was a British traffic engineer. Blackmore was also the inventor of the mini-roundabout....
- Jimmy DellJimmy DellWing Commander James Leonard Dell OBE was a British test pilot. He is best remembered for his involvement in the BAC TSR-2 test programme, being one of only three test pilots to fly the aircraft before the project was scrapped in 1965.James Dell was born in Liverpool in 1924 and joined the Royal...
- Bertram JamesBertram JamesSquadron Leader Bertram Arthur "Jimmy" James, MC, RAF was a British survivor of The Great Escape.-Early life:James was born in India, the son of a tea-planter, and was educated at The King's School, Canterbury...
- Norman Smith (record producer)
- Albert William BakerAlbert William BakerAlbert William Baker was a Canadian aviator and aeronautical engineer. He was inducted into Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame in 2000.-References:...
- Andrzej AndrzejewskiAndrzej AndrzejewskiAndrzej Piotr Andrzejewski was a Brigadier General of the Polish Air Force who died in the military plane crash in Mirosławiec along with other officers, among whom he was the highest ranking....
- Harry GoonatilakeHarry GoonatilakeAir Chief Marshal W.D. Harry Goonetileke USP, ndc, psc, SLAF was the fifth Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force from November 1, 1976 to April 30, 1981.-Early life:...
- Frank PiaseckiFrank PiaseckiFrank Piasecki was an American engineer and helicopter aviation pioneer. Piasecki pioneered tandem rotor helicopter designs and created the compound helicopter concept of vectored thrust using a ducted propeller.-Biography:...