http://cabeijo.com Interesting stories posted and voted by our users. Sun, 31 Jul 2011 05:45:00 -0600 en http://cabeijo.com/39245711_what-is-the-safest-airline-in-the-us-2011.html


#1. AirTran

Incidents per Flight: 0.0000196

5 documented incidents out of approximately 255,500 flights

While all of the airlines on this list are safe, AirTran is the safest with the lowest number of documented incidents per flight in 2010. But even the victor isn't perfect. On Aug. 12, an engine cowling (the covering that is placed around the engine) separated mid-flight on Flight 807 from Indianapolis, Ind. to Baltimore, Md. The flight crew decided to divert to Dayton, Ohio, where they landed safely and without injury. As an interesting postscript, several metal fragments bearing the AirTran colors and "matching the paint scheme of Airtran engines" were discovered in fields near Knightstown, Ind. between Oct. 13 and Oct. 15. It is yet to be determined if the parts actually belonged to the airplane in question.

#2. Southwest Airlines

Incidents per Flight: 0.0000203

23 documented incidents out of approximately 1,131,500 flights

Two of Southwest's more troubling incidents in 2010 were related to cabin pressure. More specifically, the loss of it. Flight WN-778 was on its way to Austin, Texas from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. when it had to make an emergency descent due to loss of cabin pressure. The plane had to be diverted to Fort Myers, Fla. where three passengers were transported to local hospitals. Seven other passengers received medical attention at the airport. Flight WN-1777 also had to make an emergency descent near Birmingham, Vt. because of cabin pressure. While the experience must have been more than a little distressful for passengers (with oxygen masks dropping and everything), the plane landed safely with no reported injuries.

#3. US Airways

Incidents per Flight: 0.0000212

24 documented incidents out of approximately 1,131,865 flights

On Jan. 19, a US Airways Express regional flight overran the runway due to an incorrect flap setting. What's curious about this incident is that the National Transportation Safety Board found the probable cause to be the" flight crewmembers' unprofessional behavior, including their nonadherence to sterile cockpit procedures by engaging in nonpertinent conversation, which distracted them from their primary flight-related duties and led to their failure to correctly set and verify the flaps."

Sometimes planes can find trouble before they even takeoff. On June 5, US Airways Flight 704 ran into Flight 413 while taxiing to a runway at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) in North Carolina. The taxiing airplane sustained only minimal damage, while Flight 413 received significant damage. There were no injuries on either airplane.

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