American B772 near Buenos Aires on Dec 25th 2016, ran out of air sick bags, lightning strike

Last Update: December 27, 2016 / 00:12:06 GMT/Zulu time

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Incident Facts

Date of incident
Dec 25, 2016

Classification
Incident

Cause
Lightning strike

Airline
American Airlines

Flight number
AA-997

Departure
Dallas Ft. Worth, United States

Destination
Buenos Aires, Argentina

Aircraft Registration
N780AN

Aircraft Type
Boeing 777-200

ICAO Type Designator
B772

Airport
Ministro Pistarini International Airport, Ezeiza

Airport ICAO Code
SAEZ

An American Airlines Boeing 777-200, registration N780AN performing flight AA-997 (dep Dec 24th) from Dallas Ft. Worth,TX (USA) to Buenos Aires,BA (Argentina), was on final approach to Ezeiza Airport's runway 11 when the aircraft went around due to weather. The crew decided to divert to Montevideo (Uruguay), climbed the aircraft up to FL220, flew around a number of weather cells and landed safely on Montevideo's runway 06 about 37 minutes later.

A passenger reported the captain announced shortly after the aircraft had left cruise level, that there were storms and bad weather in the Buenos Aires and instructed cabin crew to prepare the cabin for landing right away and take their seats. A short time later turbulence kicked in, the worst the passenger had ever experienced (the passenger believes the turbulence could be categorized as severe), many passengers (estimated about half of the passengers) vomitted, the aircraft ran out of airsick bags while the aircraft continued the descent flying zig-zag around weather, entered a hold, then continued the approach and was configured for landing. The ground became briefly visible, the turbulence reduced, the engines worked less hard spooling up and down, but then the aircraft went around and climbed back into bad turbulence. While climbing out there was a large orange flash and a bang. A while later the captain announced they were diverting to Montevideo, the aircraft tracked southeast along the coastline of Argentina first, shortly after the aircraft turned northeast the turbulence subsided and the aircraft commenced a landing without further incident in Montevideo. The aircraft taxied to a remote apron, the captain announced they would carry on to Buenos Aires as soon as the weather improved there. Some time later the captain announced, that the aircraft was unable to continue the flight due to a technical problem, the passengers were asked to disembark, they would be taken to hotels. To avoid accidents with the wet stairs, the captain continued, they would be towed to the gate first, but the storm increased and lightning neared to aerodrome making a tow impossible. About an hour later the lightning subsided, other aircraft able to carry on to Buenos Aires received priority, the passengers finally disembarked about 4.5 hours after scheduled arrival in Ezeiza, passed through immigration and were taken to hotels.

The occurrence aircraft departed Montevideo 22.5 hours after landing and reached Buenos Aires with a delay of 24 hours.

Metars:
SAEZ 251400Z 090V110 8000 -RA OVC100 20/19 Q1003 RETS
SAEZ 251335Z 10009KT 5000 -TSRA SCT039 FEW050CB OVC060 19/18 Q1004
SAEZ 251300Z 17008KT 130V200 -TSRA SCT035 FEW050CB OVC050 19/18 Q1004
SAEZ 251230Z 18013G24KT 2000 -TSRA BKN006 BKN015 FEW050CB 19/18 Q1004
SAEZ 251200Z 18008KT 2000 TSRA BKN005 OVC035 FEW045CB 19/19 Q1004
SAEZ 251118Z 17005KT 110V240 1000 R11/1000 RMID/0900 R29/0800 TSRA BKN003 OVC018 FEW040CB 21/20 Q1003
SAEZ 251100Z 10011KT 1500 TSRA BKN022 FEW050CB OVC070 22/21 Q1001
SAEZ 251020Z 07013KT 3000 TSRA BKN047 FEW050CB OVC080 23/20 Q1002
SAEZ 251000Z 07013KT 0800 TSRA FEW050CB BKN080 OVC200 23/20 Q1002
SAEZ 250900Z 07011KT 8000 NSC 23/20 Q1003 RETSRA
Aircraft Registration Data
Registration mark
N780AN
Country of Registration
United States
Date of Registration
F gchnmiilegnbAm c Subscribe to unlock
Manufacturer
BOEING
Aircraft Model / Type
777-223
Number of Seats
Cln Subscribe to unlock
ICAO Aircraft Type
B772
Year of Manufacture
Cd n Subscribe to unlock
Serial Number
Dbpek Subscribe to unlock
Aircraft Address / Mode S Code (HEX)
EcAgfj Subscribe to unlock
Engine Count
G Subscribe to unlock
Engine Manufacturer
Fpciq hqci Subscribe to unlock
Engine Model
Mf bkfAcb Subscribe to unlock
Engine Type
Njbdemdjn Subscribe to unlock
Pounds of Thrust
kbA Subscribe to unlock
Main Owner
CbmjfA miejhnfbqdmlkbdcg fqnfpqebllieenicjqpelbmddqcAnlkbmjcAlceccbkbgqcgnfbpqmc Subscribe to unlock
Incident Facts

Date of incident
Dec 25, 2016

Classification
Incident

Cause
Lightning strike

Airline
American Airlines

Flight number
AA-997

Departure
Dallas Ft. Worth, United States

Destination
Buenos Aires, Argentina

Aircraft Registration
N780AN

Aircraft Type
Boeing 777-200

ICAO Type Designator
B772

Airport
Ministro Pistarini International Airport, Ezeiza

Airport ICAO Code
SAEZ

This article is published under license from Avherald.com. © of text by Avherald.com.
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