Videos: Plane Makes Emergency Landing

July 1, 2011

[Updated with videos] This morning [July 1] a number of emergency personnel responded to the LF Wade International Airport after an American Airlines flight experienced engine problems and had to return to Bermuda.

As the plane came into land, traffic was blocked on the Kindley Field Road, as what we assume to be a precaution. The plane landed safely a short while ago. Were you on the plane? Please feel free to email us [info@bernews.com] and let us know what happened.

AA American Airlines 1155 Emergency Landing Bermuda July 1 2011 (2)

Update 11:25am: A Police officer can be seen standing outside with the plane, along with what appears to be airport staff. We have not seen the passengers disembark as of yet.

Update 11:35am: Passengers are now disembarking

Update 12:05pm: The airplane -a Boeing 757-200 – left Bermuda heading to JFK Airport in New York at approximately 9am, and turned around one hour after take off due to a fault with the engine. Link to flight tracking info, thanks to a reader [link]

Update 12:30pm: According to passengers, they are being re-booked for a 3pm flight today. We spoke with some who said it was very nerve wracking to hear the pilot announce there were engine problems, and they would be turning around. They then went through the safety drills.

Update 1:17pm: Passengers are now saying they are being told that the earliest the flight might depart is tonight.

Update 2:20pm: Video of plane landing

Update 2:38pm: Minister Michael Weeks happened to be on the plane, and describes his experience below.

Update 2:40pm: Another passenger we spoke with said she is very glad they landed fine, but described the confusion afterwards with re-booking as a “mess.”

Update 3:30pm: The Department of Airport Operations report follows in full below:

The Department of Airport Operations (DAO) today gave details of an incident involving American Airlines flight AA1155 from Bermuda to JFK Airport.

At 9:20 a.m. flight AA1155 departed Bermuda’s LF Wade International Airport. The aircraft is a Boeing 757.

At 10:20 a.m. Air Traffic Control called DAO to advise that AA1155 was returning to BDA with the right engine unresponsive. Access roads to the airport were closed at this time for safety reasons.

DAO declared a level 2 Emergency and 911 was notified. At 10:35 a.m. all emergency responders were in position.

At 10:40 a.m. AA155 landed on runway 12 and taxied under its own power to Gate 2 Apron 1, followed by Emergency vehicles.

At 10:44 a.m. American Airlines Operations personnel went on board the aircraft to evaluate the mechanical issues.

At 10:45 a.m. Bermuda Police reopened the access roads to the airport which had been closed at 10:20 a.m.

Minister of Transport, the Hon. Terry E. Lister, JP, MP said: “I would like to thank the management and staff at the Department of Airport Operations for their quick response, ensuring this incident was handled according to established safety protocols and all ended well with no reports of injuries or further damage to the aircraft.”

Update 5pm: Additional videos of passengers explaining what occurred:

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Comments (72)

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  1. What a relief! says:

    I was here at home in Hamilton Parish seeing emergency vehice after another go by. I thought it was either a drill or something seriously wrong at the airport-I had a feeling it was something like what’s happened. Thank God everything was all right…we tend to take things for granted when we get on a plane. How many of us really even listen to the safety instructions? We’ve heard it all before and then we think ‘what are the odds of something happening?’ This goes to show that things can go wrong.

    After calling various people I know to see if they’d heard anything, I was told to go on Bernews to see if there was anything here and of course there was. Once again, Bernews has all the information just as it happens-it’s amazing! You guys really have to pat yourselves on the back. I sound like a commercial but you really are number one when it comes to breaking news in Bermuda.

    • Pitbull says:

      And I will Second that HORRAY!! for Bernews :)

  2. Warwick says:

    Apparently one engine failed and they had to return to Bermuda.

  3. Ganja mon says:

    It would be American Scareway..smh

  4. Face the Nation says:

    Go check Lemmy round HWP for the spare parts …And if they ain’t got them , check Wier Enterprise

    • Hmmm says:

      HWP never has the part you need…

      • Expectations says:

        HWP? You kidding me? That plane would be on the tarmak for 4 months waiting on parts from HWP.

    • tradition says:

      Most likely Weir would have it all ready by the end of the day also. (lol)

    • dumpster diva says:

      Why waste time going into Hamilton when Macy’s is right next door ? ?

    • nice says:

      shut d eff up serz

  5. Natalia says:

    Which American Flight was it? Does anyone know?

    • Single says:

      NY

      • Danni says:

        Of course it was the NY flight they have been having trouble woth that flight for months now. I came back on that flight a month ago and we had plane trouble and had to go back to the termial in NY and didnt get into bermuda till 1 in the morining due to electrical issues. maybe it is time to do good check on all the planes they are sending here this keep happening. Really scarey when you think about it.

        • tradition says:

          I am so glad that all is well. AA was quickly becoming my favorite airline until now. Guess I better sail across the pond.

        • JJ says:

          WE BERMUDIANS BROKE DE-PLANE WITH ALL OF OUR ACCESS BAGGIES FROM WHEN WE TRAVEL!!!!

          SO GLAD WE CAN MAKE FUN OF THIS AND THAT IT WAS NOT TRAGIC.

          WHAT A BLESSING! GOOD JOB TO THE PILOTS AND THE FLIGHT CREW.

    • S'up? says:

      I heard it was the AA to Miami

  6. GPS says:

    Good to hear all is well.

  7. What a Relief! says:

    A friend of a friend of mine was on the plane. He says the passengers were told to ‘take the impact position’ for the emergency landing. I really can’t imagine being on a plane and hearing that! Like I said, we all just take things for granted when we get on a plane-assuming nothing will go wrong…

  8. Mike says:

    I had a co-worker on that flight. Glad everything came to the conclusion that it did.

  9. OMG says:

    I really hate that they tell everyone to take the impact position. They supposedly want passengers to take that position because if the plane crashes they will most likely snap their necks and its much cheaper to pay for a funeral then a hospital bill. Crazyness. But I am so happy that they are all safe.

  10. Scott says:

    tis true ‘what a relief’… at the same time tho, goes to show you how safe these planes be as well… lose an engine and still flies ok.. also a props to the pilots who deal with these things… frankly if i was on that flight i’d be sh**ing myself…

    • dumpster diva says:

      Good thing both engines didn’t quit …they’d have been up there all day ….

      • Prophet says:

        Too right, Diva! They’d never have gotten down.

        Fortunately, though, these metal hulks, given the right conditions can glide to the ground and make relatively safe landings. Remember Sully? He had no thrust except gravity. If you have your generator and can lower your gear then bring her down, Buddy. Otherwise put her on her belly.

        Any landing you can walk away from is a good landing.

      • KMHBermuda says:

        Ever heard of the Gimli Glider? Ran out of fuel, so lost both engines. No fatalities.
        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gimli_Glider

  11. Interesting says:

    Yes glad all is ok. I do not like to fly and I am sure if I was on that plane that would have been my last.I am one to always watch the video and the airline staff for the emergency instructions. Glad this situation turned out OK. Gosh Prayers to all and great job to the crew. :)

  12. Yes I says:

    Thank you God! Well done for the highly trained pilots who brought the passengers and plane to the ground safely. Also kudos to the flight attendants who make peanuts, but were able to do their job despite all the frantic passengers. I can only imagine looking into one person eyes who fears for their life, but not multiple eyes.

  13. True Bermudian says:

    Glad everyone is alright. Kudos to the pilots and crew and all involved in the safe return.

  14. itwasn'tme says:

    I’m glad things worked out…this time…..not too long back I was in JFK waiting to board AA late flight back home….over heard ticket agents discussing how the Plane designated for us was sent over to another gate for a flight to Jamaica because BDA was a dead end (no turn-around). We had to wait while their mechanics sorted out the other plane……hummmmmmm similar case today maybe that plane was ‘fixed’ up last night? What time did the late flight get in last night anyway….cuz if it was late them probably were fixing it before they come down here

    • Nicole says:

      Flight was early from JFK last last – I was on it. It was full with mostly USA visitors here to enjoy their holiday weekend. There seemed to be no problem at all with it last night. Took us 1.5 hrs to get here.

  15. avm says:

    I was on the flight. As we boarded, I noted the pilots checking out the right engine under the plane. Not a very reassuring sight. The pilot then came up behind us on the stairs to the plane. The lady i was chatting to asked the pilot if everything was ok and he commented that the light was not working but it was okay bc he didnt need the light for a daytime flight. I commented to the lady that I hoped it wasnt symptomatic of a bigger issue. It was. Shouldnt airlines have their own trained mechanics based in all airports so their due diliegence can be done, rather than leave it to chance? Yes we are lucky but could this have been avoided with an aa mechanic at the airport? They are flying one in tonight so both planes can hopefully leave tomorrow.

    • Prophet says:

      As with any successful business, it must constantly do a cost/benefit analysis to determine whether it warrants having certain kinds of resources at various locations. Suggesting that a mechanic be in situ permanently may not make good business sense. That would be like you hiring a mechanic to sit in your garage just in case your car malfunctions or a bus company having a mechanic at the termination point of every route. That can’t be seen as prudent use of company resources especially when there is a mechanic just a few miles up the road. For the amount of air traffic which comes into Bermuda, is it worth the investment by the airlines, becomes the question. Inconvenient? Absolutely. But the trade off is the airlines keeping prices at a (relatively) reasonable level.

      And as for a light being out on a pre-flight (what the pilot was doing when you boarded) you can rest assured that was not the cause of your emergency. He was exercising his due diligence and made the call to continue with the flight. Pilots are pressured to keep to schedules as best they can, but he obviously determined that it was safe to continue with the flight. I suggest that the engine failure had nothing to do with the extinguished light and so the pilot could not have known what the outcome would be, otherwise he would not have left the ground.

      Know that many of today’s larger multi-engine aircraft can, and do, fly with one engine; they are designed to do so, and pilots train to do so, though it is not efficient. The reason they don’t like to do it is that it eliminates flexibility. If the first failed engine cannot be restarted and the second engine shuts down then there is only one option–you glide, which is really not something a pilot wants to have to do in a heavy.

      • avm says:

        Thanks. All good points. Hopefully tomorrow will be non-eventful.

  16. Shell says:

    Gosh, they would have had to take me out in a stretcher!!! So glad everyone is ok and the plane made a safe return. I would still be crying!

  17. Shi-Vaughn says:

    My cousin&Godson were on that flight…i am EXTREMELY grateful that they landed safely, what i dont like is the lady in the video talking about irrelevant things like how she can’t get off island till sunday or whatever. She should be thankful she made it back alive. As far as im concerned there was a chance she wouldn’t have made it back @ all…i would be thanking God, the pilot and crew and commending them….she really made me angry with her remarks!

    • Prophet says:

      You sound surprised by her response…

    • Young Observer says:

      how about you shut up because you dont know that girls experience. she clearly said that she was very thankful for the pilot and was talking about the check in staff at the airport. if you read other peoples comments that were on the plane you will see that they said the exact same thing about the AA staff. also maybe consider that she was stress you have no idea why she is going away, it could be more important than the trip to ‘Disney World’ or wherever your people where going, maybe she is trying to go away for an emergency! the nerve of you to talk about its “irrelevant”.

      • Shi-Vaughn says:

        Ok, but to complain about the faults of the AA Staff is irrelevant! Everyone is alive and well… Are they not? I don’t have time to read others comments, i left what i had to say and that was that. I don’t know what she was going away for, you are absolutely right, but whether it was a funeral, a wedding whatever there was a possibility that she and others wouldn’t even be alive, that’s my point. If you watch the video a couple of times as i did, the gas fueling my fireball of anger only got bigger! Yes, i saw her say she was thankful but her gratitude for them was overlooked/overpowered by her comments about not being able to get on a flight tomorrow because it’s booked. She also said “who wants to wait until sunday, it was just crazy”…. it’s just “crazy” to me that she doesn’t consider the fact that she could be dead.

        • Young Observer says:

          how is it irrelevant the news staff are clearly asking her for her story and part of her story is what happened after they got the plane down. The fact that “theres a possibility that they wouldnt be alive” is not an excuse for the check in staff not to have been providing these people with proper instructions. and im telling you Shi-Vaughn that there is no need for you to have “gas fueling your fireball of anger” just calm down. CLEARLY this girl has something very important to go away for! and she is absolutely right who wants to wait until sunday if she needs to be away right now! she very clearly thanked the pilots and god so im confused as to why your up on these blogs saying such negative things.

        • Young Observer says:

          AND if you look at the newest video that has just been posted you will see that yet another person is complaining about the way they were treated down at the airport. Clearly you werent down at the airport to know what was going on! Multiple people are saying they deserved to have been treated properly. Yes they are all thankful that they landed safely (which brittany said many times) but you know what they still have places to go and need to get there. Someone actually said they were on the flight for medical reasons (its a few posts down i suggest you go read it instead of looking at the video and fueling your ‘fireball of anger’) so clearly she still needs to get away !

    • stop ya noise says:

      and what do you mean “she really made me angry with her remarks” like she said something about you Shi-Vaughn. sounds to me like you have some anger issues that need to be kept under control! there is nothing in her comments complaining about the pain of having to rebook a flight that should be making you angry, get outta here with all that. Like i said you dont know what shes going away for! suppose its something urgent, then she has a right to be frustrated. little girls like you need to calm down with all of this.

    • Nobody's Business says:

      you should not judge why or how people react to today’s flight. You have no idea why they are on the flight. For your information, I know for a fact that those people were on the flight for medical reasons as they told us why they were trying to get on the flight today. Next time think before you look someone up on Facebook and harass them about their interview – or better yet – mind your own business.

    • worry about yourself says:

      Little girl – you should worry about what you say and how you say it yourself. Don’t but into other people’s business. If you listen to the video, she clearly said that she thanked God that they were safe and that the pilots did a good job landing the plane safely. Maybe you need Q-tips to clean out your ears for better listening?!

      • Shi-Vaughn says:

        I can do and say as i please…how i see it is how i call it, my family wasn’t on the flight for a trip to “disney world” as you so elegantly put it, they too were going for medical reasons, but guess what? their life could have been taken today…… MY POINT IS THAT SHE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL SHE IS ALIVE, NOT COMPLAINING ABOUT HOW SHE HAS TO REBOOK.(HER STRESS THROUGHOUT THE VIDEO WAS ON HAVING TO REBOOK) IF SHE WOULD HAVE DIED SHE WOULD’NT EVEN HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT REBOOKING……SHE ALSO RECORDED FOR “BERNEWS” THEREFORE HER VIDEO HAS NOW BEEN PUBLISHED FOR PUBLIC VIEWING, THEREFORE ALLOWING PUBLIC TO GIVE THEIR OPINIONS PUBLICALLY.

        • jus wonderin says:

          you gonna complain about the lady in the last video too? because she wasnt too impressed with the flight staff either? and typing in all caps lock is very silly, please dont do that its very annoying and hard to read.

          • SPEAKING MY MIND says:

            HER POINT WAS THAT SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN WAY MORE APPRECIATIVE THAT SHE MADE IT TO LAND ALIVE. YES, THE LADY DID SAY THAT SHE WAS THANKFUL BUT SHE ALWAYS HAD A NEGATIVE REMARK AFTER THE STATEMENT. ‘ ‘ THAT WAS SHI-VAUGHNS POINT! THINGS COULD HAVE BEEN WAY WORSE. YOUR FRUSTRATED AT THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE TO RESCHEDULE YOUR FLIGHT. DID YOU WANT THE PLANE TO KEEP FLYING TO ITS DESTINATION? BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT YOUR MAKING IT SOUND LIKE. EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON!!

          • Jahde says:

            IF it’s annoying to read then I suggest you don’t read it at all.
            I don’t understand how ace girl is telling Shi-vaughn to mind her own business if this is a PUBLIC site & gives ANYONE the choice to comment what they feel.
            So if she wants to go on like that, then SHE needs to mind her own business and stop reading other people’s comments.

            Is this something that happens on a regular? NO. So therefore no one should be complaining about the staff because I’m sure it was VERY hectic & caused a lot of pressure. These people only work for the company and I’m sure they were doing the best they could. You don’t know how busy the airport was or how the later flights were booked where there may have been NO space.
            Things happen! It’s life so therefore, how the staff think as if the customer was in their position, the customer needs to think as if they were in the staff members’ position.

            Think OUTSIDE of the box. Nothings as easy as it looks.. You know that saying, “Easier said than done”? Let me see you go & re-book (however many people there were). Could you handle it? I don’t think so. SO, put think before you speak. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions!

            I REST MY CASE!

            • Jahde says:

              So think before you speak*

            • ADVICE FOR SHI-VAAUGHN says:

              there are now two videos up here addressing the situation…..funny no one wants to talk about that. clearly there was a problem at the airport and i think all you girls with your “internet muscles” should calm down and stop trying to attack this girl. she very clearly stated that she was thankful, in fact you cant even here the first question that was asked so for all you know the reporter might have asked her “have the staff been helpful on the ground”. you lot need to calm down and cut this behavior out, this is no way for young ladies to be behaving!

              • Shi-Vaughn says:

                “Advice for Shi-Vaughn” please add me on facebook i wanna know who im talking to.
                You would think we’re acting all vulgar by the way you are talking, “this is no way for young ladies to be behaving?”

                Shi Legacy (facebook)
                shivaughnl@hotmail.com
                5332776
                2932776

                • a yout says:

                  lol someone got this girl so riled up that she done posted all her info up on bernews! saying tho that house phone number is itching to receive some pranks girls hahaha! imma probably make one on my way back from snorkel tonight where im sure shi legacy is gonna be cause clearly dats a bad b! guess imma just be prank calling her mama hahah.

                • a yout says:

                  sayin tho, why didnt you just put your pin and ya address up too! my dear she really want to talk to these commenters haha. ace lovaa dem dont let people on bernews getchu all stressed haha

        • right thing says:

          I Agree with you shivaughn!
          #teamm Shi!
          Tired of negativity;Sick

      • SPEAKING MY MIND says:

        ‘Worry about yourself’ is it? For one, Bernews askes everyone to speak their minds and that is what Shi-Vaughn has done. Secondly, you wrote a comment right? So its clear that you too are not worrying about yourself as you have commented on HER opinion. Little girl? Obviously your just as immature as you are answering the little girl. Personally i feel that this whole arguement has all been taken too far. Shi-Vaughn wrote her opinion which Bernews has asked for.

    • Georgia J says:

      I agree — Flights can be rescheduled and things/material things can be replaced – she should be grateful to be on the ground safely. It could have been a lot worst.

  18. Olivia says:

    I was on the flight. Quite a frightening experience. Would not want to go through this again. Thank God we landed safely. AA could have handled the situation better than it did.

  19. jose says:

    AHH yet again the Bermuda Triangle acts up again

  20. Terry says:

    Garbage Prophet. Apples/Oranges….He’s an hour out.

    Never mind…fly by google wannabees………………..

    • Prophet says:

      Well, you might say so, Terry, and you are entitled to your opinion. I respect that. It is quite clear to me that you do not know the industry and your opinion is that mine is “garbage” can only be couched in that fact. I’m fine with that.

      Keep in mind, my friend, that being an hour off the ground in a flight that is 1 hours and 50 minutes does not mean that a flight has past the halfway mark to its destination or to its alternate airport. Once it is understood how that works then one will find that there is logic and reason to the decisions which are made in these instances.

      Be informed. ;-)

      • Terry says:

        I know where your comming from. It would on average take him 20 minutes + to get to altitude etc.

        Wonder if he dumped…..

        Now let me taxi via Tango to 12 and check for Cahows……Have a safe flight…

  21. ADVICE FOR SHI-VAAUGHN says:

    young lady i came on this thread to comment because a picture that you uploaded and tagged people in recently appeared on my facebook. such acts like this really arent becoming at all. you should really get your anger issues under control.

    • ADVICE FOR SHI-VAAUGHN says:

      i found the uploading of that picture to be very immature. you should perhaps monitor what you post on bernews and on facebook because i can tell you that this isnt very becoming. further more i would suggest that since i am not friends with you but rather just friends with someone that you tagged that you change your facebook settings because at the moment i can comment on the photo, meaning that thousands of people you dont know right now are looking at you immaturity. #cutitout

      • Shi-Vaughn says:

        i am well aware of my security settings on facebook thanks, feel free to comment :)

      • SPEAKING MY MIND says:

        Her name is Shi-Vaughn not Shi-Vaaughn

        • ADVICE FOR SHI-VAAUGHN says:

          I apologize for spelling her name wrong, was just a mistake.

          however shi-vaughn that really is not good that you have left your fb open to such! you should be careful when doing things like this because a simple google search can often bring it up and its a known tactic that employers use when hiring someone. Be careful of what you post on the internet it can come back to haunt you! I can tell you if you ever came to me for a job i would think twice about hiring you!

  22. It is what it is says:

    Wow!! so much for freedom of speech…I was sort of thinking the same thing as Shi-vaughn when I saw the video..yes she may have thanked the pilot and crew in one breathe but than she was negative in the next…and while I appreciate the fact that some on the flight may have been travelling for business, medical and the like and not travelling to disneyland for pleasure I would like to think that their safety is paramount. Amd that they would understand that yes there would be a waiting period as I’m sure none of the AA Reps had a plane that they could just pull out of a hat and just magically appear…This was an unexpected unfortunate event. Nothing I’m sure any of us expecetd or predicted to happen but it did…where’s the love people? bashing someone because YOU do not agree with their comment is out of order..everyone has the right to say what they like whether you agree with it or not…”put downs” are not solutions and are not going to bring resolutions….

  23. right thing says:

    i agreee with Shivaughn 100% ..Bermuda’s future is looking pretty brightt!!
    JUST BEE THANKFUL JUST GIVE PRAISE SOMETHING ELSE COULD HAVE HAPPENED ..YOUR ABSOLUTELY LUCKY YOU EVEN MADE IT OFF THE PLANE.

  24. James says:

    I agree with Shivaughn too, I would gladly have to go through the “pain” of rebooking instead of going through the other pain they all just avoided. During this woman’s interview she clearly spent more time complaining about less important issues than the most important issue: THAT SHE WAS STANDING THERE ABLE TO COMPLAIN IN THE FIRST PLACE.

    A plane diverting back to its departure airport is bound to cause some confusion with passengers AND the airline! Its very stressful for everyone involved.

    In most situations we ALL should try and keep the correct perspective.

  25. Terry says:

    Mr. Lister, Government Minister wants to thank Gover(n)ment operational system for……

    “ensuring this incident was handled according to established safety protocals”…

    Bwahaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

    Listen up Captain Over……whats happens on the ground stays on the ground.

    The Pilot of that AA Flight was in control. Bermuda just supplied support, just in case. And if it were a “just in case” this thread would be twenty miles long.

    All about themselves. Oh!!! Look what we/them did………

    The freeking airport/runway is there…get over it………………

    I gotta start doing drugs……………………….

    • James says:

      You are so right, the pilot did all the work and made the right decisions. Everyone else was JUST support.

      BUT, the airport/runway aren’t there just by chance! There are a lot of systems and people in place that work hard EVERYDAY to make air travel safe in and out of Bermuda and over Bermuda. Come out of the tunnel Terry, there is more to life than what’s between Dockyard and St. Georges. You’d be surprised at what some of your fellow Bermudians “support”.