U.S. Plane Makes Emergency Landing in Iran

[DoYouEverWonder]

June 19, 2005

TEHRAN, Iran -- A Northwest Airlines DC-10 made an emergency landing in Tehran on Sunday after reporting a technical problem in its cargo section, airport officials said.

The plane was en route from Bombay, India, to Amsterdam, Netherlands, with 255 passengers and crew, according to a spokesman for the Iranian civil aviation authority. No injuries were reported.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-iran-us-plane,0,1270958.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines

[wookie294]

1. Remember Korean Air Flight 007 ?

Back in the 1980s, a Korean Air flight carrying civilians just "happened" to fly over Soviet air space and was shot down by the Soviet military. Many people suspected the flight was conducting spy operations over the Soviet Union.

[Richard Steele]

2. Many others suspected no spying, but that...

...that KA 007 was deliberately sent off-course, so the Soviets would be forced to shoot it down, deliberately creating an "international incident".

[mdelaguna2000]

3. So was this plane on its regular course?

My first thoughts were the same as yours. Can probably find out, but I'm not sure how.

[Richard Steele]

4. Well that's just a good question.

A straight line flight from Bombay to Amsterdam would take you directly across Iran.

But I know our Airlines are not allowed to serve Iran (OUR rules)

It might be nothing...I'm waiting for more info.

[DemoTex]

9. We have negotiated overflight rights over Iran.

Just like our negotiated overflight rights over Cuba. A flight from Atlanta to Grand Cayman Island, for example, will take you right over central Cuba.

[Richard Steele]

19. THX for the info, DemoTex. n/m

[Supersedeas]

6. BINGO - cooler minds in Iran prevail--THIS TIME

[benburch]

5. Sounds like a good way to insert agents.

Especially if the plane landed at night. Did it?

[formercia]

7. Even during the Cold War

civilian airliners were allowed overflights on regular commercial routes. I must admit, though, looking out the window of a British Airways flight to the Middle East and seeing 2 fully armed Bulgarian Mig 23's right on the wingtip was a bit spooky. It all depends on the carrier and the nation allowing the overflight.

[AZGamer]

8. Tehran is a lot like Havana

I know for a fact Tehran is served by several major European carriers, including Lufthansa; just like Havana is served by British Airways and various Canadian tour operators. These countries may not like us, and we may not like them, but the governments aren't going to do anything that will anger the entire world at them - I mean I imagine not everyone on that plane is an American, and the mentality in Iran isn't the same as 1978 (capture the infidels).

This isn't like landing in a "terrorist controlled" area - chances are, everything will be done by the Iranian government to make things as routine as possible under the circumstances. There's no reason for them to do anything like take hostages - I mean this administration has already shown it will go to war for ridiculous reasons; the taking of Americans and others as hostages would be a ridiculously strong provocation.

[amazona]

11. my understanding is the plane is already safely on its way to AMS

This is a commercial flight, not a spy plane or anything to interest the conspiracy seeker.

On edit -- I did read a few snarks about how Tehran airport, with its experience in "vintage" aircraft, was able to quickly assist in the repair of this aircraft. Northwest is rather well-known for its aging fleet. It's like the dude with the bumper sticker, "Don't laugh, it's paid for." So they do have some older craft that have occasional minor issues.

[amazona]

14. update: plane now safely landed in AMS (Amsterdam)

It sounds like all concerned handled the crisis very well, and crew and passengers have now arrived safely at Schipol, according to the reports I'm hearing.

[formercia]

12. unless someone told you where you were

or you read a sign, it would look like any other large airport. The World does not revolve around the USA, regardless of what Fearless Leader might hallucinate.

[Art_from_Ark]

13. Japanese flights did not fly over the USSR during the Cold War

European-bound flights from Japan had to fly over the Arctic, which usually meant a stop in Anchorage. The Anchorage airport did a brisk business with Japanese tourists in those days.

[Prodemsouth]

10. BTW, Recently was a French Airliner or Service Jet

refused to land here until the Sate Department got involved? Anybody recall this story? I think it was posted here at DU not more than a weeka ago.

[Jackpine Radical]

15. Didn't we "accidentally" shoot down an Iranian airliner

over the Gulf during GW 1?

Glad they treat us better than we do them.

Crazy paranoid thought as I was typing the above---
Could we have set something up in hopes Iran would do something dumb (e.g. take hostages) that we could use as a pretext for war?

[amazona]

16. no freaking way!!!

This conspiracy theory was posted on bartcop also and it is just wrong. No way Northwest Airlines would play ball on something like this. They are fighting to keep the bills paid and the Red Tail out of bankruptcy court. Blown-up airplanes do not make for good public relations.

It was a simple accident, which through quick thinking of the crew and the helpfulness of the folks in Tehran, was solved without harm to anyone and really only a minimal delay.

[Jackpine Radical]

17. Thanks. It was just a random thought anyway

I I can well do with one less layer of tinfoil on my hat.

[Renew Deal]

18. I wonder how man spies are on board/

:think: