Another plane down - Algerian Airlines

[Driller]

Moonhawk said:

Yep - whilst clearly tragic for those involved - it does need to be put into context.

The number of people killed on the roads annually is around 1.24 million - thats around 3400 per day

To kill that number of people in air traffic accidents - you would have to bring down 8 fully laden 747s every single day of the year.

[Devil's advocate]
How many car journeys are made on each of those days compared to the number of flights?

[anonymous-user]

garyhun said:

Thank the lord for the wonder that is the Channel Tunnel.

And if the short sighted Nimbys stop whining about HS2 maybe we would have better land connections built quicker and easier if the southern nimbys had put as much effort in for the channel tunnel it would not be built yet.

[CAPP0]

garyhun said:

Thank the lord for the wonder that is the Channel Tunnel.

Funny you should say that. I fly quite frequently for work (I guess I take 20-30 return flights a year) but if I'm going to, say, Paris or Amsterdam I'll sometimes drive, for convenience or for a change (I live 30 mins from the tunnel).

I'd like to think I'm fairly level-headed. However, I've become increasingly uncomfortable with being in the Chunnel - or any other tunnel! I don't know how many times I've been through the tunnel, car or Eurostar, but having worked in Paris for several months a few years back, and driving to ski resorts 2-3 times a season, it's probably >100. Quite why I'm developing "the fear' now, I have no idea!

Edited by CAPP0 on Thursday 24th July 22:52

[smegmore]

CAPP0 said:

Funny you should say that. I fly quite frequently for work (I guess I take 20-30 return flights a year) but if I'm going to, say, Paris or Amsterdam I'll sometimes drive, for convenience or for a change (I live 30 mins from the tunnel).

I'd like to think I'm fairly level-headed. However, I've become increasingly uncomfortable with being in the Chunnel - or any other tunnel! I don't know how many times I've been through the tunnel, car or Eurostar, but having worked in Paris for several months a few years back, and driving to ski resorts 2-3 times a season, it's probably between >100. Quite why I'm developing "the fear' now, I have no idea!

You're mixing with the French a bit too much.

HTH.

[Stevanos]

Eric Mc said:

Remains to be seen whether it is an accident or due to some other reason. This part of the world also has an ongoing serious conflict.

Looks like they encountered severe weather en route.

[Hub]

Sounds like they flew through a sandstorm. That can't be good for engines - much in the same way as volcanic ash, if not much worse?

[Steffan]

Hub said:

Sounds like they flew through a sandstorm. That can't be good for engines - much in the same way as volcanic ash, if not much worse?

Indeed it does. The absence of any contact from the plane makes me wonder whether a lightening strike was involved. I would have thought a Mayday message would be got off if a sandstorm downed the plane? However I am no expert on aircraft at all. Possibly the lightening strike disabled all the electrics?

The absence of any call for help does surprise me with a modern aircraft and communication as it is. No doubt in due course the Black boxes will give the investigators some idea of what actually happened. Regrettably there do not seem to be any survivors.

[ofcorsa]

I think we're at 7 crashes this year, There was 12 last year. I don't think anyone is saying they don't care. Just statistically its not unusual. I think the media are just more focused on them now.

[Hooli]

Hub said:

Sounds like they flew through a sandstorm. That can't be good for engines - much in the same way as volcanic ash, if not much worse?

With a better landing they could have re-enacted 'Flight of the Phoenix'.