Malware Downs Spanair Flight 5022

The National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) announced in it's findings of the crash of Spanair flight 5022 that a computer virus is the root cause. The MD-82 crashed shortly after take off from Madrid Spain. Initial investigations blamed pilot error when the flaps and slats needed for take off were found in the retracted position. A maintenance computer should have alerted the ground crew to a problem with the flap system but was prevented from sounding an alarm by the computer virus.

The infected computer, located at the airlines office in Palma de Mallorca, is supposed to emit an alarm signal when three similar technical problems are found in the same device. Though three problems were detected – two Aug. 19, the day before the crash, and a third Aug. 20 – the incidents were not registered in the computer due to the Trojan.

Ground crews attempted to recall the aircraft, but the aircraft was not returned to the gate. Officials will not release the name of the Trojan nor the specific effects it had on the aircraft.

The crash occurred on 20 August, 2008 killing 154 people. There are 18 survivors.

MD-80 Kills Again

Madrid, Spain- Spanair Flight JK5022, an MD-82 en route to the Canary Islands with 175 souls on board crashed on take off from Madrid's airport. At last count there were 28 survivors.Initial reports state that the aircraft experienced a fire in its left engine. Having been unable to gain altitude, it crashed in the vicinity of the runway then broke up into at least two parts and was engulfed by the subsequent explosion. The plane had previously attempted and aborted its take off. After maintenance on the ground, further take-off roll was attempted, during which the mishap occurred.


The MD-80 series has done more to curb the population explosion since the invention of the fragmentation grenade. The MD-80 series has been involved in 57 mishaps,including 23 aircraft lost with 1,170 fatalities.

2008 has not been a good year for the MD-80 with numerous crashes, mishaps, in flight emergencies and groundings. If your planning to travel for the up coming holidays I seriously suggest you avoid the MD-80.

Related Posts.

Landing gear problem.

Obama In Flight Emergency-Update

The FAA has released the cockpit recordings of the In Flight Emergency (IFE) of the MD-81 carrying Senator Obama on a flight out of Chicago.



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MD-80 "Death Trap" Takes a Shot at Obama

The US National Transportation Safety Board is investigating why a Midwest Airlines Boeing MD-80 carrying Senator Barack Obama was forced to make an emergency landing today.

The crew of the chartered aircraft earlier today diverted to St. Louis, Missouri, during a flight from Chicago, Illinois, to Charlotte, North Carolina, due to a suspected flight control anomaly.


While diverting around a thunderstorm, the crew reported heavier that normal loads on the elevator. MD-80 crews are currently trained to divert immediately when they encounter problems with the elevator controls.

Elevator failure was the primary cause of the crash of Alaska Airlines Flight 261 in 2000.

Upon landing it was discovered that the aft emergency slide deployed in flight!

Example of slide deployment.

The Obama Campaign switched to a different MD-80.

Related posts about problems with the MD-80.

Delta Grounds Their MD-80's Too

Delta Airlines grounded their MD-80 fleet yesterday. They're taking another look at their wiring . This action was driven bythe same FAA audit which led American to ground and reinspect their MD-80's. A statement by Delta said that the wiring of the auxiliary hydraulic system was the culprit.

The Aux Hyd system runs while the aircraft is at the gate. That way, you can flush the toilet and stuff. It is not a safety of flight issue.

The FAA announced that it will release its findings on its month long audit of the airline industry's maintenance documentation.

DELTA-Doesn't Ever Leave The Airport

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American Grounds MD-80 Fleet

If you have a ticket on American Airlines today you might want to hit the book shop.

You're not going anywhere soon.

American Airlines, the world's largest carrier, canceled 200 flights today to re-inspect wiring in Boeing Co. MD-80s after federal regulators raised questions during a maintenance audit. American had previously complied with the directive but a recent the FAA audit called documentation into question.

The grounding in voluntary and represents about 9% of American's fleet. It is a response to an Air Worthiness Directive issued by the FAA. AMR, the parent company of American has issued the following statement.

"We are reinspecting the MD-80s to make sure the wiring is installed and secured exactly according to the directive."

The inspection deals with spacers and positioning of wire bundles. The exact function of the wiring was not disclosed and does not pose a safety of flight issue.

The FAA issues Airworthiness Directives on a regular basis to alert carriers of potential problems before they effect safety of flight. American's action today represents a pro-active response to the FAA's increased scrutiny following the recent grounding of the Southwest Airlines grounding of its 737 fleet.

American predicts that the inspection will be completed today and the aircraft will be returning to service throughout the day.

Within the industry the MD-80 is referred to as the "Death Trap". Since entering service in 1980 the manufacturer, McDonald/Douglas and then later Boeing, has modified the design to ensure that deficiencies have been reduced or eliminated.

List of MD-80 mishaps.

NSTB reports on fatal mishaps.

Last Words

It is said that pilots are the first one's at the scene of a crash. Some are caught unaware but most fight the problem all the way down. The CVR (Cockpit Voice Recorder) records their final words. These are some of them.

"There he is .. look at him! Goddamn that son-of-a-bitch is coming! Get off!"
Pan Am 1736, Boeing 747, 27 March 1977.

"Pete, sorry."
Air Canada 621,Douglas DC-8, 5 July 1970.

"Hey, what's happening here?"
Eastern Airlines 401, 29 Dec 1972.

"Ma I love you."
Pacific Southwest Airlines 182. 25 Sep 1978.

"Larry, we're going down, Larry.... I know it!"
Air Florida 90, Boeing 737, 13 Jan 1982.

"Amy, I love you."
Atlantic Southeast Airlines 529, 21 Aug 1995.

"Mountains!!!"
Vnokovo Airlines 2601, 29 Aug 1996.

"Ah here we go."
Alaska Airlines 261, MD-80, 31 Jan 2000.

"Too late! No time. No TIME!"
Air France 4950, Concorde, 25 JULY 2000.