FLIGHT OPERATIONS SAFETY BULLETIN

July 14,2000

On July 12, 2000 an Airbus A310‑304 departed Khania, Crete enroute to Hanover, Germany. After departure the crew was unable to retract the landing gear. The decision was made to continue the flight with the gear down and divert to Vienna, Austria. On approach to the Schwecht Airport in Vienna, both engines quit. The airplane landed in the grass on the left side of Runway 34. The left main gear and the left wing separated from the airplane. There were no fatalities to the eight crew or 142 passengers on board. Initial reports indicate that the engines quit due to fuel exhaustion.  

Flight operations that are conducted at a different altitude or in a different drag configuration than the flight plan can drastically affect the performance of the aircraft. When you conduct nonstandard operations please consider all of the consequences of the flight that you intend to conduct.

Capt. Craig Tompkins
V P Safety
Phone: 314-895-8700 ex 2066
Pager: 877-499-1183