An Air Dolomiti Embraer E195 has returned to service following an in-flight incident on May 12, which saw a Frankfurt-bound flight diverted due to suspected pneumatics issues. The nine-year-old aircraft, registered I-ADJS, was briefly grounded, canceling later services.
Incident details
Initial concerns were raised by a passenger who alerted the crew to a burning smell in the cabin shortly before take-off; however, the odor is reported to have dissipated after the engines were turned on, briefly being replaced with the smell of kerosene.
Less than one minute after becoming airborne, the smell returned, gradually becoming stronger as it filled the cabin with fog. The crew decided to turn back roughly three minutes after take-off.
Flight EN8061 halted its climb at FL180 before making a sharp U-turn over central Austria to return to Graz Airport. The jet landed safely on Runway 35C at 9:07, about half an hour after departure. No injuries were reported, though passengers feeling unwell were checked over by medics for inhalation of unknown gasses.
Similar Incidents
Initial investigation points toward either a hydraulic or pneumatic leak, with the smell being accompanied by a high-pitched noise described as like a balloon deflating. At present, no source has been identified, though similar incidents have been caused by uncontrolled loss of air bleed leading to issues with an aircraft's pneumatics systems.
Engine bleed air is used for engine start, air conditioning systems, and pressurization required for water and hydraulics reservoirs, with leaks capable of causing components to overheat, leading to inflight fires if not controlled.
Air Dolomiti is not the first E195 to report suspected pneumatics leaks, with Brazilian carrier Azul Airlines noting three similar incidents in 2021.
The first incident, taking place on February 28, saw the crew onboard a flight from Rio de Janeiro to Belo Horizonte report a failure with its second pack system during descent. After declaring an emergency, the aircraft landed safely with no injuries.
In April, another flight reported smoke and a burning odor onboard as it climbed through FL150. An emergency was declared, with the jet diverting to Rio De Janeiro shortly after. No injuries were reported, with all onboard safely disembarking, though two passengers sought medical attention upon arrival for smoke inhalation.
Brazil’s Aviation investigation bureau (CENIPA) noted that a pack warning had occurred during the flight, with the issue likely caused by a faulty air bleed system.
Less than two months later on June 8, the crew onboard a positioning flight to Rio Branco reported an intermittent burning odor with no apparent source. The aircraft was safely diverted to Porto Velho around 25 minutes later.
CENIPA examined the plane, though was unable to find where the smell had originated as no abnormal indications or warnings had occurred. The aircraft was grounded for 3.5 hours before continuing its journey.
Did the Air Dolomiti crew handle the incident well? Have you been on a flight that has experienced issues with its air bleed systems? Let us know in the comments.
Sources: Aviation Herald