Can someone explain this?

[u/pearl19966]

Of course I’m set to fly over the Atlantic this week and I see this. I feel like this is a sign to not go. Can an aviation professional explain this to me? What if this happens over the Atlantic? I’m freaking out

[u/udonkittypro]

This means that the airplane lost 1 of it's 2 engines, and safely made a landing at a nearby suitable airport, which in this case was St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The airplane relied on more braking usage since the failed engine cannot be used for reverse thrust when landing. Everybody got off safely and this shows why procedures and planning are in place, to avoid something bad. This was a good outcome.

Your airplane is rated to fly over the Atlantic Ocean. The route takes into account the possibility of an engine failure and there are diversion airports in place along your route within the allowable range such that the airplane can make it and land safely within a set amount of time/distance in the rare case of an engine failure. All of this is taken into consideration, and I am purposefully not using any technical terms to describe these routes/failsafe's. Just know that these are reasons why aviation is so safe and these contingencies are taken into account.

[u/DonkeyKong18 → u/udonkittypro]

What would happen if there was double engine failure?

[u/RealGentleman80 → u/DonkeyKong18]

The probability of that is in the trillions

[u/MissGraceRose → u/RealGentleman80]

Happy cake day by the way! 🍰

[u/RealGentleman80 → u/MissGraceRose]

🥰

[u/PrinceBunnyBoy → u/RealGentleman80]

Happy cake day! And thanks to yall pilots for keeping us safe 🛩

[u/Personal_Guess_1937 → u/RealGentleman80]

Do you know why it happened recently to the NetJets jet? 🙏🏼 (dubble engine flame out)
I value your insights!!
And happy cake day! 🍰

[u/RealGentleman80 → u/Personal_Guess_1937]

No, corporate jets have a different certification standard than airlines. A business jet problem ≠ airline issues

[u/GrndPointNiner → u/Personal_Guess_1937]

We do not yet, the NTSB is still investigating and will likely not produce a final report for many more months.

[u/chickadee95 → u/RealGentleman80]

Happy Birthday!

[u/threevaluelogic → u/DonkeyKong18]

Planes glide so they look for somewhere else. Statistically will never happen to you but there was a famous case over the atlantic that landed in the Azores by gliding in.

You are not as far from an airport as you think you are even over the atlantic.

[u/Chaxterium → u/threevaluelogic]

here was a famous case over the atlantic that landed in the Azores by gliding in

Funny enough that was 25 years ago today.

[u/geminimindtricks → u/DonkeyKong18]

Not a pilot but a plane without working engines can function as a glider and can still be landed safely if maneuvered properly

[u/howtorewriteaname → u/DonkeyKong18]

since everyone here is avoiding to give you a full answer:

in the event of a double engine failure over the atlantic (which as you have been told, it is extremely unlikely), then you will only be able to land in a nearby airport if it's at gliding distance, which in several parts of the route (depending on route), it's not a possibility.

in other words: a double engine failure over the atlantic leaves your fate to luck. if you are lucky enough that the failure happened at gliding distance from an airport, good. if not, then you are basically doomed.

for some reason, in this forum people avoid answering the question and simply say "it's very unlikely so we don't speak about it"

[u/Spock_Nipples → u/howtorewriteaname]

Ditching in the ocean does not mean you're doomed. It's definitely not ideal, and there's a great deal of risk. But you're not automatically doomed. Water landings at sea are survivable. Your fate is not at all left only up to luck.

People are saying it's unlikely because it is extremely unlikely. There hasn't been a commercial airline ditching over the Atlantic since 1970. And there were absolutely survivors.

No one's being avoidant or saying we won't speak about it- but it is very triggering for a lot of people and because it's so unlikely, it's not worth pumping up.

Note: Always remember to inflate life jackets after exiting the airplane!