16 January – The Government of Serbia unsuccessfully attempts to privatize Jat Airways by offering 51% of its stock for sale. The offer later is cancelled due a lack of interested buyers.
17 January – British AirwaysFlight 38, a Boeing 777-236ER with 152 people on board, lands short of the runway at London Heathrow Airport. Forty-seven people – of which nine receive medical treatment – suffer minor injuries, but there are no fatalities.[4] The aircraft becomes the first Boeing 777 to be written off.
1 February – Mauricio Delfabro wins the 1st FAI South American Gliding Championships and 55th National Gliding Championships of ArgentinainAdolfo Gonzales Chaves in the mixed Open, 18m, 15m, and Standard Class,[8] and Carlos Adrover becomes South American Club Class Champion.[9]
3 February – Silver State Helicopters ceases operations and enters bankruptcy. At the time of closing Silver State operated 194 helicopters from its 34 flight schools.[10]
8 February – Eagle Airways Flight 2279, a BAe Jetstream 32 is hijacked ten minutes after taking off from Blenheim, New Zealand by a passenger who attacked both pilots. The hijacker is eventually restrained by the co-pilot and the flight lands safely at Christchurch. All nine people on board survive the incident.[11]
23 February – A United States Air Force B-2 Spirit bomber crashes shortly after takeoff from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam. Both pilots eject from the plane before it crashes.[14]
27 February – A missile hits a house near Kaloosha in South Waziristan, Pakistan, killing 12 people, many of them Islamic militants, and injuring several others. A Pakistani security official claims an American unmanned aerial vehicle operating over Afghanistan fired the missile.[15]
28 February – Boston-Maine Airways, operating as Pan Am Clipper Connection, ceases operations.
16 March – Missiles reportedly fired by American unmanned aerial vehicles strike the house of a Taliban sympathizer in South Waziristan, killing at least 20 people and injuring seven, and another house nearby, killing an additional eight to ten people.[16]
The EU–US Open Skies Agreement goes into effect. It allows any airline of the European Union (EU) and any airline of the United States to fly between any point in the European Union and any point in the United States. It also allows airlines of the United States to fly between points in the European Union, and airlines of the European Union to fly between the United States and non-EU countries like Switzerland.
31 March – Aloha Airlines ceases operations and declares bankruptcy. It halts all passenger operations and transfers all of its cargo operations to Aloha Air Cargo.
15 April – Hewa Bora Airways Flight 122, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 with 94 people on board, experiences an engine fire during takeoff at Goma International Airport. It overruns the runway and crashes into homes, shops, and market stalls in a residential area of Goma, killing three people on the aircraft and 37 people on the ground. Another 40 people on the aircraft and 71 people on the ground suffer injuries.
In an effort to raise money for a spiritual rest stop for truckersinParanaguá, Brazil, and to break the existing 19-hour record for a flight suspended by helium balloons, Brazilian priest Adelir Antonio de Carli lifts off from Paranaguá for a flight inland to Dourados, over 725 km (450 mi) to the northwest, suspended under 1,000 brightly colored party balloons. Rising to as high as 20,000 feet (6,100 m), he is swept backward out over the Atlantic Ocean and disappears about eight hours after takeoff. Some of his balloons are found floating intact in the sea two days later, and his body will be found floating in the Atlantic 700 km (430 mi) northeast of Paranaguá near Maricá, Brazil, on 4 July.[3][21]
26 April – During an air show at Kindel Air Field outside Eisenach, Germany, a Zlín Z-37 Cmelak leaves the runway on takeoff and veers into a crowd of spectators, killing one person and injuring ten.[22]
5 May – Facing dramatically increased prices for jet fuel, United Airlines becomes the first airline to charge passengers for a second checked bag; in the past, airlines had allowed passengers to check two bags at no additional charge. Other airlines soon join United in charging for a second checked bag.[24][25][26]
9 July – Four Russian jet fighters fly into Georgianairspace to dissuade Georgia from flying reconnaissance flights over South Ossetia. The next day, Russian authorities release an official statement saying that the flight was made to prevent Georgia from launching an operation to free four Georgian soldiers detained by separatist forces in South Ossetia.[32]
11 July
United Airlines becomes the first airline to charge a fee for any checked bag, replacing the policy it placed in effect on 5 May of allowing one free checked bag and charging for a second checked bag. American Airlines begins to charge for all checked bags two days later, and other major airlines (except for Southwest Airlines) quickly follow suit. Checked baggage fees become a major source of revenue for airlines, which had faced severe economic trouble in the face of rapidly rising jet fuel prices. As recently as early May, airlines traditionally had allowed each passenger two free checked bags.[33][34]
Later in the morning, Georgian sources report that three Russian Sukhoi Su-24 attack aircraft have dropped two bombs close to a police station near Kareli, Georgia,[38] and that the nearby city of Gori has suffered a brief Russian air strike, with no casualties.[39] Russian authorities reject these reports,[40] but Russian media report that Russian Su-24 bombers and Sukhoi Su-27 fighters have gained complete control of the airspace above Tskhinvali, Georgia, during the Battle of Tskhinvali.[41][42] In addition, a Russian fighter drops two bombs on Georgia'sVaziani Military Base,[43] killing three Georgian soldiers,[44] and Russian fighters also bomb a Georgian military airfield in Marneuli, killing at least four people and wounding another five.[45]
9 August
In a predawn attack, Russian planes bombed the Georgian military base at Senaki, killing 13 Georgian soldiers, wounding another 13, and destroying most of the base.[46] Later, two Russian fighters bomb Georgian artillery encampments near Gori;[47] the Georgian government reports that 60 civilians have been killed when at least one of the bombs hits an apartment building,[48] but the Russian military claims that three bombs hit an ammunition depot and that the façade of one of the adjacent apartment buildings has suffered damage as a result of exploding ammunition at the depot.[49] Reportedly, Russian aircraft also bomb Poti, Georgia, and have started to bomb Georgia's civilian and economic infrastructure.[50] The Georgian government claims its forces have downed 10 Russian jets and captured three of their pilots,[51] but the Russian General Staff confirms the loss of only two Russian jets, a Sukhoi Su-25 and a Tupolev Tu-22M.[52]
Russia cuts off all air connections between Russia and Georgia.[53]
Abkhazia begins aerial attacks on Georgian forces in the eastern part of the Kodori Valley.[54]
10 August – Georgia reports that Russian aircraft have struck Tbilisi International AirportinTbilisi, Georgia, just a few hours before the scheduled arrival there of French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner.[55] The Russian Ministry of Defence dismisses the report,[56] as does Georgian State Minister for Reintegration Temur Iakobashvili, who says, "a factory that produces combat airplanes" was attacked rather than the airport.[57]
11 August
Russia claims that the Russian Federation Air Force has shot down two Georgian Air Force helicopters – a Mil Mi-8 and a Mil Mi-24 – at the Georgian air base at Senaki, and confirms that Russia has lost another two Su-25 jets.[58]
The Russian General Staff claims that eight U.S. military transport flights have moved 800 Georgian troops and 11 tons of cargo were moved from Iraq to Georgia.[59] The Israeli newspaper Maariv reports that the United States is supplying Georgia with arms, hiring Russian-made cargo planes belonging to UTI Worldwide Inc. to transport arms and ammunition redirected from Iraq to Tbilisi, Georgia.[citation needed]
12 August – The Foreign Minister of Abkhazia, Sergei Shamba, says that the Abkhazian Air Force has joined and Abkhaziam artillery in delivering missile and bomb strikes against Georgian forces in the upper part of the Kodori Gorge.[60]
U.S. President George W. Bush orders U.S. military aircraft and ships to deliver humanitarian and medical supplies to Georgia. Later in the day, the first U.S. supplies arrive when a United States Air Force C-17 Globemaster III lands at Tbilisi International Airport.[62]
President of UkraineViktor Yushchenko signs a decree requiring that Russia seek the permission of Ukraine's armed forces at least 72 hours prior to Russian aircraft crossing the Ukrainian border.[63][64]
17 August – All five crew and passengers are killed aboard two light aircraft that collide in mid-air while on final approach to Coventry Airport in England.
20 August
A cross-border missile strike by an American unmanned aerial vehicle flying over Afghanistan against an Islamic militant hideout in Wana, South Waziristan, kills at least eight people.[65]
28 August – Zoom Airlines ceases operations due to financial struggles.
30 August – An American unmanned aerial vehicle-launched missile strike against a terrorist training camp in South Waziristan, kills two trainees holding Canadian passports.[69] Another strike destroys a house in Tappi in North Waziristan, killing six and injuring eight.[70]
5 September – An American unmanned aerial vehicle missile strike against a group of houses in southern Afghanistan kills between six and 12 people.[73]
8 September
An American unmanned aerial vehicle missile strike in North Waziristan, Pakistan, kills Abu Haris, the al-Qaeda leader in Pakistan, while he is visiting the home of a Haqqani network commander.[74]
An American unmanned aerial vehicle conducts a missile strike against a house rented by the Al-Badr organization on the outskirts of Miranshah, North Waziristan, Pakistan, killing 12 people and injuring 14.[77]
The British charter airlineXL Airways UK, a subsidiary of the XL Leisure Group, ceases operations with immediate effect, due to a deteriorating financial position. 90,000 Britons holidaying abroad are left stranded. It had been the 3rd largest package holiday group in the UK. XL Airways France and Germany are sold and continue operations.
14 September – Aeroflot Flight 821, operated by Aeroflot Nord, crashes on approach to Perm Airport, killing all 82 passengers and six crew members. Following the accident and concerns about safety procedures, Aeroflot chief executive Valery Okulov announces Awefolfot will be stripping Aeroflot-Nord of the right to use the brand name Aeroflot and would be severing all ties between the companies.
A Pakistani security official claims than an American unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has been shot down over Angoor Adda, South Waziristan, but the United States denies having lost any UAVs.[80]
26 September – Leaping from a helicopter at an altitude of 8,200 feet (2,500 meters) over Calais, France, Yves Rossy crosses the English Channel with a single jet-powered wing strapped on his back, wearing only a helmet and a flight suit for protection. Reaching speeds of over 125 miles per hour (201 kilometres per hour), he makes the 22-mile (35 km) flight to England in 13 minutes, completing it with a series of celebratory loops.[81]
An American unmanned aerial vehicle strikes the house of a local Pakistani Taliban leader near Mir Ali, North Waziristan, killing at least six people and injuring up to nine.[82]
The wreckage of the BellancaSuper Decathlon of American aviation adventurer Steve Fossett – who had disappeared during a flight on 3 September 2007 – is discovered; his remains will be found on 29 October. An investigation determines that he had crashed into a granite cliff 7 miles (11 km) from Mammoth Lakes, California, at an altitude of 10,000 feet (3,000 meters).[18]
9 October – A missile strike by an American unmanned aerial vehicle against a house outside Miranshah, North Waziristan, kills at least six people.[86]
11 October - An American unmanned aerial vehicle conducts a missile strike against a compound in North Waziristan, killing five people and injuring two.[87]
16 October - A missile strike by an American unmanned aerial vehicle against Taparghai, South Waziristan, kills senior al-Qaeda operative Khalid Habib and three other people.[88][89]
22 October – A suspected American unmanned aerial vehicle-launched missile strikes a village near Miranshah, Pakistan, apparently targeting Jalaluddin Haqqani misses him but kills four people.[90]
23 October – A missile fired by an American unmanned aerial vehicle kills seven students at a religious school in Dande Darpakhel, North Waziristan.[91]
26 October – A missile fired by an American unmanned aerial vehicle destroys a house in Mandatta, South Waziristan, owned by senior Taliban leader Mohammed Omar, killing 20 people.[91]
A missile strike by one or more American unmanned aerial vehicles destroys a house in Wana, South Waziristan, killing seven people including six Islamic militants.[92]
Four missiles fired by American unmanned aerial vehicles kill 20 people in North Waziristan, Pakistan, including al-Qaeda operative Mohammad Hasan Khalil al-Hakim, killed in a strike on his car.[93]
7 November – Four missiles fired by one or more American unmanned aerial vehicles strike an al-Qaeda training camp in Kumsham, North Waziristan, killing up to 14 people.[95]
14 November – An American unmanned aerial vehicle missile strike near Miranshah, North Waziristan, kills 12 people.[96]
22 November – A missile strike by an American unmanned aerial vehicle on a house in Ali Khel outside Miranshah, North Waziristan, kills al-Qaeda operatives Rashid Rauf and Abu Zubair al-Masri and three other people.[98]
29 November – An American unmanned aerial vehicle-launched missile strike on a village near Miranshah, North Waziristan, Pakistan, kills three people.[99]
15 December – A missile strike by an American unmanned aerial vehicle against a house in Tapi Tool, North Waziristan, kills two people.[101]
20 December – After hearing a bumping or rattling sound near the end of their takeoff roll at Denver International AirportinDenver, Colorado, the flight crew of Continental Airlines Flight 1404, a Boeing 737-524 with 115 people on board, aborts their takeoff. The plane veers off the runway and crashes. There are no fatalities, but 38 people on board are injured, two of them critically, and the aircraft is written off.
22 December – A missile strike by an American unmanned aerial vehicle in South Waziristan kills at least eight people.[102]
^Новая ГазетаArchived 16 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine Новая Газета 08.08.2008 08:50 "... колонну разбомбили. Пока я не могу сказать о погибших и раненых, но это были грузинские Су-25"
