TUI plane's serious incident endangers 187 passengers and crew

On October 17, 2023, a TUI Boeing 737-8K5 aircraft carrying 187 passengers took off from Manchester Airport, England, en route to Kos Airport in Greece. Shortly after departure, cabin altitude warnings indicated that the aircraft was experiencing a serious incident due to a failure to pressurize. Reports revealed that both engine bleed air systems had been inadvertently turned off during routine maintenance. The crew attempted to rectify the issue but encountered a fault in the aircraft’s right air conditioning pack, leading the pilot to decide to return to Manchester Airport. As the aircraft was too heavy for immediate landing, the pilots entered a holding pattern to burn off fuel. During this time, the report indicated that the cabin altitude drills necessary for ensuring passenger safety were not effectively completed. The altitude exposure risked significant hypoxia, which has harmful effects on cognitive function and decision-making abilities. Although the planned landing ultimately occurred without incident at 8:10 am, the exposure raised concerns about the potential physiological impact on both crew and passengers. Moreover, the report noted possible factors contributing to the incident, including the crew's fatigue, as the commander had operated on only three hours of sleep prior to the flight. Even though the commander did not perceive fatigue as a factor, the analysis suggested it could still have played a significant role. The findings emphasized the risk associated with fatigue, indicating it may go unnoticed by individuals, especially during critical operations such as flying. Just three days later, the same aircraft registered G-TAWD faced a separate issue when it left the runway during stormy weather conditions caused by Storm Babet, leading to a subsequent investigation that identified a catastrophic failure. This event underscores not only the critical importance of maintenance and systems checks before flight but also illuminates the broader implications regarding crew fatigue and its potential impact on aviation safety. The thorough investigation prompted by these incidents aims to prevent any repetition of such dangerous situations, protecting both crew and passengers in the future. Lessons from these occurrences might lead to a reevaluation of operational protocols, particularly concerning crew rest periods and maintenance procedures to ensure safety in the aviation industry.