Plane crash at Narita Airport

There have been a couple of terrible plane crashes in the last 24 hours, including this one at Narita Airport in Japan.

Amazing footage here.

I would like to reiterate what I wrote in a previous blog about aircraft crashing. The broadcaster on the above link says it, as did the one I head on Sky News. Just about every broadcaster refers to aircraft "crash landing" - whether it be a mere nosewheel malfunction, or a firey blaze like this one at Narita.

Let me repeat - and I wish the media would get their collective heads around this very simple premise: Aircraft either crash OR they land. Joining the two terms just creates an oxymoron - and the English language contains enough of those already.

The phrase "crash landed" should be obliterated, once and for all

Time for a rant.

By now you will have heard about the A320 that ditched into the Hudson River in New York this morning (Australian time).

As someone with an abiding interest in planes and airports, I tip my lid to the pilot who did a brilliant job of safely landing his aircraft on the water.

Read the italicised words in that last paragraph again.

It drives me absolutely bonkers when I read and hear people saying that a plane "crash landed".

Aircraft do NOT "crash land". They either crash OR they land. Occasionally they crash AFTER landing. This one safely ditched (landed) on the water. It did not CRASH! I am not being pedantic, I am being accurate. The argument that it must have "crashed" because it needs to be reparied or replaced before it can be used again is just ridiculous.

Once again the media live by the addage of never letting the truth spoil a sensational headline.