January 5  
A Freedom Air Boeing 737 declared an emergency just after take-off from Melbourne Airport when a tyre blow-out resulted in the severing of a major hydraulic line

The Boeing with 126 passengers on board landed safety after a full turn-out of all the emergency services available

Also making news was a Canadair Challenger jet that burst into flames during take-off at Birmingham International airport with the loss of all 5 POB

January 6  
In the USA a stolen C172 hit the 20th floor of the Bank of America building after departing from Tampa in Florida

A coast guard helicopter was despatched after air traffic controllers sent out an alert after the Cessna took off without a clearance

The helicopter pilot flew within metres of the C172, with a 15-year-old student pilot at the controls, giving hand signals for him to land, but he did not respond

January 4 
A Seair prop-jet Nomad aircraft on a tourist adventure flight with 11 POB made a forced landing at Main Beach Surfers Paradise on QLD's Gold Coast late Friday after a fuel problem

The OZ designed and built aircraft had one of it's two engines fail and the pilot elected to land on the beach for added safety