The exact same 1time aircraft that was forced to make an emergency landing on 5 August this year was forced to do the same yesterday afternoon on its way to Durban from Cape Town.

Barely two weeks have passed since our exposé on budget domestic carrier 1time’s more recent safety record.

Some readers told us we had nothing to worry about, and that old aircraft continue to fly for ages, and that we were over reacting. Now families are genuinely and rightfully concerned.

Yesterday must have been another terrifying experience for passengers aboard 1time flight T6 647 from Cape Town to Durban. At a cruising altitude of 35 000 feet, the aircraft’s cockpit indicators revealed that the left hand engine had experienced technical problems, and shut down.

Just over two weeks ago, the same aircraft’s left engine experienced a loud “explosion” before shutting down, resulting in an emergency landing.

Refilwe Masemola, a 1time spokesperson confirmed the aircraft was the same one that had to make an emergency landing at Durban’s King Shaka International Airport on 5 August after the left engine failed.

This is the same aircraft, but this time it is a different engine. Everything was checked out. This was an unforeseen problem.

Keep in mind the story about the “loud explosion” on a 1Time flight was also the same route. They claim it was lightning, even though experts say the chance of there being lightning on that day “are extremely remote.”

2oceansvibe received the following statement from 1time late last night:

Safety remains 1time Airline’s top priority

20 August 2012, Johannesburg:

1time Airline today announced that its flight T6 647 departed Cape Town International Airport at 14h30 and arrived at King Shaka International Airport, Durban at 16h14, after experiencing engine difficulties at the top of the decent into Durban.

During cruising altitude of 35 000 feet, cockpit indicators revealed that the left hand engine had experienced technical problems. The Captain notified Air Traffic Control of the situation at 15h50.

As the McDonnel Douglas (MD80) aircraft can safely operate on one of its two engines, the Captain opted not to restart the engine as a safety precaution and landed the aircraft safely and ahead of schedule at 16h14, instead of 16h40.

Before touchdown, he informed passengers that he would perform a normal landing with one engine and that the aircraft would be met by emergency vehicles as a precautionary measure.

“Safety will always be 1time’s first and foremost priority and we will never compromise our passengers, crew or aircraft,” says Blacky Komani, CEO of 1time Airline. “We also wish to reiterate to our customers that Boeing considers the MD80 one of the safest aircraft in the skies today, and with our focus of safety and customer service at the top of our agenda, we assure passengers that incidents such as these are considered to be very serious and we will work effortlessly to establish the cause of the problem.”

The Civil Aviation Authority recently reviewed 1time’s aircraft and its maintenance facility, Jet Worx and has given 1time Airline a clear record.

1time sincerely regrets any inconvenience that was caused for passengers aboard the flight, as well as those that are delayed as a result of the knock on operational effects.

Investigations are currently underway.

The question must be begged, how long can this go on? How many more engine problems is this airline going to experience with its aircraft before something really serious happens?

Take this email, for instance, forwarded to 2oceansvibe during the course of last night by a concerned parent of three:

2oceansvibe spoke to the Civil Aviation Authority’s spokesperson, Ms Phindiwe Gwebu this morning and she said that investigations into the incident will begin today, and that appropriate measures will be taken once the investigations are complete.