I-SMEB

On May 28, 2009, at 5:49 UTC, a Meridiana Boeing MD82, registration number I-SMEB, was not able to pressurize the cabin after take-off from Cagliari Airport, Italy. The automatic standby pressurization system was not operative before the flight and after takeoff the flight crew could not get the automatic primary pressurization system or the manual pressurization system to engage. The flight crew elected to return back to Cagliari Airport. They landed uneventfully with no damage to the airplane or injuries to the passengers. A crew and passenger count was not provided.

The Agenzia Nazionale per la Sicurezza del Volo (ANSV) Italy is investigating this event as a serious incident. The NTSB has appointed a non-traveling US Accredited Representative and both Boeing and the FAA have been notified. For more information on this event, you can go to the ANSV Italy website: http://www.ansv.it/En/Index.asp.