I photographed smoke coming out of the cargo hold today as Massport firefighters, with a backup from the Boston Fire department, first investigated and then doused the morning fire. See my photos below of today’s event and also my photos from when the jet experienced happier times at Logan, first in Boeing colors, and then the inaugural flight from Japan. Also check bostonherald.com for any updates on the cause, etc.
A United Boeing 777 landed safely at Logan after a smoke smell was reported inside the aircraft. According to police scanner transmissions from Massport fire command, firefighters were investigating the source of the smell. They were then concerned enough, that they asked that a stair car be brought to the plane to take the passengers off that way as there was not a gateway available immediately. After buses and the stair car were positioned, it was decided not to evacuate in that manner. Please see my photos below.
So you don’t think you could have fun in a “puddle jumping” Cessna 402 that seats under 10 passengers? Think again. I flew to Nantucket Tuesday evening and flew home to Boston last evening. Nantucket was great, but the flights, to and from, came in a surprising 2nd place in the fun category. My travel partner and I departed Logan at 7:25pm on Tuesday evening, on Cape Air airlines. We took off toward the east and banked south over Winthrop’s Deer Island as we headed toward Ack, the Nantucket airport code letters. Our pilot, like a precision field goal kicker, “split the uprites” of two thunderstorms, one near Plymouth and the other east of Plymouth. A beautiful, near full moon also greeted us after clearing the storms. Please see my photos below.
My obsession with aviation continues. Those of you who appreciate this, like I do, please have a look. Those who think: “well, it looks like just an airplane to me,” please be patient and wait for my next post 
The following photos were snapped Tuesday night.
The Dreamliner arrived a little after 9am Sunday morning, and Massport authorities threw the newest airliner a party. These photos and a small video (link in RED at bottom) show the arrival.
I, like many, was watching one of the morning national news shows when the unthinkable events that would change our nation forever commenced. First one plane and then another hitting the World Trade Center towers. I went in to work my Boston Herald photography shift shortly thereafter. The updated news reports had one, if not both of the ill-fated airliners, as departing from Boston’s Logan airport. I started toward the airport. It would take me one hour to get from the Herald’s South End headquarters to Logan as most workers vacated the city at the same time. Cell service would not work either. I arrived on top of Logan’s Terminal B parking garage to look down at a quiet airport as other media members arrived. We all noticed when an F15 fighter jet roared overhead. It was at about that time that I received word that Peter West, the father of Herald colleague Matthew West, was working in one of the WTC towers when the planes hit. Cell service was still very spotty and every once in a while, through the day, I would check in with Matthew and another co-worker/friend Matt Stone to find out any information about Mr. West. We all thought that due to the confusion of the day and the bad cell service, etc. that that was the reason we had not received the whereabouts of Mr. West. We are a close bunch at the Herald photography department and as the day’s hours passed, we would contact each other to find any information we could about the West family, so as to not bother them. Peter west, a loving father, husband, brother, uncle and friend, died as he was going about his work on the 104th floor. A loving eulogy by his son Matthew would follow at the New Jersey funeral. Here is a link to the eulogy and to the Peter West memorial website. My photos below show F15 flying over Logan and a state police car guarding an American Airlines plane in the hours after the attacks. They also show one of the first jets to arrive at Logan after the four day closure of the airport. That arriving jet, a DHL cargo jet, is framed by an American flag flying above Winthrop. A few days later there was a very emotional prayer service at City Hall plaza that was attended by many area pilots and flight attendants. God bless to Mr. West and to all the victims of that horrific day. Peace on earth!
