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photos by
Craig Murray
Picture taken on August 21st 1999. Mandarin Airlines
(China Airlines) MD-11 B-150
(Please note: This is written using freedom of expression, and although
there is a case that the writer may believe that this story
may be true, or somewhat true, it is most probable, as reported in
newspapers, that there was a sudden gust of wind and maybe
some inability by the pilots to not land, or pilot error. This is just
one scenario you are entitled to read, but please remember,
this information may not be factual. )
2 PEOPLE DEAD AFTER MD-11 FLIGHT CREW OF CHINA AIRLINES
REPORTS FIRE ON BOARD (FOB) THEIR AIRCRAFT.
by Daniel McAloon
The MD-11 is renowned to having smoke problems in the cockpit. Unfortunately
nothing has stopped them flying, so in this
latest incident, August 22nd at 6:40pm local Hong Kong time, the aircraft
landed during a typhoon at Hong Kong which made the emergency far more
severe.
This shows that even during such severe circumstances
(this incident is an excellent example), it is still very safe to fly.
1 in 2 airline crashes only result in heavy fatalities. The pilots should
be given recognition
due to their display of safety in flight, even though they were caught
during a typhoon. Any pilot that does not land when there is a FOB or extends
flight
for any reason is putting the lives of passengers and crew in their
own hands. China Airlines may not have the best safety record, but since
they have
worked hard on their safety in flight operations in the last 5 years,
it has paid off for them. With about 350 passengers on board (POB), there
was only
2 deaths. Tragic as those deaths are, it is credible that the aircraft
was flown in the safest possible manner taking into account the severe
weather
conditions encountered at Hong Kong. Flight CI642 from Bangkok to Taipai
was scheduled to land at Hong Kong, but the pilots had decided to skip
the
scheduled stop due to the severe weather conditions. The Tropical Cyclone
'Sam' had been disrupting operations at Hong Kong's Chek Lap Kok
Airport with severe winds. Although the pilots decided not to land
at Hong Kong, an inflight emergency had made the decision for them. There
was fire
coming from the aircraft during the final approach at Hong Kong, to
say the least that the aircraft was in trouble.
The crashed MD 11 the following days after the crash, still on the main
runway. It was eventually chopped up into 3 sections so it
could be removed without too much disturbance due investigations.
