Fate/Future of Airbus A300B4-203(F) - cn 093 OO-DLL (now N1452)
Hey there, aviation talkers!
On 22 November 2003, shortly after takeoff from Baghdad, Iraq, an Airbus A300B4-200F cargo plane owned by European Air Transport (doing business as DHL Express) was struck on the left hand wing tip by a surface-to-air missile. Severe wing damage resulted in a fire and complete loss of hydraulics flight control systems. Because outboard left wing fuel tank 1A was full at takeoff, there was no fuel-air vapour explosion. Liquid jet fuel dropped away as 1A disintegrated. Inboard fuel tank 1 was pierced and leaking fuel. The crew also feared that the left wing section which was hit by the missile would snap off like a twig if there was too much stress. Fortunately, it's brave flight crew courageously managed to successfully make an emergency landing back at Baghdad's main airport. The plane sustained substantial damage from the left wing missile impact, the touchdown and fast landing roll-out eventually veering off to the left side of the paved runway before coming to a halt on sandy dirt ground.
Does anyone know the possible fate or future of the damaged missile-attacked Airbus A300 that had it's incident about 11 years ago? Is it still withdrawn from use and still stored at Baghdad, Iraq? What will be it's future outcome? Is it waiting to be dismantled on-site, parted out and eventually broken-up and scrapped? Or will this bird be repaired and return to the skies soon?