Myanmar - Air Bagan crash
Dec 25, 2012, 4:13 am
#1
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Myanmar - Air Bagan crash
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-12-2...-burma/4443458
Hope no FTers were involved, with all of the RGN jumbos out there 
May cause some havoc over the next few weeks too, can't imagine they have spare planes sitting around.
Two killed as plane crash lands in Burma
A Burmese airliner carrying 63 passengers has made an emergency landing in the country's north-east, killing two people and injuring 10 others.
A spokesman for Air Bagan said the Fokker 100 jet landed about three kilometres short of Heho airport in Shan state.
It is believed an 11-year-old passenger was killed as the plane touched down.
Another person was killed when the plane struck a motorbike on a road near the airport.
The plane was carrying 63 passengers, 51 of whom were foreigners. Four foreigners and the pilot were among the injured.
The exact circumstances of the incident are not immediately clear, but a government official said a fire was reported in one of the engines as it approached the airport around 9.00am (local time).
"Because of the emergency landing near the airport, the plane broke up in the middle," the official told AFP on condition of anonymity, adding that passengers were evacuated.
A local tour guide waiting at the airport for passengers on the Air Bagan flight to arrive said the fire had "burnt almost the whole plane".
Heho airport is the gateway to the popular tourist destination of Inle Lake.
Air Bagan is one of several domestic carriers seeking to profit from a tourist boom in Burma as it emerges from decades of military rule.
It is owned by Tay Za, a tycoon known for his close links to the former junta.
The airline operates two Fokker 100 jets, which are no longer manufactured.
A Burmese airliner carrying 63 passengers has made an emergency landing in the country's north-east, killing two people and injuring 10 others.
A spokesman for Air Bagan said the Fokker 100 jet landed about three kilometres short of Heho airport in Shan state.
It is believed an 11-year-old passenger was killed as the plane touched down.
Another person was killed when the plane struck a motorbike on a road near the airport.
The plane was carrying 63 passengers, 51 of whom were foreigners. Four foreigners and the pilot were among the injured.
The exact circumstances of the incident are not immediately clear, but a government official said a fire was reported in one of the engines as it approached the airport around 9.00am (local time).
"Because of the emergency landing near the airport, the plane broke up in the middle," the official told AFP on condition of anonymity, adding that passengers were evacuated.
A local tour guide waiting at the airport for passengers on the Air Bagan flight to arrive said the fire had "burnt almost the whole plane".
Heho airport is the gateway to the popular tourist destination of Inle Lake.
Air Bagan is one of several domestic carriers seeking to profit from a tourist boom in Burma as it emerges from decades of military rule.
It is owned by Tay Za, a tycoon known for his close links to the former junta.
The airline operates two Fokker 100 jets, which are no longer manufactured.
May cause some havoc over the next few weeks too, can't imagine they have spare planes sitting around.
Dec 25, 2012, 4:53 am
#2
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Sounds like a miracle more people were not killed in this.
But yes it will cause a lot of disruption. I think a lot of tourists will not be making it to all their planned destinations in country
But yes it will cause a lot of disruption. I think a lot of tourists will not be making it to all their planned destinations in country
Dec 25, 2012, 8:25 am
#4
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Just saw this on BBC. I'd be willing to bet that at least one FTer was on this flight. I very well could have been since I was originally going to be in Burma during these dates on one of the "Round 1" RGN fares and this was an itinerary I was thinking of taking. When Round 3 came up I switched to a better date for me and canceled my original round 1 ticket.
I'm amazed the toll was not higher, looking at the wreckage.
I'm amazed the toll was not higher, looking at the wreckage.
Dec 25, 2012, 11:56 am
#5
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Well...it could have been me...almost
Air Bagan has (had) only 2 F100 and I flew them twice these last days. Last time was last friday on HEH-RGN. The plane was arriving from MDL (so the flight that crashed) and was continuing to RGN. The plane looked in good shape when I flew it.
I feel very lucky...
RIP ..
Air Bagan has (had) only 2 F100 and I flew them twice these last days. Last time was last friday on HEH-RGN. The plane was arriving from MDL (so the flight that crashed) and was continuing to RGN. The plane looked in good shape when I flew it.
I feel very lucky...
RIP ..
Dec 26, 2012, 1:20 pm
#7
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Dec 26, 2012, 1:56 pm
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Dec 26, 2012, 4:07 pm
#9
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I said the other day that local Burmese planes were not worth the risk.
We need Bagan to become and international airport so we can fly there on AirAsia or Silkair.
Otherwise, it's AirAsia from Bangkok to Mandalay and then a 8hr boat journey down the Irrawaddy to Bagan.
I will never fly on any Myanmar airline.
We need Bagan to become and international airport so we can fly there on AirAsia or Silkair.
Otherwise, it's AirAsia from Bangkok to Mandalay and then a 8hr boat journey down the Irrawaddy to Bagan.
I will never fly on any Myanmar airline.
Dec 26, 2012, 4:42 pm
#10
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Accidents happen everywhere. Remember all the trouble QF had with their A380s? Luckily no one died.
But like I said in the other thread, I never felt unsafe on Air Bagan. I would fly on pretty much any of the local airlines. Asian Wings actually looks pretty good.
But like I said in the other thread, I never felt unsafe on Air Bagan. I would fly on pretty much any of the local airlines. Asian Wings actually looks pretty good.
Dec 26, 2012, 6:01 pm
#11
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I flew Air Mandalay this past weekend. On the way to Bagan I felt completely safe and service was quite good. On the way back there was a flat tire in Bagan.. but plane still took off. You bet I was praying the entire flight.
Dec 26, 2012, 6:40 pm
#12
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In 2005 I met some friends in Yangon. They only had 10 days for the trip so we quickly purchased tix to fly up to Mandalay; I don't remember which airline.
As we were still climbing, about midway through the quick flight, a man emerged from the cockpit, removed his shoes and prostrated himself in front of a (venerated?) monk sitting in 1B.
We got a lot of mileage joking around about this sight causing panic, Airplane! like mayhem onboard, in the US.
As for this crash, I'm amazed and thankful the casualties were so minimal.
As we were still climbing, about midway through the quick flight, a man emerged from the cockpit, removed his shoes and prostrated himself in front of a (venerated?) monk sitting in 1B.
We got a lot of mileage joking around about this sight causing panic, Airplane! like mayhem onboard, in the US.
As for this crash, I'm amazed and thankful the casualties were so minimal.
Dec 27, 2012, 9:02 pm
#14
Join Date: May 2011
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To your point, Qantas never tried to land one of its A380s on a suburban road thinking that it was the runway at the airport - which is reportedly what happened in the most recent Air Bagan incident.
Air Bagan has injured and now killed more people in its short history and limited operations than Qantas has in decades of flying millions of people all around the world.
Burmese (and other third world) carriers simply do not have anywhere near the same quality of pilots, maintenance, safety culture as Western airlines. I will be steering well clear.
Dec 28, 2012, 2:10 am
#15
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And it's a great insult to put Silk Air next to Air Asia, I fly Silk Air on some routes to avoid AirAsia even though it costs thrice as much and takes thrice as long (transit).
Just because you managed to secure a cheap fare by purchasing 12 months in advance, it doesn't mean Air Asia is the airline everyone should fly. There are dozens of much better airlines in Asia.