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US-Bangla Airlines Flight 211: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 27°41′38″N 85°21′39″E / 27.69389°N 85.36083°E / 27.69389; 85.36083
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The flight departed from [[Shahjalal International Airport]] in [[Dhaka]], the capital of [[Bangladesh]], at 12:52 [[Bangladesh Standard Time|local time]] (UTC 6:52), carrying 67 passengers and 4 crew members, 71 people in total, to Tribhuvan International Airport in [[Kathmandu]], the capital of [[Nepal]]. The departure and the cruise stages of the flight were uneventful.<ref name="po">{{cite web|title=Kathmandu plane crash updates: KP Sharma Oli assures immediate probe, reaches airport to take stock|url=http://www.firstpost.com/world/kathmandu-plane-crash-live-updates-several-feared-dead-as-us-bangla-aircraft-crashes-near-tribhuvan-international-airport-in-nepal-4386595.html|publisher=''First Post''|accessdate=12 March 2018}}</ref><ref name="op">{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/world/bangladesh-aircraft-crash-live-updates-kathmandu-airport-5095049/|title=Nepal plane crash highlights: Bangladesh aircraft catches fire at Kathmandu airport, over 50 feared dead|date=12 March 2018|website=Indian Express|accessdate=12 March 2018}}</ref>
The flight departed from [[Shahjalal International Airport]] in [[Dhaka]], the capital of [[Bangladesh]], at 12:52 [[Bangladesh Standard Time|local time]] (UTC 6:52), carrying 67 passengers and 4 crew members, 71 people in total, to Tribhuvan International Airport in [[Kathmandu]], the capital of [[Nepal]]. The departure and the cruise stages of the flight were uneventful.<ref name="po">{{cite web|title=Kathmandu plane crash updates: KP Sharma Oli assures immediate probe, reaches airport to take stock|url=http://www.firstpost.com/world/kathmandu-plane-crash-live-updates-several-feared-dead-as-us-bangla-aircraft-crashes-near-tribhuvan-international-airport-in-nepal-4386595.html|publisher=''First Post''|accessdate=12 March 2018}}</ref><ref name="op">{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/world/bangladesh-aircraft-crash-live-updates-kathmandu-airport-5095049/|title=Nepal plane crash highlights: Bangladesh aircraft catches fire at Kathmandu airport, over 50 feared dead|date=12 March 2018|website=Indian Express|accessdate=12 March 2018}}</ref>


There have been confusions and conflicting communications between the pilot and the Tribhuvan International Airport [[tower control]] as evident from an audio clip of the conversations. The tower initially gave clearance to the plane to land on runway 02, but the [[aircrew]] were approaching to runway 20 (according a voice from the tower. When the pilot was planning to land on 02, again the control tower was talking as if he is to land on 20. At one point, the tower asked the pilot about his 'intentions', when the pilot said he wanted land on 02. Then the tower once talked about 20 and then corrected and talked about 02. Several times this kinds of confusive directions were given from control tower and the pilot also seemed to be confused about what is 02 and what is 20 and when the control tower was referring to what. Next, when asked again, the pilot then gave the option to land on runway 20. But again it was heard in the audio that the pilot was talking about runway 02. After clear to land signal was given, control tower was heard to give instructions to turn in harsh voice. So, other than the problem in the air craft, this toss and turn between the runways 02 and 20 seemed to be an important reason for the plane crash.{{efn|Standard runway naming conventions assign two numbers to a runway, one for each possible landing direction. Runway 02 is the same physical runway as runway 20, but from the opposite landing direction. See [[Runway#Naming|Runway § Naming]].}} Tower control then gave clearance to land on runway 20. Tower control then asked the crew for their intent, to which the crew replied "I would like to land on 02".<ref>{{cite web|title=liveatc.net|url=http://archive-server.liveatc.net/vnkt/VNKT-Mar-12-2018-0800Z.mp3|website=[[LiveATC.net]]|accessdate=12 March 2018}}</ref>
There have been confusions and conflicting communications between the pilot and the Tribhuvan International Airport [[tower control]] as evident from an audio clip of the conversations. The tower initially gave clearance to the plane to land on runway 02, but the [[aircrew]] were approaching to runway 20 (according a voice from the tower. When the pilot was planning to land on 02, again the control tower was talking as if he is to land on 20. At one point, the tower asked the pilot about his 'intentions', when the pilot said he wanted land on 02. Then the tower once talked about 20 and then corrected and talked about 02. Several times this kinds of confusive directions were given from control tower and the pilot also seemed to be confused about what is 02 and what is 20 and when the control tower was referring to what. Next, when asked again, the pilot then gave the option to land on runway 20. But again it was heard in the audio that the pilot was talking about runway 02. After clear to land signal was given, control tower was heard to give instructions to turn away in harsh voice. So, other than the problem in the air craft, this toss and turn between the runways 02 and 20 seemed to be an important reason for the plane crash.{{efn|Standard runway naming conventions assign two numbers to a runway, one for each possible landing direction. Runway 02 is the same physical runway as runway 20, but from the opposite landing direction. See [[Runway#Naming|Runway § Naming]].}} <ref>{{cite web|title=liveatc.net|url=http://archive-server.liveatc.net/vnkt/VNKT-Mar-12-2018-0800Z.mp3|website=[[LiveATC.net]]|accessdate=12 March 2018}}</ref>


At 14:18 [[Nepal Standard Time|local time]] (08:30 UTC), the aircraft reportedly passed the threshold of runway 02 and touched down, before veering off the runway. It then crashed through the airport's perimeter fence and onto a soccer field, breaking into several sections and bursting into flames.<ref name="po"/>. According to eyewitnesses, the plane was not aligned properly with the runway.<ref name="op"/> One of the survivors noted that "the plane had begun to behave strangely".<ref name="bbc-2018-03-12" /> Ground workers stated that the aircraft swayed repeatedly.<ref name="po"/> A survivor recalled that while the plane was landing it shook violently and crashed, followed by loud bangs.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lucky to be alive: Nepal plane crash survivor|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/lucky-to-be-alive-nepal-plane-crash-survivor/article23130340.ece|publisher=''The Hindu''|accessdate=12 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url = https://www.nepalitimes.com/uncategorized/us-bangla-airline-crashes-at-tia/|title = US-Bangla plane crashes at TIA|newspaper = [[Nepali Times]]|date = March 12, 2018|accessdate = March 12, 2018}}</ref>
At 14:18 [[Nepal Standard Time|local time]] (08:30 UTC), the aircraft reportedly passed the threshold of runway 02 and touched down, before veering off the runway. It then crashed through the airport's perimeter fence and onto a soccer field, breaking into several sections and bursting into flames.<ref name="po"/>. According to eyewitnesses, the plane was not aligned properly with the runway.<ref name="op"/> One of the survivors noted that "the plane had begun to behave strangely".<ref name="bbc-2018-03-12" /> Ground workers stated that the aircraft swayed repeatedly.<ref name="po"/> A survivor recalled that while the plane was landing it shook violently and crashed, followed by loud bangs.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lucky to be alive: Nepal plane crash survivor|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/lucky-to-be-alive-nepal-plane-crash-survivor/article23130340.ece|publisher=''The Hindu''|accessdate=12 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url = https://www.nepalitimes.com/uncategorized/us-bangla-airline-crashes-at-tia/|title = US-Bangla plane crashes at TIA|newspaper = [[Nepali Times]]|date = March 12, 2018|accessdate = March 12, 2018}}</ref>

Revision as of 14:28, 19 March 2018

US-Bangla Airlines Flight 211
The aircraft involved in the accident, S2-AGU, seen in 2014
Accident
Date12 March 2018 (2018-03-12)
SummaryUnder investigation
SiteTribhuvan International Airport, Nepal
27°41′38″N 85°21′39″E / 27.69389°N 85.36083°E / 27.69389; 85.36083
Aircraft
Aircraft typeBombardier Dash 8-Q400
OperatorUS-Bangla Airlines
RegistrationS2-AGU[1]
Flight originShahjalal International Airport, Dhaka
DestinationTribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu
Passengers67
Crew4
Fatalities51[2][3][4][5]
Injuries20
Survivors20
Map
About OpenStreetMaps
Maps: terms of use
300km
200miles
Crash site
Crash site
Tribhuvan International Airport
Tribhuvan Airport
Shahjalal Airport
Shahjalal Airport

US-Bangla Airlines Flight 211 (BS211/UBG211)[a] was a scheduled international passenger flight by US-Bangla Airlines from Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, Bangladesh to Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal. On 12 March 2018, the aircraft serving the flight, a 78-seater Bombardier Dash 8 Q400, crashed on landing, and burst into flames.[6]

There were 67 passengers and 4 crew members on board; 51 people died, while 20 survived with injuries.[7][8]

Aircraft

The aircraft was a Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 registered S2-AGU.[9] It was first delivered to Scandinavian Airlines in 2001, and was then sold to Augsburg Airways in 2008 before being bought by US-Bangla Airlines in 2014. It had already been involved in an incident in 2015, when it skidded off the runway in Saidpur. There were no injuries. The aircraft sustained minor damage and returned to service eight hours later.[10]

Accident

The flight departed from Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, at 12:52 local time (UTC 6:52), carrying 67 passengers and 4 crew members, 71 people in total, to Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. The departure and the cruise stages of the flight were uneventful.[11][12]

There have been confusions and conflicting communications between the pilot and the Tribhuvan International Airport tower control as evident from an audio clip of the conversations. The tower initially gave clearance to the plane to land on runway 02, but the aircrew were approaching to runway 20 (according a voice from the tower. When the pilot was planning to land on 02, again the control tower was talking as if he is to land on 20. At one point, the tower asked the pilot about his 'intentions', when the pilot said he wanted land on 02. Then the tower once talked about 20 and then corrected and talked about 02. Several times this kinds of confusive directions were given from control tower and the pilot also seemed to be confused about what is 02 and what is 20 and when the control tower was referring to what. Next, when asked again, the pilot then gave the option to land on runway 20. But again it was heard in the audio that the pilot was talking about runway 02. After clear to land signal was given, control tower was heard to give instructions to turn away in harsh voice. So, other than the problem in the air craft, this toss and turn between the runways 02 and 20 seemed to be an important reason for the plane crash.[b] [13]

At 14:18 local time (08:30 UTC), the aircraft reportedly passed the threshold of runway 02 and touched down, before veering off the runway. It then crashed through the airport's perimeter fence and onto a soccer field, breaking into several sections and bursting into flames.[11]. According to eyewitnesses, the plane was not aligned properly with the runway.[12] One of the survivors noted that "the plane had begun to behave strangely".[7] Ground workers stated that the aircraft swayed repeatedly.[11] A survivor recalled that while the plane was landing it shook violently and crashed, followed by loud bangs.[14][15]

Firefighters and emergency services were immediately deployed. It took 15 minutes for firefighters to douse the flames.[16] Thirty-one people were transported to several hospitals in Kathmandu, many of them critically injured. Rescue workers immediately found eight bodies on the crash site. Further search and rescue operation found 32 more bodies. 49 people were killed in the crash; of these, 40 people died on the scene, while nine others were declared dead in hospital.[11][12] This number was initially only nine, until two more succumbed to injuries the day after. The airport was closed for three hours due to the crash.[17]

Passengers and crew

The aircraft was carrying 65 adult passengers, two child passengers, and four crew members, for a total of 71 on board.[7] The captain was Abid Sultan, a former Bangladesh Air Force pilot.[18] The first officer was Prithula Rashid, the first female pilot of the airline.[19][20]

Sultan had 22 years of flying experience, was one of the experienced pilots of the airline, and had accumulated 1700 hours in the aircraft type.[21] According to the airline, he had flown to Kathmandu more than 100 times.[22] He survived the accident but died of injuries a few hours later.[23]

Passengers and crew of Flight 211[24][25]
Nationality Passengers Crew Total
Nepal 33 0 33
Bangladesh 32 4 36
China 1 0 1
Maldives 1 0 1
Total 67 4 71

Investigation

Nepali Prime Minister K.P. Oli visited the crash site to observe and monitor the rescue operation.[12] He later launched an investigation into the crash.[7]

A recording of the conversation between the pilot and air traffic control, minutes before the accident, suggested some misunderstanding over the approach direction for which the aircraft had been cleared to land.[7]

Bangladesh and the aircraft manufacturer are participating in the investigation led by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal which reported that the black boxes had been recovered.[26] Various eyewitness reports have also surfaced.[26]

Notes

  1. ^ BS is the IATA designator and UBG is the ICAO airline designator.
  2. ^ Standard runway naming conventions assign two numbers to a runway, one for each possible landing direction. Runway 02 is the same physical runway as runway 20, but from the opposite landing direction. See Runway § Naming.

References

  1. ^ "US-Bangla airlines aircraft crashes at TIA, casualties feared". The Kathmandu Post. Ekatipur. 12 March 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  2. ^ "Death toll from US-Bangla plane crash hits 51". thehimalayantimes.com. 14 March 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  3. ^ https://www.thedailystar.net/world/us-bangla-plane-crash-death-toll-climbs-51-
  4. ^ https://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/nepal-plane-crash-us-bangla-tribhuvan-loggerheads-1549378%3famp
  5. ^ "Shocking! Nepal Plane Crash Today images: Over 50 feared dead as US-Bangla airlines aircraft crashes at Kathmandu airport". financialexpress.com. 12 March 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  6. ^ "US-Bangla airlines plane crashed at Kathmandu airport, Nepal". Kathmandu Tribune. 12 March 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2018. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  7. ^ a b c d e "Kathmandu airport crash: 49 dead as US-Bangla plane veers off runway". BBC. 12 March 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  8. ^ Suri, Maneeva; Pokharel, Sugam (12 March 2018). "49 dead after plane crash at Nepal's Kathmandu airport". CNN. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  9. ^ "S2-AGU US-Bangla Airlines De Havilland Canada DHC-8-400 history". Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  10. ^ Hradecky, Simon (4 September 2015). "Incident: US-Bangla DH8D at Saidpur on Sep 4th 2015, runway excursion after landing". Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  11. ^ a b c d "Kathmandu plane crash updates: KP Sharma Oli assures immediate probe, reaches airport to take stock". First Post. Retrieved 12 March 2018. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  12. ^ a b c d "Nepal plane crash highlights: Bangladesh aircraft catches fire at Kathmandu airport, over 50 feared dead". Indian Express. 12 March 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  13. ^ "liveatc.net". LiveATC.net. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  14. ^ "Lucky to be alive: Nepal plane crash survivor". The Hindu. Retrieved 12 March 2018. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  15. ^ "US-Bangla plane crashes at TIA". Nepali Times. 12 March 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  16. ^ gettleman, Jeffery. "'Save Me, Save Me': Scores Dead in Plane Crash in Kathmandu". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 March 2018. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  17. ^ "49 dead in US-Bangla plane crash at Kathmandu airport". The Kathmandu Post. Retrieved 12 March 2018. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  18. ^ "After deadly Nepal crash, Bangladeshi airline defends pilots". Reuters. Retrieved 15 March 2018. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  19. ^ "Prithula Rashid, a life cut short". The Daily Star. 13 March 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  20. ^ "A life cut short". The Daily Star. 14 March 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  21. ^ News, United. "Pilot, 3 crewmembers confirmed dead". unb.com.bd. Retrieved 16 March 2018. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  22. ^ Connor, Neil (13 March 2018). "Confusion over path of plane blamed for Nepal crash which killed 49". Retrieved 16 March 2018 – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  23. ^ "Pilot Abid survives US-Bangla plane crash in Nepal, co-pilot Prithula dies". bdnews24.com. 12 March 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  24. ^ Kitching, Chris (12 March 2018). "Plane bursts into flames after crashing near Kathmandu airport 'killing dozens'". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  25. ^ Admin, Admin (13 March 2018). "Maldivian doctor suffers spinal fracture in Nepal plane crash". Mihaaru. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  26. ^ a b Hradecky, Simon. "Accident: US-Bangla DH8D at Kathmandu on Mar 12th 2018". Aviation Herald. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
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