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Bangladeshi plane crashes in Nepal, killing at least 50

 

KATHMANDU (Reuters) – A Bangladeshi airliner crashed on Monday after making an unexpected turn in cloudy weather as it came in to land at the airport in Nepal’s capital, killing at least 50 people, officials said.

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There were 71 people on board the US-Bangla Airlines plane arriving from Dhaka when it clipped the fence at Kathmandu and burst into flames, said Raj Kumar Chettri, the general manager of the hill-ringed airport.

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Those aboard included 33 Nepali passengers, with 32 from Bangladesh, one from China and one from the Maldives.

“All of a sudden the plane shook violently and there was a loud bang,” one of the survivors, Basanta Bohora, told the Kathmandu Post daily. “I was seated near a window and was able to break out of the window.”

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The accident was the latest to hit mountainous Nepal, which has a poor record of air safety. Small aircraft ply an extensive domestic network and often run into trouble at remote airstrips.

“We have recovered 50 dead bodies so far,” said army spokesman Gokul Bhandari. Although several people had been rescued from the burning wreckage of the Bombardier Q400 series aircraft, nine people were still unaccounted for, he added.

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Chettri said that moments after the plane received permission to land, the pilot said he wanted to go in a northern direction. Asked by the control tower if there was a problem, he replied in the negative.

The plane was then seen making two rounds in a northeast direction, Chettri said. Traffic controllers again asked the pilot if things were OK, and he replied, “Yes”.

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The tower then told the pilot his alignment was not correct, but there was no reply, Chettri added.

“The plane should have come from the right direction,” Chettri said, adding that it hit the airport fence, touched the ground and then caught fire.

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It was not immediately clear if the pilot had issued a “Mayday” call, or distress signal.

Many of the bodies that lay on the tarmac, covered with cloth, were charred, witnesses said. Thick plumes of smoke could be seen from the aircraft at the Tribhuvan International Airport.

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The aircraft that went down on Monday was 17 years old, data from tracking website Flightradar24.com showed. It descended to an airport altitude of 4,400 feet (1,341 m) and then climbed to 6,600 feet (2,012 m) before crashing about two minutes later, the website said.

Bombardier said on Twitter it was saddened by the accident.

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“Our thoughts are with those injured, and their families,” it said. “More information to follow.”

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There have been a series of accidents at Kathmandu in the past.

In March 2014, a flock of birds shattered the windshield of a Malaysia Airlines MASM.KL jet as it landed in Kathmandu. The same month, a rear wheel of an Airbus A320 operated by an Indian budget airline caught fire after landing.

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In 1992, all 167 people aboard were killed when a Thai Airways flight from Bangkok crashed while trying to land in Kathmandu.

 

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He is an aviation journalist and the founder of Jetline Marvel. Dawal gained a comprehensive understanding of the commercial aviation industry.  He has worked in a range of roles for more than 9 years in the aviation and aerospace industry. He has written more than 1700 articles in the aerospace industry. When he was 19 years old, he received a national award for his general innovations and holds the patent. He completed two postgraduate degrees simultaneously, one in Aerospace and the other in Management. Additionally, he authored nearly six textbooks on aviation and aerospace tailored for students in various educational institutions. jetlinem4(at)gmail.com

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Airlines

India’s newest airline FLY91 starts commercial operations with maiden flight

India’s newest airline FLY91 starts commercial operations with maiden flight

FLY91, the latest addition to India’s vibrant aviation landscape, marked a significant milestone on Monday as it commenced its commercial services.

The inaugural flight of the airline embarked from Goa’s Manohar International Airport at 07:55 am, embarking on its maiden journey to Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. In a remarkable debut, FLY91 also successfully operated its first route to Sindhudurg from Bengaluru on the same day.

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Expressing pride and enthusiasm, Manoj Chacko, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of FLY91, stated, “We at FLY91 are incredibly proud to launch our inaugural commercial flight. This is not just about reaching a destination; it’s about taking flight with the dreams and aspirations of a nation.”

To mark the occasion and extend a warm welcome to passengers, FLY91 introduced a special inaugural fare of Rs 1,991 (inclusive of all charges). This exclusive offer will be applicable to all flights across FLY91‘s operational sectors, highlighting the airline’s commitment to providing affordable travel options.

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FLY91’s initial operations will focus on key routes connecting Goa, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Sindhudurg, with plans to expand its network to include Agatti, Jalgaon, and Pune by April. The airline will operate flights between Goa and Bengaluru on Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays, along with a similar frequency of flights between Bengaluru and Sindhudurg. Additionally, FLY91 will facilitate connectivity between Goa and Hyderabad, as well as between Sindhudurg and Hyderabad, with flights scheduled twice a week.

With an eye toward expansion and enhancing connectivity, FLY91 has commenced operations with two ATR 72-600 aircraft, with plans to add four more aircraft in the coming months. This strategic fleet expansion will enable the airline to establish a robust pan-India presence, focused on five key zones across the country.

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Aviation

Qatar Airways to Introduce “Private Jet-Inspired” First Class on B777

Qatar Airways to Introduce "Private Jet-Inspired" First Class on B777

In a bold move to redefine luxury air travel, Qatar Airways has announced plans to introduce a groundbreaking First Class cabin experience on its fleet of Boeing 777-9 aircraft.

The airline’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, revealed in an exclusive interview with CNBC that these new cabins will offer passengers a “private jet-like” experience, setting a new standard in commercial aviation.

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Al-Meer emphasized innovation as the cornerstone of Qatar Airways’ strategy for the future, reflecting the airline’s commitment to pushing boundaries and exceeding customer expectations. With the demand for First Class travel on the rise, Qatar Airways aims to meet this demand head-on by developing a bespoke First Class cabin that leverages the airline’s expertise in both commercial and executive jet travel.

Drawing inspiration from its successful Qsuite Business Class, which revolutionized the industry upon its launch, Qatar Airways plans to debut a redesigned premium Qsuite at the Farnborough International Airshow in July 2024.boeing 777 vs airbus a350 This redesigned Qsuite will set the stage for the forthcoming First Class cabins, promising passengers an unparalleled level of comfort and luxury.

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The new First Class cabins, set to be introduced on Qatar Airways’ Boeing 777-9 best narrow body aircraft fleet starting from the end of 2025, will embody the pinnacle of commercial air travel. With private suites designed to evoke the exclusivity and refinement of flying on a private jet, passengers can expect an extraordinary journey characterized by unmatched comfort and personalized service.

The CEO of Qatar Airways, Badr Mohammed Al Meer, said in an interview with CNBC, “We will utilise our knowledge and our expertise from having a private jet company.” We want to combine our experience flying private jets and commercial aircraft to create something new, and I don’t think anyone can construct a first class cabin better than us for that reason.

Al Meer told CNBC, “Hopefully, we will be able to announce it very soon. We are 70% and 80% ready, and we are just finalising colours and final touches.”

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Aviation

Saudi Arabia’s National Airline Saudia Could Fall Under PIF Ownership

Saudi Arabia's National Airline Saudia Could Fall Under PIF Ownership

According to the report, the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia, the country’s sovereign wealth fund, is reportedly in talks to buy the national airline Saudia.

An important milestone for one of the oldest airlines in the Middle East, this prospective transfer of ownership would also apply to other businesses owned by Saudia, including as its low-cost subsidiary Flyadeal. The action is considered a component of a larger plan to strengthen the PIF’s aviation portfolio by the beginning of 2025, which might improve Saudia’s financial results and operational effectiveness.

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There have also been proposals that the airline might be privatized or combined with Riyadh Air, which is already controlled by the PIF. Saudia now has a sizable fleet of over 142 aircraft and serves more than 90 locations worldwide, while the exact value of the deal is still unknown.

However, sources caution that the plan may encounter delays or even be abandoned altogether. The establishment of Riyadh Air is consistent with the PIF’s larger goal of utilizing important industries to promote Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification. Based on projections, it is possible that Riyadh Air will generate billions of dollars in value and hundreds of thousands of jobs, making it a major contributor to the kingdom’s non-oil GDP.

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Recently, The UK-based construction company Mace has been selected as the delivery partner for King Salman International Airport (KSIA) in riyadh. When KSIA opens in 2030, it will be the largest airport in the world, marking a significant milestone for the aviation industry.

By 2030, the airport is forecasted to facilitate a substantial increase in annual passenger traffic, skyrocketing from 29 million to a staggering 120 million travelers. Moreover, aircraft traffic within the kingdom is anticipated to surge from 211,000 to over 1 million flights per year following the airport’s inauguration.

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Aerospace

Korean Air to open Asia’s largest aircraft engine MRO cluster

Korean Air to open Asia’s largest aircraft engine MRO cluster

Korean Air has started building an aircraft engine maintenance cluster at Incheon International Airport in Unbuk. The facility is expected to be operational by 2027.

This new complex, which will be the biggest of its kind in Asia, will strengthen the airline’s capacity to maintain aircraft engines and secure its place in the aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) industry.

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Over 140,000 square metres are divided into seven levels of the new engine maintenance facility. The 578 billion won facility is being built by Kolon Global, and it will be positioned next to the Engine Test Cell (ETC) that the airline has been using since 2016.

Engine maintenance was traditionally handled by Korean Air at its Bucheon facility, with additional final performance testing conducted at the ETC in Unbuk. By centralised all stages of engine maintenance at one location, the engine maintenance cluster will strategically consolidate and streamline this process, improving operational efficiency.

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Additionally, Korean Air plans to greatly improve its capacity to service aircraft engines, increasing from 100 to 360 each year, and servicing a wider range of engine types. Six engine models are now overhauled by the airline: General Electric’s GE90-115B, CFM International’s CFM56, and Pratt & Whitney’s PW4000 and GTF.

Three additional engine models, including GE’s GEnx and CFMI’s LEAP-1B, are being added to the lineup as part of the expansion. Additionally, the prospect of maintaining Asiana Airlines’ engines—including the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB powering the Airbus A350—is being investigated by the carrier. In order to increase the competitiveness of the domestic aircraft MRO business and lessen reliance on foreign maintenance services, the new maintenance cluster is anticipated to create over 1,000 new jobs.

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