News
32 killed as Turkish plane Boeing 747 crashes into homes in thick fog in Kyrgyzstan
BISHKEK: A cargo plane crashed near Kyrgyzstan’s main airport Monday, leaving 32 people dead including four pilots as it hit a populated area after attempting to land in thick fog, authorities said.
The majority of the dead were from the village of Dacha-Suu where the plane — a Turkish Airlines flight from Hong Kong to Istanbul via Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkek — crashed at around 7.30 am local time (0130 GMT), a spokesman for the country’s emergency services ministry was quoted by news agency AFP.
According to the airport administration, the plane was supposed to make a stopover at Manas, near the capital city Bishkek, on its way from Hong Kong to Istanbul. It crashed when trying to land in poor visibility at 7:31 local time (0131 GMT).
News agency Reuters cited Kyrgyzstan’s transport ministry saying there were five people on board. It identified the plane as a Turkish Airlines Boeing 747-400, but the company said it belonged to another Turkish firm, ACT Airlines.
“Our condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives in the tragic incident involving an ACT Airlines aircraft in Kyrgyzstan,” Turkish Airlines said on its Twitter account.
The doomed plane damaged 15 buildings in the village, said Mukhammed Svarov, head of crisis management centre at the emergencies ministry.Rescue workers have recovered the body of a pilot and 15 villagers, the healthcare ministry said.
(with inputs from AFP and Reuters)
Aviation
In the Pilot’s Seat: Little Aviator’s Dream Come True in the Cockpit
A cute little boy became famous when a video of him sitting in the pilot’s seat and enjoying the view from the cockpit went viral.
During one of the flights to Mexico, a very kind pilot welcomed the little boy to see his workplace, which was the cockpit of an Airbus plane. The pilot helped the kid sit properly in the pilot’s seat and adjusted it for him.
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The pilot then explained some airplane things like the throttle and landing gear, but it all seemed like a magical world to the small child.
Later on, the pilot turned on the cockpit switch lights, which looked really amazing. The way the pilot acted was heartwarming, and it made the child’s mother very happy and surprised.
Even in the busy moments of the flight, the pilot continued to be kind and caring, which is a wonderful example of goodness.
All in all, the little boy had an incredible experience on the flight, which will surely be a cherished memory for the rest of his life.
Some of the twitter user wrote ” What might be a quick moment for you could be the start of a lifetime for a young kid ”
” WoW just wonderful, his little face bless him ” Great job captain. All it takes is one experience like this, and you’ve created a new aviator for life. ”
Airlines
BA passengers held hostage by Saddam Hussain prepare to sue
British Airways Flight 149, which was due to stop at Kuwait International Airport on August 2, 1990, had both its passengers and crew held captive by Iraqi forces. While the plane was in the air, Saddam Hussein’s forces invaded Kuwait, and the passengers were held for up to five months while being used as “human shields” against Western attacks during the Gulf War.
Now, those captives claim that although British Airways and the British government were aware that the invasion had already started, they still permitted the plane to land in Kuwait because the government wanted a black operations group of former special forces and security services to be there.
The revelations followed years of study by New Zealand journalist Stephen Davis and the National Archives release of supporting documentation. The victims’ legal team said in a statement that they are taking steps to ensure that the whole truth is revealed, those accountable are held liable, and just compensation is given.
According to attorneys for the claimants, “evidence exists” that the jet was permitted to land because it was being used to transport a team to Kuwait “for a special military operation.” This claim was never accepted by the government.
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An official from the administration claimed that the country “always condemned the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, the suffering that ensued, and the mistreatment of those aboard BA149.” The Iraqi government at the time bears sole responsibility for the occurrence of these events and the treatment of those passengers and crew.
BA said: “Our thoughts go out to all those who were affected by this tragic act of violence just over 30 years ago and who had to go through an extremely horrifying ordeal. “British Airways was not warned about the invasion, according to UK government records released in 2021.”
Aerospace
Air France-KLM and Etihad Airways expand partnership to enhance commercial and operational collaboration
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – Air France-KLM Group and Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aiming at enhancing their collaboration opportunities across passenger operations, loyalty programs, talent development, and maintenance.
The signing ceremony took place at the Air France-KLM Group’s headquarters in Paris, France in the presence of Angus Clarke, Chief Commercial Officer, Air France-KLM, and Arik De, Chief Revenue Officer, Etihad Airways.
Through this partnership, and subject to any necessary regulatory approvals, Air France-KLM and Etihad contemplate expanding their codeshare and interline agreements initiated in 2012. As a first step, more than 40 new routes covering destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Australia have been made available for booking as of today, for travel as early as the winter 2023 season.
The MoU also proposes the ability for frequent flyers of both Flying Blue and Etihad Guest to earn and redeem miles with Air France, KLM, and Etihad. The airlines will also explore terminal co-location, reciprocal lounge access, and ground handling, among other initiatives.
Etihad currently operates daily flights to both Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam Schiphol from Abu Dhabi International Airport.
Air France will start operating daily flights between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Abu Dhabi International Airport from October 29, 2023.
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