The crash yesterday of a China Airlines Co (
The worst crash in the airline's history was the Nagoya crash on Apr. 26, 1994, in which 264 people on board were killed and 11 people on the ground injured.
A French-made Airbus A300-600R burst into flames at Nagoya International Airport when it stalled on its approach and crashed short of the runway.
The second worst crash until yesterday was on Feb. 16, 1998, when another A300-600R crashed into a residential area during its second landing attempt at the CKS International Airport (
The crash, which occurred at night, with visibility further reduced by rain and fog, killed the 197 people on board and seven on the ground.
Yesterday's flight CI-611 was scheduled to carry 225 people from Taipei to Hong Kong. At press time, more than 100 bodies had been found in the Taiwan Strait near Penghu, and rescue crews were still searching for survivors.
"We will definitely try our best to find more survivors, and we are hopeful," a spokesman at China Airlines who wished to remain anonymous said. "We are hoping it will not become the second worst crash in our history."
The spokesman said that the only 747-200 jumbo jetliner in the company's fleet had passed a detailed security check on Nov. 25 last year and another two minor checks on May 4.
"It was the only and last 747-200 we had. In the meantime, we will have to make further investigations before we can confirm the cause of the crash," he said. "However, technical problems probably aren't involved in this tragedy."
China Airlines' first crash occurred on Feb. 2, 1969, when a domestic DC-3 rammed into mountains in adverse weather conditions in Taitung, killing 24 people on board.
*1970, Aug. 12: A YS-11 strikes a 200m-high ridge about 800m from CKS airport while on its approach. Two of the five crew members and 12 of the 26 passengers are killed.
*1971, Nov. 21: A Caravelle 3 crashes near the Penghu Islands after an infight explosion apparently caused by a bomb. All 17 passengers and 8 crew members are killed.
*1980, Feb. 27: A Boeing 707-300 crashes in Manila after crew executes a steep and unstable approach. The plane touches down hard and short of the runway, causing the plane to bounce. Two engines and parts of the wing come away from the aircraft before it comes to rest on the runway. Two of the 122 passengers are killed.
*1982, Aug. 16: A Boeing 747 encounters severe turbulence near Hong Kong. Two of the 292 passengers are killed.
*1986, Feb. 16: A Boeing 737-200 crashes after aborting a landing on the Penghu Islands. All six passengers and seven crew members are killed.
*1989, Oct. 26: A Boeing 737-200 crashes near Hualien after the crew uses an incorrect departure procedure, causing the plane to hit high ground at 2,130m. All seven crew members and 49 passengers are killed.
*1994, April 26: An Airbus A300-600 crashes in Nagoya, Japan, after pilot error causes the aircraft to stall during its approach. All 15 crew and 249 of the 264 passengers are killed.
*1998, Feb. 16: An Airbus A300-600 crashes into a residential area near CKS airport during its second landing attempt. The flight from Bali, Indonesia, crashes at night and visibility is poor because of fog and rain. All 15 crew and 182 passengers are killed. Seven people of the ground are also killed.
*1999, Aug. 22: An Md-11 flips over while trying to land at Hong Kong at night during a storm. A ll 15 crew members survive, but three of the 300 passengers are killed.
SOURCE: AIRSAFE.COM
On Nov. 4, 1993, another Boeing 747-400 overshot the runway when landing at Hong Kong International Airport and ended up in the sea. No one was killed but 23 people on board were injured.
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