the jumbo that has burnt out in Japan..?

Question

The news says the airline involved hads a patchy record for safety because of 4 fatal accidents in the last 13 years.

How does that record stand to other airlines?

Is it really ''patchy''?

Answer 1

It's China Airlines - Taiwanese airline company.
Here is the records of their Accident & incidents.
http://aviation-safety.net/database/operator/airline.php?var=6932

This is the picture of the accident this time. They white outed their corp name immediately.
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k228/_files/chinaairlines.jpg

Answer 2

The aircraft was a Boeing 737-809 registered B18616. The Aviation Safety network described the incident as follows:
China Airlines flight 120 departed Taipei at 08:14 and landed at Naha Airport (OKA) at 10:27. A fire erupted in or near the nr.1 engine as the plane arrived at the stand. All occupants were evacuated immediately. When all occupants had evacuated, a large explosion occurred in the centre of the airplane. The airplane burned out completely.

China Airlines safety could be said to be 'patchy.' In May 2002 they lost a Boeing 747-200 due to mid-air disintegration caused by structural faults with 225 fatalities. Earlier, in Feb 1998 they lost an Airbus A300 due to poor crew co-ordination with 196 fatalities. Another A300 was lost in 1994 for similar reasons with 264 fatalities.

Answer 3

As well as the 747 that broke up in 2002 due to fatigue cracks round an old repair they have had a number of other issues. Many of their issues, have been characterised by "more balls than brains" and some have suggested that they are rooted in ego and machismo, an unwillingness to lose face causing them to pursue a bad situation.

Flight 611 was lost in 2002 due to fatigue failure of scratches which were inadequately repaired and maintained after an earlier tailstrike. 225 dead.

Anyway, the main Wikipedia page has a list of major China Airlines incidents. The flight 605 incident was the typical testosterone overload case. The aircraft was on the IGS approach to Kai Tak but came in far too high, but the pilot stuck with the landing and ended up sticking the 747 in the ocean which resulted in its total loss, everyone survived, but the aircraft was there as an unwanted advert for days.

The famous pictures of 747s landing sideways at Kai Tak were mostly China Airlines.

Anyway, though it's far too early to speculate... so here I go. They mentioned that the plane had skidded after landing. I bet he tried to make an early exit when he was too fast and then rolled far enough to ding an engine on the ground and caused the fan to strike the hit the casing and start the engine breakup leading to the catastrophic fire. Time will tell.

Answer 4

Just found this:

"The Okinawa fire is a setback to China Airlines, which in recent years appeared to have improved on a troubled safety record among international carriers. A China Airlines 747 crashed in 2002 as it flew Taipei to Hong Kong, leading to 225 deaths, and some 450 people died in China Airlines accidents during the 1990s."

I gather it was a 737, not a jumbo, and one report says an engine blew up just after it parked.

Answer 5

Hey, I'm in Okinawa...I was driving my brother-in-law to the airport this morning when this happened. The police blocked the entrances for the airport. I thought for sure we were going to reschedule his flight. Everyone on the plane made it out, even the flight crew. We got some pretty good pics from the airports observation deck...and his flight took off an hour and a half later than scheduled.

Answer 6

i beg to disagree but its not a jumbo, its either a B737-500 or 800 series aircraft that burned in in the tarmac area in naha Airport, Okinawa, Japan. CNN (USA), Channel News Asia (Singapore), ANC ( Philippines)

by the way reports say that all onboard was able to get out ofg the burning plane smoke began to appear as the plane touched down the runway.

Answer 7

Emm the aircraft involved was delivered in 2002. Media has proven time and agin that it's worthless. It could have of been a number of things. It could have been sabotage or a static spark that led to the fire. All of this is purley speculation.

Answer 8

I don`t know about patchy,but its deemed safer to fly than driving cars. 4 accidents in 13 years is`nt bad really is it when you see so many road accidents per day in your own areas.