Cargo Plane down near SHJ

[camber]

Just got news of a Cargo Plane, crashed near SHJ. Anyone have any more information?

[ChiefT]

A cargo plane carrying 6 pple on board has crashed near Shj Airport still no report of injuries

[ChiefT]

Gulfnews reports:

Sharjah: Six people have been killed after a cargo plane crashed on take-off from Sharjah Airport.

The Sudanese registered plane, a Boeing 707, believed to belong to Azza Air veered sharply to the right after take-off and flipped before crashing.

Sharjah Airport has closed its runway as a result of the crash.

Khaled Al Qassimi, director of civil aviation at Sharjah airport, said rescue personnel haven't so far found any of the crew.

"The place is contained. All the fires are extinguished," said Al Qassimi, "we are the picking up bits and pieces for the investigation."

Eyewitnesses have reported seeing the plane "flip and burst into flames."

Artem Filippov who works at the Sharjah Airport Free Zone said: "We heard an explosion and went out to check what happened and saw plumes of smoke rising. By the time we reached near the accident area police cordoned off the area."

Nagesh Vallabhan, an employee in a company at Sharjah Airport Free Zone, said: "It was obvious the plane was about to crash and it did. The plane was tilted to the right - it looked like it was unbalanced and about to crash and in a few minutes it crashed to the ground and exploded.

"We saw flames of fire and smoke … it exploded with debris seen around the area of the crash. I am not sure but I don’t think anyone survived the crash. I honestly doubt it,” he added.
More follows...

http://gulfnews.com/polopoly_fs/plane-crash-at-sharjah-airport-1.517434!image/3057508247.jpg_gen/derivatives/box_475/3057508247.jpg

[ChiefT]

Seems to be Azza Transport:

Azza Transport, have in the past been accused by US gov of transferring arms to Sudanese government forces and Janjaweed militia

[airops78]

Try this link for latest:

gulfnews : Plane involved in accident at Sharjah Airport (http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/emergencies/plane-involved-in-accident-at-sharjah-airport-1.517425)

[loc22550]

saw it once (picture)..amazing those civilian people gathering just a few meters from the crash.. without even knowning whats burning inside!:ooh:

[ChiefT]

An Azza Transport Boeing 707 freighter on behalf of the Sudanese government, freight flight from Sharjah (United Arab Emirates) bound for the Sudan with 6 crew, crashed shortly after takeoff in clear weather from Sharjah (United Arab Emirates) and burst into flames at around 15:30L (11:30Z).

All 6 crew on board have perished, UAE officials reported. All fires have been extinguished, no bodies have yet been found.

The airport is currently closed, although the airplane went down about 2nm outside the perimeter of the airport.

Witnesses on the ground report, that the airplane may have lost parts before it lost height. The airplane subsequently veered sharply to the right and impacted ground.

Metars:
OMSJ 211300Z 33010KT 300V360 9999 FEW040 31/19 Q1012
OMSJ 211200Z 32011KT 9999 FEW040 32/18 Q1012
OMSJ 211100Z 33012KT 270V010 9999 FEW040 32/19 Q1012
OMSJ 211000Z 33011KT 290V360 9999 FEW030 33/20 Q1012
OMSJ 210900Z 33010KT 300V360 9999 FEW030 NSC 33/20 Q1013
OMSJ 210800Z 02005KT 320V070 CAVOK 34/13 Q1014

[Big Footer]

No info about the flight on Flight Information Facilities (http://www.sharjahairport.ae/fids/fidailyfltd.htm) :confused:

[ChiefT]

Yes it is:

21-Oct 15:30 Kandahar Southern Air,Inc. SOO 951

Possibly a transmission fault that everybody says the flight was bound for Khartoum. The flight number matches at least the reports:

JACDEC - Current News (http://www.jacdec.de/news/news.htm)

[bommair]

the aircraft, a Azza Transport B-707-320C was operated by Sudan Airways on lease from Azza Air.

Sharjah AP lists the flight as:
STD 21-Oct 09:00
TO Khartoum
BY Sudan Airways
FLT NBR SUD 2241

...veered sharply to the right after take-off and flipped before crashing.

The aircraft was a Boeing 707-320C, according to a Sudan Airways official. Five of the six crew members worked for Azza Transport, the official said. The loadmaster, who handled the cargo on the plane, worked for Sudan Airways.

[bommair]

in fact am correcting myself on the earlier:

ACAS (FlightGlobal) has two aircraft of the type with AZZA Transport

AZZA Transport
Sudan
707-300C

1)
REG ST-JCC
Engines JT3D-3B(Q)
Age in AUG 08: 43.38 yrs

2)
REG ST-AKW
Egnines JT3D-3B
Age in AUG 08: 40.60 yrs

[Speedbake]

Hi all,

I was at OMSJ at the time of the crash in an office at the SFZ, a fellow
pilot friend was smoking outside & saw the A/C as it rotated it appeared
as he mentioned to have pitched up to 40 degrees nose up..
and there was smoke coming from ENG 4 ..all of sudden the A/C started
veering & turning right with the nose piointing to the ground. All of
sudden we all hear a bang & we come outside and see big black smoke
at the end of RWY 12. Went close to the crash site with the friend as we
can't get to close ..everything was taped up quickly by police. But sadly
nothing was left from what we can see from a distance!! Police were
saying no survivors. Sad ending!! I heard this is the 4th B.707 crash for
this Sudaneese airline. Can't speculate....but I would think overweight
T/O. Active RWY was 30 at the time of the crash. The A/C went
down just before the Golf Course. No idea if there are more casulties
on the gound.

VERY SAD INDEED!! :confused:

[PorkKnuckle]

amazing those civilian people gathering just a few meters from the crash

This is normal around here - everyone hoping to see some bodies. Just like at any road accident. You slow down and hope to see a body or two. That's how the "people" think here.

[PorkKnuckle]

Just to be curious, how "people" do think where you come from?

Sorry I don't understand exactly it is what you're asking.

But as an indication, in this part of the world, your typical crash roadside scene is of jinglies standing around whipping out their phones to take photos of the bodies rather than keeping the f**k out of the way or, god forbid, actually helping out. Savages.

[Old King Coal]

Well I just listened Sharjah's Minister of Aviation commenting about this crash and I've got to say that it was quite refreshing to have an 'official' on the spot and making accurate statements, which basically went along the lines of "A B707 crashed on take-off; we're investigating why this happened; unfortunately the crew all perished, though nobody else was involved; the aircraft type is licensed to fly in many countries, including the UAE; many thanks to the emergency services for doing a good job".

Bloody shame all the same; a fine aircraft in it's day; and never fogetting that 6 fellow aviators went to work this morning and, well, the rest you know.... :(

[NZ X man]

The 707,they can certainly be a handful when things go south, but when overgross and lose an engine, the only thing worse is to lose two engines on the same side. My condolences to their families, a damn shame.

[Wizofoz]

Pure speculation, but I suspect any engine problems were as a result of unusual attitudes and subsequent compressor stalls which earlt Jet engines were prone too.

Over loaded and out of trim/CG perhaps?

[411A]

were as a result of unusual attitudes and subsequent compressor stalls which earlt Jet engines were prone too.


Maybe, however I have nearly 6000 hours in Command in these airplanes, no compressor stalls experienced.
Extreme nose up sounds like either....
Runaway stab (happened quite often, in my experience) altho, if caught quick enough, easily stopped, and trim established with split spoilers...

Mis-trim...or mis-loading,

Shifting cargo, altho unlikely here, as...if it goes thru the door, it goes on.:uhoh:

Many variables.

[S.F.L.Y]

Video shows debris falling and impact. Seems like in this part of the world even the security cameras are after this kind of footages... which are quickly relayed by medias in other parts of the world.

VIDEO: Sharjah 707 crash footage shows unexplained falling object (http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/10/22/333863/video-sharjah-707-crash-footage-shows-unexplained-falling-object.html)

RIP

[Spoogie]

WTF ....how has that made it to youtube already. Wonder what it was? control surface maybe; causing loss of control?? Really sad.

RIP

[S.F.L.Y]

Wonder what it was? control surface maybe; causing loss of control?

I think a control surface wouldn't fall that fast and straight. Looks more like an engine. This should be known as it didn't fell far from the RWY.

[skypilot320]

Status: Preliminary
Date: 21 OCT 2009
Time: 15:30
Type: Boeing 707-300
Operating for: Sudan Airways
Leased from: AZZA Transport
Registration:
C/n / msn:
First flight:
Crew: Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 6
Passengers: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0
Total: Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 6
Airplane damage: Destroyed
Airplane fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location: ca 1 km N of Sharjah Airport (SHJ) (United Arab Emirates)
Phase: Takeoff (TOF)
Nature: Cargo
Departure airport: Sharjah Airport (SHJ/OMSJ), United Arab Emirates
Destination airport: Khartoum-Civil Airport (KRT/HSSS), Sudan
Flightnumber: 2241
Narrative:
A Boeing 707 cargo plane, owned by Azza Transport, was destroyed when it crashed in a desert area immediately after takeoff from Sharjah Airport (SHJ). The airplane operated on Sudan Airways flight SUD2241, crashed near the Emirates Road, broke up and burned.
Weather reported around the time of the accident (ca 11:30 UTC):
OMSJ 211100Z 33012KT 270V010 9999 FEW040 32/19 Q1012=
OMSJ 211200Z 32011KT 9999 FEW040 32/18 Q1012=

[Zeflo27]

Looked to me like an engine came off,from the video footage.

[EGGW]

Here's the video footage -

ee8xcSPsCVc

EGGW

[Spoogie]

It's clear that this recording was taken from the OMSJ security center. I am sure the GCAA would not have a problem finding what it was that fell. However if anyone knows, some of the stuff that was reported to have been recovered for the runway....would really like to hear.

[MrMachfivepointfive]

Initial rate of climb looks healthy. The American DC10 in Chicago comes to mind.

[Guy D'ageradar]

I don't believe it was an engine.....not even a puff of dust when it hit the ground. Certainly would be interesting to know what was found on the runway.

[White Knight]

Although Guy it could have fallen behind one of the many sand dunes that grace the desert behind the airport - there may have been a huge puff of dust but out of line of sight...

I'm sure they would have found said object by now anyway.

[johnnyramjet]

On August 7 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_7), 1997 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1997), Fine Air flight 101, a Cargo DC-8-61F (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DC-8) registration # N27UA, en route from Miami (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miami_International_Airport) to Santo Domingo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo_Domingo), in the Dominican Republic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominican_Republic), suffered sudden movement of cargo materials in the aft cargo hold while on take off. The aircraft's nose rose steeply due to the sudden uneven weight distribution caused by shifting boxes of denim (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denim) material that had not been securely fastened.
The pilots, departing out of the former Runway 27R (now 26L) attempted to recover but the aircraft stalled and crashed onto a field adjacent the Miami City Rail Yard less than a mile from the airport.

[ironbutt57]

After further investigation, it was determined the cargo didn't shift on the Arrow Air, but that the pallets were loaded in reverse order, causing the plane to become uncontrollable with the calculated stab setting...

[Spoogie]

While I understand what you are saying...This video we are seeing was recorded in Time Lapse Mode...(e.g....one frame every 2 seconds) so when it is played back in realtime..it seems faster than it really is. It also causes us to miss certain frames which could have key info..like when the object hit the ground...

[johnnyramjet]

IB57, do you know what the final outcome of the Emery crash in California was. I think it was in 2000. Thanks JRJ

"Sacramento -- Federal investigators said yesterday that they are focusing on the possibility that a DC-8 cargo jet that crashed near here Wednesday, killing all three crew members, had severe problems caused by shifting cargo that threw the four-engine plane out of balance."

[ironbutt57]

The Emery that crashed into the junkyard was caused by disconnection of the servo tab actuator rod due to a bolt being installed the wrong way around, when the nut worked loose and fell free, they were for the most part left with little control of the elevator system, (DC-8 drivers clarify this please)

[four engine jock]

Looks like an Engine fell off. number 3 or 4. And she stalled.

[fractional]

From The National
The investigation into the fatal crash last month of a Boeing 707 cargo plane has suffered a serious setback after authorities were unable to retrieve information from the aircraft’s flight data recorders.
The two devices, which monitor cockpit conversations and aircraft vital signs, failed to record the jetliner’s final moments before crashing shortly after take-off at Sharjah International Airport, Saif al Suwaidi, the head of the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), said.
Black boxes fail to shed any light on plane crash - The National Newspaper (http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091120/NATIONAL/711199895/1001)

This being true (???), makes me wonder how many more are flying in/out of the UAE and other parts of the Gulf and elsewhere in similar circumstances, let alone the unairworthiness of the aircraft? ICAO has to stop "recommending" and CivAirs have to become accountable and sanctioned if not following the regs. Too many people are dying because of reckless managements and crews (ground and air).

[411A]

Too many people are dying because of reckless managements and crews (ground and air).



One must ask....how many is too many?
Just a few here...out of how many ops from the UAE in the last (for example) year?

Get a grip, fractional...it ain't that bad.:rolleyes:

[fractional]

One must ask....how many is too many?
411A, one is too many anyway, anywhere, mainly if the suspicions of this case are confirmed. I hope you are not trying to say this accident was just the a mere and unavoidable accident...:rolleyes:

[411A]

I hope you are not trying to say this accident was just the a mere and unavoidable accident...

How do you know it wasn't...specifically?:ugh:

[Schibulsky]

When you watch some aviation fossils climbing out of DXB in summer and barely making it over the airport fence, do you think:

A: thats o.k. probably reduced thrust t/o.
B: I have to get new glasses.
C: some people on PPRuNe will probaby bitch again over this absolute safe operation!
D: no problem, they had some prayers before, inshallah!!
E: all of the above.

:confused:

[411A]

Don't know about your eyesight, Schibulsky, however you might be just slightly rushing to judgement with the concerned 707.
From the info on R&N, the airplane appeared to be not at max weight (unless they were tankering fuel from SHJ, unlikely), the payload was less than normal, the initial climb did not appear to be grazing the airport fence...so, we still don't really know what happened...now do we?:rolleyes:

[Schibulsky]

it was not regarding the 707 accident but more about "reckless managements and crews" that fractional mentioned.
I never slept really well in Mirdif :\

[MrMachfivepointfive]

You whimp! I got quite fond of the smoke belching AN12 passing me opposite direction same altitude on Khaleej Rd every day on the way to work.
Until one day it wasn' there...
Found out later they pranged it in on landing in Kabul (everybody safe).
I was really sad, but two weeks later another AN12 passed me opposite direction, same altitude on Khaleej Rd. Belching even more smoke.
Mirdif is safe. Trust me...

[Granny]

Actually I never slept well in Mirdif either, I'm surprised an aviation fossil hasn't ended up in Mirdif already,unfortuantly one will one day, I have no doubt.:ooh:

[Dubaian]

It's not just Mirdif at risk - when the wind changes Naif and the surrounding areas at the other end of the runway are equally at risk from these old crocks. And the population density is higher there.
But having lived in Mirdif for a bit, I must admit that it's slight altitude does make things feel less safe under the flight path.
I used to call the old style A/Cs window-rattlers. There are a few Antonovs over Uptown Mirdif that do a better job of shaking the dust out of the fly screens !!!

[MrMachfivepointfive]

I like the IL86 best. It sounds like 4 F16s in zone 5 afterburner. Over my roof at acceleration altitude (which is roof plus 50'). Wonder what will happen the day it is going to sound like 3 F16s...