ST-AFA?
given, it was a 707, report doesn´t mention that anymore
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edit: AB now saying operator was Azza Transport of Khartoum, so it´s not ST-AFA
Last edited by 20milesout : 21st October 2009 at 15:22.
SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates, Oct 21 (Reuters) - A Sudanese cargo plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Sharjah airport in the United Arab Emirates, killing all six crew members on board.
Reuters photographer Ahmed Jadallah said the aircraft was completely destroyed. "... the aircraft is shattered into pieces and is completely charred and destroyed. The rescue workers are still here and working..." he said by telephone from the scene.
The Boeing 707 was carrying a crew of six and crashed shortly after takeoff, said Azza Air Transport Co Deputy Manager Ahmed Aasim, speaking from the Sudenese capital Khartoum. He said the aircraft was leased by Sudan Airways.
A freight handler at Sharjah airport told Reuters the plane came down near the runway.
"We tried to see the plane, but there was nothing left, it was all burnt out" said an aviation company employee whose offices were near the crash site.
The cause of the crash was not clear.
Sharjah is one of sven emirates in the UAE federation the includes trade and tourism hub Dubai and oil exporter Abu Dhabi.
Wednesday, 21 October 2009 14:31
Last edited by OpenCirrus619 : 21st October 2009 at 15:41.
Reason: Edited to reflect latest bulletin
Just for historical reference, with the 707 airplane, if pneumatic pressure is lost to the leading edge devices, they retract whilst airbourne....slowly.
IF on one side, and not the other, at lower speeds...bad news.
Above V2+30...manageable.
Not however, a known historical fault, even remotely.
707, a very old design, however...IF maintained properly, very reliable in service.
Was in SHJ this afternoon, and saw the Azza 707 taxi out while we were being driven to our aircraft. It looked pretty nice. Of course a nice paintjob doesn't say much about the technical status...
Luckily we didn't see the take off or the actual accident.
Big clouds of smoke got our attention.
The airport authorities found quite a few aircraftparts on the runway, so the sequence of events probably started during take off. Field was closed for an hour or so while they collected al the stuff.
Our fueler had also fueled the 707, and said it was leaking fuel from several places on the wing.
I'm sure a 707 can be a perfectly safe aircraft to fly, even if it is 40-some yrs old. But you have to maintain it well.
The crew were all Sudanese, cargo flight to Khartoum.
We lost some college's today folks.
Poor guys having to fly such equipment.
Very sad news, I remember this aircraft in better days with Nile Safaris.
Not sure that I agree with 411A about the leading edges. On the 320C they are hydraulic powered & mechanically lock in the fully extended position. Hydraulic pressure is required to unlock & retract them.
Linear Mode
