AN74 300 down in Laos

[PeterTG]

I have just been told that an AN74 300 has crashed in Laos in Xiangkhouang. Plane of Jars area. Reportedly carrying high government officials. Casualties unknown.

[Titania]

http://rt.com/news/159576-laos-plane-crash-top-brass/

[Linedog]

The plane was brand new, delivered to Laos in 2009 ???:)

[readywhenreaching]

http://www.jacdec.de/fotos/news/2014/2014-05-17_RDPL-34020_An74@XiangKhouang_ACC1.jpg (http://www.jacdec.de/news/[email protected])

[glendalegoon]

wondering:


was the defense minister a former air force pilot?

(SPECULATION, read no further for facts)

maybe he decided to tell his regular air force pilots he was going to get some stick time and ooops.

Ask Prince Charles about it as he pranged a BAE146 and managed to blame the RAF pilot.

[PeterTG]

Apparently crashed while 'attempting to land in thunderstorm.' There are thought to be 2 survivors

[DOVES]

Another one???!!!

Aren't there anymore metar, taf, radar, Pireps?

[Cornish Jack]

One would hope so, nowadays. 50 years ago (really that long??:eek:) I booked a forecast for a flight Vientiane to Saigon. Received the usual large sheet, the total contents of which were "Small rain" It must be better nowadays!!

[aterpster]

Anyone know the ICAO identifier for the destination airport?

[PeterTG]

The destination airport was Phonesavanh Airport in Xiang Kuang province.
Designation is VLPV

Some information here
Pilot information for Phonesavanh Airport @ OurAirports (http://ourairports.com/airports/VLPV/pilot-info.html)

I only know what my friend in Laos has told me, they are very short of any comprehensive information, everything is very secretive at an official level as it involved a Lao military aircraft and high level officials including the deputy Prime Minister

[Zeffy]

Has the airport ID been positively established?

Possibly VLXK (http://ourairports.com/airports/VLXK/pilot-info.html) ??

The runway dimensions at VLXK seem more suited to jet transports:
Runways at Xieng Khouang Airport
07/25
8,555 x 130*ft (2,608 x 40*m) — paved — not lighted

Red arrow below points from THX VOR-DME to VLXK airport;
VLPV is circled in red.

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa92/zeffy_bucket/ScreenShot2014-05-20at32856PM_zpsead80442.png (http://s202.photobucket.com/user/zeffy_bucket/media/ScreenShot2014-05-20at32856PM_zpsead80442.png.html)


Edit: ASN seems to confirm VLXK:
ASN Aircraft accident Antonov 74TK-300 RDPL-34020 Xieng Khouang Airport (XKH) (http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20140517-0)