Saab 340 hits a block

[Maisk Rotum]

35 pax on Saab 340 in aircraft in Tonga? Am I missing something? Standard weights?

Passengers on board a Lulutai Airlines Saab 340 aircraft were unharmed when the plane slid off the runway at Tonga’s Fua’amotu Airport on Friday, the airline says.

“At approximately 2pm (local time), after landing safely at Fua’amotu domestic airport, and while on the apron taxing back to the terminal, upon turning, the Saab 340 experienced a technical issue,” Lulutai Airlines said in a statement.

“The aircraft turned and hit a cement block on the side of the apron. The aircraft’s wing became lodged on the cement block.”

“The aircraft landed safely at Fua’amotu, and the incident occurred while taxing on the apron. There were 35 passengers on board. No passengers were injured or physically harmed.”

A passenger told Matangi Tonga the Lulutai flight had reached Vava’u, and an announcement was made that they were landing.

“All of a sudden the plane changes direction and all we were seeing was the ocean,” the passenger said, according Matangi Tonga’s report.

“The pilot then announced that we were returning to Fua’amotu Airport because there was a ‘technical issue’ with the plane.

“I asked the air hostess, and she said it was a problem with the hydraulic,” the passenger said

[Peter Fanelli]

35 pax on Saab 340 in aircraft in Tonga? Am I missing something? Standard weights?




Probably an infant or two or three on laps.

[43Inches]

Probably an infant or two or three on laps.

A3-PUA, ex vincent VH-VNX, 34 seat config. So definitely must be an infant or two. Sounds like a hydraulic failure. The SAAB can be configured up to 36 seats.

[tail wheel]

From experience some years ago the actual average passenger weight on Tongan domestic operations, allowing for a mix of adult male and female, children and infants, was 109 kg per passenger plus baggage. That figure was not for operational purposes, mainly for reservations maximum capacity calculations.

[Maisk Rotum]

Tailwheel, that's exactly what I alluding to. Even on Australian domestic operations they are always offloading or picking up petrol in almost every port. Would love to see the manifest.

[Mr Mossberg]

was 109 kg per passenger

:D​​​​​​​ holy snap! I feel skinny.

[Deano969]

Av Herald reported 35 people on board, not passengers

[tail wheel]

I have a stark memory from many decades ago watching Britain's revenge on the Empire, a 260 HP BN2 Islander, taking off on Fua'amotu RW 17/35 (1,509 meters, grass) with a pilot plus nine Tongans. The passengers could have picked a few coconuts as they disappeared off the south east end of the runway.

The grass RW 17/35 had a hump where the road crossed the strip. Hitting the hump was an excellent aid to transiting from the runway to ground effect. It appears RW 17/35 and the old wooden hangar may have disappeared?

There was also an old Piper Aztec (or was it an Islander??) in the hangar which one of the Cargo Boys from a previous operator thought he could fry - so as you do - so he gave it a go! Seems the would be pilot and the Aztec (or was it an Islander?) survived the ordeal, although the aircraft had significant damage which could not be buffed out! :}

Tonga, the land where time began. From Australia set your watch forward two hours and back 100 years! :}