kenya airlines 737-800 missing
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Arroyo
Why don't we put this thread on hold? It will take days to get reliable information and months, if not years, for an investigation report. As a matter of respect for those banging for their loved ones, stop jumping around the wreck.
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Perth - Western Australia
An unnamed Kenya CAA official has been reported as stating "the plane has crashed" ..
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21680147-2,00.html
SA news sources have stated that witnesses near Lolodorf have reported hearing "a loud explosion" ..
The scenario doesn't look good .. heavily timbered country is reported where the plane is reputed to have gone down .. thus making it harder to find wreckage, and more difficult for possible survivors. God speed the searchers.
I can't imagine that any top-class rescue teams are ready to roll .. or that quality treatment facilities are nearby, either ..
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21680147-2,00.html
SA news sources have stated that witnesses near Lolodorf have reported hearing "a loud explosion" ..
The scenario doesn't look good .. heavily timbered country is reported where the plane is reputed to have gone down .. thus making it harder to find wreckage, and more difficult for possible survivors. God speed the searchers.
I can't imagine that any top-class rescue teams are ready to roll .. or that quality treatment facilities are nearby, either ..
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Essex
I flew on a KQ 737-800 earlier this year and was nothing but impressed from start to finish. Im sure those crews work as hard as any in the world with some monster weather amongst other challenges. My sincere condolences but its also not too late for survivors.
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From: washington,dc
regarding weather:
it does seem that a thunder storm was present...perhaps somewhat obscured by other clouds...hopefully wx radar was working properly.
while waiting for facts, thoughtful speculation is not out of line. it may make someone else think and avoid another accident.
flight engineer? perhaps not in our sense, but does this mean recent mechanical work?
it does seem that a thunder storm was present...perhaps somewhat obscured by other clouds...hopefully wx radar was working properly.
while waiting for facts, thoughtful speculation is not out of line. it may make someone else think and avoid another accident.
flight engineer? perhaps not in our sense, but does this mean recent mechanical work?
Controversial, moi?
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: UK
Accident investigations start with a theory/opinion which is then tested by facts & evidence.
Why do so many ignorant, uninformed and ultimately pointless posts always appear when an accident happens?
Do people feel the need to get their contribution in irrespective of whether they have anything constructive to say?
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Canada
Hard to say, but It may have been a mechanical issue. You don't go wrong on 737NG so easily.... Either flight crew negligence, bomb on board or maintenance issue. I wish we would know more details about Mayday call...RIP to all involved in the accident
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From: btw SAMAR and TOSPA
FKKD 050200Z 00000KT 9999 TS BKN013 SCT020CB BKN120 24/24 Q1009 NOSIG
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: kenya
Just to clarify Bomarc's query on the flight engineer, most KQ continental routes carry an engineer to evaluate any snags at out-stations, assist / monitor fuelling, monitor ground operations etc.
At this point we have absolutely no concrete information, and while we are all anxious to find out the cause of this tragedy at the moment it is all speculation and rumour. While i do think it's important we discuss this, I'm hoping we can keep it to constructive speculation and rumour.
Meanwhile we would like to focus our thoughts and prayers on the families and friends of our colleagues, and those of the 106 passengers.
5Y
At this point we have absolutely no concrete information, and while we are all anxious to find out the cause of this tragedy at the moment it is all speculation and rumour. While i do think it's important we discuss this, I'm hoping we can keep it to constructive speculation and rumour.
Meanwhile we would like to focus our thoughts and prayers on the families and friends of our colleagues, and those of the 106 passengers.
5Y
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: washington,dc
5Ynot
thank you for clarifying flight engineer in this case...I thought it might be sort of a mechanic with the plane and not like the FE we might have seen once in the 727 for example.
one report indicates that the last call was shortly after takeoff...and of all the discussed thoughts, wx would seem to be one worthy avenue of investigation...CFIT too perhaps complicated by night.
thank you for clarifying flight engineer in this case...I thought it might be sort of a mechanic with the plane and not like the FE we might have seen once in the 727 for example.
one report indicates that the last call was shortly after takeoff...and of all the discussed thoughts, wx would seem to be one worthy avenue of investigation...CFIT too perhaps complicated by night.
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: kenya
No prob. They're indispensable on those routes.
If I remember rightly douala tower passes you to douala control, check in with them, next call NLY, yaounde. Don't know for sure what what calls they actually made. I would speculate the 'last call' as reported was the handover. Just don't know. Just for the record, the crew would have been fresh, having joined in douala.
We're just very anxious they find the aircraft soon. CNN reporting air search suspended due weather.
If I remember rightly douala tower passes you to douala control, check in with them, next call NLY, yaounde. Don't know for sure what what calls they actually made. I would speculate the 'last call' as reported was the handover. Just don't know. Just for the record, the crew would have been fresh, having joined in douala.
We're just very anxious they find the aircraft soon. CNN reporting air search suspended due weather.
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Middle East
From the AP
Intresting that some speculation in reports that a ditress call had in fact gone out, this quote in the AP though...
'Kenya Airways CEO Titus Naikuni held back on confirming the crash "until we see the plane — until then, it's missing," he said.
He said the distress call was issued automatically — "from a machine, not a pilot" — but said a crash is not the only reason a plane issues an automatic distress signal.'
I conclude from this that it would be an ELT or Transponder (limited radar coverage so less likely) ???
Regardless cannot be optimistic about the outcome.
God Bless family and friends.
'Kenya Airways CEO Titus Naikuni held back on confirming the crash "until we see the plane — until then, it's missing," he said.
He said the distress call was issued automatically — "from a machine, not a pilot" — but said a crash is not the only reason a plane issues an automatic distress signal.'
I conclude from this that it would be an ELT or Transponder (limited radar coverage so less likely) ???
Regardless cannot be optimistic about the outcome.
God Bless family and friends.
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: washington,dc
SOME clarifications:
Airline officials said they lost contact with the Nairobi-bound Boeing 737-800 only 11 minutes after its midnight takeoff from Douala, Cameroon.
Cameroon aviation officials said they received a distress call from the plane several hours after the crash, but Kenya Airways officials said the signal appeared to be an automated beacon relayed by the plane's computers, not the pilot.
Officials did not speculate on the cause of the crash, but some suggested that weather may have been a factor.
from the LA times.
I too believe the last transmission was a handoff...would like to know what was said, perhaps a request to deviate around wx, or at least an advisory that deviation was in progress.
Airline officials said they lost contact with the Nairobi-bound Boeing 737-800 only 11 minutes after its midnight takeoff from Douala, Cameroon.
Cameroon aviation officials said they received a distress call from the plane several hours after the crash, but Kenya Airways officials said the signal appeared to be an automated beacon relayed by the plane's computers, not the pilot.
Officials did not speculate on the cause of the crash, but some suggested that weather may have been a factor.
from the LA times.
I too believe the last transmission was a handoff...would like to know what was said, perhaps a request to deviate around wx, or at least an advisory that deviation was in progress.
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From: West Sussex
This is the official statement from Kenya Airways:
PRESS STATEMENT.
Released at 1900hrs
Flight KQ 507 operated by a 737-800 aircraft which departed from Douala at 00:05 local time and was due to arrive in Nairobi at 06:15 but has not arrived.
The last message from the aircraft was received by the control tower in Douala immediately after take off. There were 105 passengers and 9 crew members on board. The nationalities of the people on board are as shown on the attached list. The nationality of 2 passengers is yet to be confirmed. We have now confirmed the nationality of 1 of the 3 unidentified passengers as Mauritanian.
Kenya Airways have opened a crisis management centre in Embakasi to monitor the situation and information is being disseminated on a regular basis.
An international passenger information centre has been opened in South Africa where all questions can be addressed. The public enquiry number is +27 11 2071100.
A local passenger information centre has been opened at the Intercontinental Hotel where all questions can be addressed. The public enquiry numbers are +254-20-3200353, +254-20-3200354, +254-20-3274349.
A team from Nairobi comprising Kenya Airways and appropriate Kenya Government authorities is being assembled and will leave for Douala later today.
Unless any pertinent information comes up in the course of the evening, the next press briefing is scheduled to be held at Panari Hotel on Sunday 6th May 2007 at 0900hrs.
A brief update on the situation in Douala:
There was a brief disturbance at Douala Airport in the morning, but the situation is now calm.
A distress signal was picked up on the West Coast of Africa and a search and rescue mission, initiated by the Cameroonian authorities, was initiated this morning. The search location was 100km South West of Yaoundé. The search aircraft flew over the zone extensively at low altitude but did not locate the missing aircraft. The Kenya Airways country manager in Cameroon was part of the search team.
A coordination centre has been set up where most of the Cameroonian Government authorities including police, state police, Air Force, Cameroon Civil Aviation Authorities, ASECNA, the Army, National Intelligence Agency and Kenya Airways team are present.
A helicopter has taken off to comb the area from Eseka to Ebolowa south east of Douala. The area being searched is very dense equatorial forest and there is heavy rainfall reported which is affecting the search exercise.
Our offices in Douala and Yaoundé continue to remain open for any enquiries.
PRESS STATEMENT.
Released at 1900hrs
Flight KQ 507 operated by a 737-800 aircraft which departed from Douala at 00:05 local time and was due to arrive in Nairobi at 06:15 but has not arrived.
The last message from the aircraft was received by the control tower in Douala immediately after take off. There were 105 passengers and 9 crew members on board. The nationalities of the people on board are as shown on the attached list. The nationality of 2 passengers is yet to be confirmed. We have now confirmed the nationality of 1 of the 3 unidentified passengers as Mauritanian.
Kenya Airways have opened a crisis management centre in Embakasi to monitor the situation and information is being disseminated on a regular basis.
An international passenger information centre has been opened in South Africa where all questions can be addressed. The public enquiry number is +27 11 2071100.
A local passenger information centre has been opened at the Intercontinental Hotel where all questions can be addressed. The public enquiry numbers are +254-20-3200353, +254-20-3200354, +254-20-3274349.
A team from Nairobi comprising Kenya Airways and appropriate Kenya Government authorities is being assembled and will leave for Douala later today.
Unless any pertinent information comes up in the course of the evening, the next press briefing is scheduled to be held at Panari Hotel on Sunday 6th May 2007 at 0900hrs.
A brief update on the situation in Douala:
There was a brief disturbance at Douala Airport in the morning, but the situation is now calm.
A distress signal was picked up on the West Coast of Africa and a search and rescue mission, initiated by the Cameroonian authorities, was initiated this morning. The search location was 100km South West of Yaoundé. The search aircraft flew over the zone extensively at low altitude but did not locate the missing aircraft. The Kenya Airways country manager in Cameroon was part of the search team.
A coordination centre has been set up where most of the Cameroonian Government authorities including police, state police, Air Force, Cameroon Civil Aviation Authorities, ASECNA, the Army, National Intelligence Agency and Kenya Airways team are present.
A helicopter has taken off to comb the area from Eseka to Ebolowa south east of Douala. The area being searched is very dense equatorial forest and there is heavy rainfall reported which is affecting the search exercise.
Our offices in Douala and Yaoundé continue to remain open for any enquiries.
Joined: May 2004
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From: Way up north
Reading this thread, I get a surrealistic feeling of travelling backwards in time.
The aircraft itself may be anno 2007, but the environment in which it operates seems to be anno 1920’ies.
Members of this forum fly in Africa. Then strange that we here so far have only received undechiffreable messages from that end. Different worlds?
The aircraft itself may be anno 2007, but the environment in which it operates seems to be anno 1920’ies.
Members of this forum fly in Africa. Then strange that we here so far have only received undechiffreable messages from that end. Different worlds?
See and avoid
Joined: Mar 2003
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
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From: USA
The BBC now says that the search has been called off until daybreak.
Last Updated: Saturday, 5 May 2007, 19:39 GMT 20:39 UK
"The search location has now been centred around 100kms (62 miles) south-west of [Cameroon's capital] Yaounde," Kenyan Airways chief executive Titus Naikuni told reporters.
He said the extensive search of the heavily-wooded area by low-flying aircraft had found nothing.
A BBC correspondent in Lolodorf said the situation there was chaotic, and that heavy rains had prevented a ground search from taking place.
"They (officials) are not very certain where the crash site is. There's real confusion here," Randy Joe Sa'ah told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme.
Later on Saturday, Cameroon's authorities said the operation had been called off until daybreak.
He said the extensive search of the heavily-wooded area by low-flying aircraft had found nothing.
A BBC correspondent in Lolodorf said the situation there was chaotic, and that heavy rains had prevented a ground search from taking place.
"They (officials) are not very certain where the crash site is. There's real confusion here," Randy Joe Sa'ah told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme.
Later on Saturday, Cameroon's authorities said the operation had been called off until daybreak.