Air Niugini Flight 73

Air Niugini Flight 73
Photograph of passengers being rescued from the aircraft
Passengers being rescued following the accident
Accident
Date 28 September 2018 (2018-09-28)
Summary Under investigation
Site Chuuk International Airport
Aircraft
Aircraft type Boeing 737-8BK
Operator Air Niugini
IATA flight No. PX73
ICAO flight No. ANG73
Call sign NIUGINI 73
Registration P2-PXE
Flight origin Pohnpei Airport
Stopover Chuuk International Airport
Destination Port Moresby Airport
Occupants 47
Passengers 35
Crew 12
Fatalities 1
Injuries Several
Survivors 46

Air Niugini Flight 73 was a scheduled service from Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. On 28 September 2018, the flight, operated by a Boeing 737, landed short of the runway at Chuuk International Airport in Weno (FSM) and came to rest in Chuuk Lagoon. Locals in small boats rescued most passengers and all crew members. One passenger was initially declared missing. He was later found dead by rescue divers.[1]

Aircraft

The accident aircraft was a Boeing 737-8BK, registration P2-PXE, msn 33024, Boeing line number 1688. It had first flown on 1 April 2005.[2]

The aircraft was originally registered VT-AXC for Air India Express and was delivered on 19 April 2005.[2] On 6 July 2005, it was damaged in a runway excursion on landing at Cochin International Airport, India.[3] On 29 July 2010, the aircraft was sold to Jet Airways and was registered VT-JBT. It was sold to CIT Leasing Corporation on 24 July 2013 and registered M-ABGK before being sold to Air Nuigini on 13 September and registered P2-PXE.[2] On 12 May 2018, it was struck by Lockheed L-100 Hercules N403C of Lynden Air Cargo whilst parked at Port Moresby Airport, sustaining damage to its right winglet.[4]

Accident

The aircraft was operating an internationally scheduled passenger flight from Pohnpei Airport, FSM to Port Moresby Airport, Papua New Guinea via Chuuk International Airport, FSM. At 10:10 local time (00:10 UTC), the aircraft landed in a lagoon 135 metres (148 yd) short of Chuuk International Airport. Initial reports stated that all twelve crew and 35 passengers were rescued by local boats and United States Navy personnel.[2][5] But later on, the body of one male passenger was found by rescue divers searching the accident site. Air Niugini has stated that the deceased passenger is confirmed to have evacuated the aircraft.[6] Nine people were taken to hospital.[7][8] Some of the injured sustained broken bones. It was reported that there were thunderstorms in the vicinity of the airport at the time of the accident.[9] The aircraft subsequently sank in 30 metres (100 ft) of water.[5]

Investigation

The Papua New Guinea Accident Investigation Commission has opened an investigation into the accident.[10]

References

  1. ↑ "Press statement - Air Niugini Facebook".
  2. 1 2 3 4 "P2-PXE Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  3. ↑ Flight Operations in raining conditions - with special reference to the Indian sub-continent. Flight Safety Notes. [Retrieved 29 September 2018];(December 2007).
  4. ↑ "Preliminary Report AIC 18-001" (PDF). Papua New Guinea Accident Investigation Commission. 7 June 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  5. 1 2 White, Matthew R. "U.S. Navy UCT 2 Renders Assistance Following Plane Crash in Chuuk". United States Navy 7th Fleet. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  6. ↑ "Air Niugini plane crash turns fatal after divers find missing passenger's body". ABC News. 2 October 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  7. ↑ "Air Niugini Says All on Board Rescued After 737 Lands in Chuuk Lagoon". Australian Aviation. 28 September 2018. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  8. ↑ Dye, Josh (28 September 2018). "PNG-bound Air Niugini flight lands in lagoon". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  9. ↑ Hradecky, Simon. "Accident: Niugini B738 at Chuuk on Sep 28th 2018, touched down in sea short of runway". The Aviation Herald. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  10. ↑ "Passengers safe after Air Niugini flight crashes into sea in Micronesia". Reuters. 28 September 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.