Airliner Crash-Lands on Road, Killing Three on Christmas
An airliner crash-landed on a road in Myanmar and killed three earlier today. While 11 others were injured, the dead consisted solely of Myanmar citizens: a tour guide, an 11-year-old girl on the plane, and a motorcyclist who was on the road when the plane went down.
"While descending, the plane mistakenly landed … due to fog beside the runway," state television reported, according to the Washington Post. "The rear end of the plane broke and caught fire."
Air Bagan, responsible for the flight and aircraft, initially said that the plane was forced to make an "emergency landing" after it "hit electrical cables about a mile from Heho airport as it descended and landed in rice fields."
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All 71 passengers were securely removed from the plane after the fire was put out, and the injured were taken to a hospital in the city of Taunggyi for treatment. Two Americans, a British national and a Korean citizen were among those injured, the Associated Press reported.
"The emergency exit was opened as soon as the aircraft landed in the nearby field and passengers were evacuated by our cabin crew. Eight passengers were injured as the aircraft caught fire and were taken to the nearest Sao San Tun hospital in Taung Gyi for treatment," the airline confirmed.
According to one official, a fire was reported in one of the engines as it approached the airport, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation noted. However, the official could only speak on condition of anonymity due to an ongoing investigation.
"Air Bagan in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport is investigating into the cause of the accident. We will take full responsibility for all passengers and will release further information as we receive it," Air Bagan added in its statement.
According to Air Transport World, the plane that went down was an Air Bagan Fokker 100, and the company also uses two ATR 42s and two ATR 72s.
