2014 Lao People's Liberation Army Air Force An-74 crash

Last updated

2014 Lao People's Liberation Army Air Force An-74 crash
Antonov An-74TK-300D 3.jpg
An Antonov 74TK-300 similar to the aircraft involved
Accident
Date17 May 2014 (2014-05-17)
SummaryUnder investigation [ needs update ]
SiteBaan Nadi, Xiangkhouang Province, Laos
Aircraft
Aircraft type Antonov An-74TK-300
Operator Lao People's Liberation Army Air Force
Registration RDPL-34020
Flight origin Wattay International Airport, Vientiane, Laos
Destination Xieng Khouang Airport, Phonsavan, Laos
Occupants17
Fatalities16
Survivors1

On 17 May 2014, an Antonov An-74 transport aircraft of the Lao People's Liberation Army Air Force crashed while en route to Xiangkhouang Province, northern Laos, killing all but one of the 17 people on board. Among the victims were several Laotian politicians travelling to attend a ceremony celebrating the 55th anniversary of the second division of the Lao People's Army. [1]

Contents

Accident

Between 6:15 and 07:00 (IC T), [2] [3] [4] local time on 17 May 2014, 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) [4] or 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) [3] from the destination in Xiang Khouang, the Xieng Khouang Airport, [5] [4] the aircraft crashed in Nadee, [2] Xiang Khouang, 500 kilometres (310 mi) from where it left in Vientiane [6] at the Vientiane-Wattay Airport. [5] The aircraft was too low on final approach, and its landing gear clipped some trees just short of the runway, resulting in the crash, which was attributed to a technical error. [7]

Aircraft

The aircraft involved was a Ukrainian-built Antonov An-74TK-300 twinjet, registered as RDPL-34020. It was ferried to Vientiane-Wattay Airport on 26 October 2009. [2] [5] [8]

Passengers

Initial reports suggested that there were fourteen passengers, [9] but later reports gave the figure as twenty on board at the time of the accident, [10] only three were reported to have survived. [6] Once the situation became clearer, the passenger count was given as seventeen [7] and the death toll was given as sixteen, with one survivor after the other two original survivors died from their wounds. [11]

Those killed included: [9] [12] [13]

A Thai news source said that the co-pilot, a nurse, and another person had survived. [9] The defence ministry permanent secretary in Thailand said that the Defence Minister of Laos and four others had been killed, [6] and a witness also said that the Defence Minister had died, and gave the figure of fourteen deaths. [3]

Reactions

The death of "arguably the two most powerful people in the security apparatus" was reported to be a significant blow to the ruling Lao People's Revolutionary Party. [12] After the crash, a three-day period of national mourning was announced. [13] [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Politics of Laos</span>

The politics of the Lao People's Democratic Republic takes place in the framework of a one-party parliamentary socialist republic. The only legal political party is the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP). The head of state is President Thongloun Sisoulith, who is also the LPRP general secretary, making him the supreme leader of Laos. The head of government is Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lao People's Armed Forces</span> Combined military forces of Laos

The Lao People's Armed Forces or the Lao People's Army (LPA) is the armed forces of the Lao People's Democratic Republic and the institution of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, who are charged with protecting the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muang Phuan</span> Former historical principality of the Xiang Khouang Plateau

Muang Phuan or Xieng Khouang, also known historically to the Vietnamese as Trấn Ninh, was a historical principality on the Xiang Khouang Plateau, which constitutes the modern territory of Xiangkhouang Province, Laos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phoumi Vongvichit</span>

Phoumi Vongvichit was a leading figure of the Pathet Lao and an elder statesman of the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

Brigadier-General Thao Ma (1931–1973) was a Laotian military and political figure of the Laotian Civil War and the Vietnam War. Thao Ma began his military career as a paratrooper in the French Union Army, when France administered the Kingdom of Laos. He switched to aviation, first as a transport pilot, then as a fighter-bomber pilot. From 1959 to 1966, Thao Ma was the commander of the Royal Lao Air Force (RLAF), and was noted for his charisma and aggressiveness. However, his dedication to soldierly virtues put him at odds with other Laotian generals who were involved in the drug trade. As a result, he made three futile attempts to seize control of the Laotian military and the Royal Lao Government. During the last of these attempted coups, in 1973, he was executed without trial at age 42.

This is a list of aviation-related events from 1981.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lao Airlines</span> Flag carrier of Laos

Lao Airlines State Enterprise is the flag carrier of Laos, headquartered in Vientiane. It operates domestic and international services to countries such as Cambodia, China, Japan, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam. Its main operating base is Wattay International Airport in Vientiane. It is subordinate to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antonov An-26</span> Soviet turboprop transport aircraft

The Antonov An-26 is a twin-engined turboprop civilian and military transport aircraft, designed and produced in the Soviet Union from 1969 to 1986.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wattay International Airport</span> Airport serving Vientiane, Laos

Wattay International Airport is one of the few international airports in Laos and the country's main international gateway, serving the capital Vientiane, located 3 km (1.9 mi) outside of the city centre in Sikhottabong district, Vientiane Prefecture. The airport is operated by the Lao Airport Authority (LAA) and serves as a hub for Lao Skyway, Lao Central Airlines and Lao Airlines. The Lao Air Force also operates an installation at one end of the airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lao People's Liberation Army Air Force</span> Air warfare branch of Laos military

The Lao People's Liberation Army Air Force (LPLAAF) is the air force of Laos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lao Skyway</span> Regional airline of Laos

Lao Skyway, formerly known as Lao Air, is a private airline with its headquarters at Wattay International Airport in Vientiane, Laos. It operates scheduled and charter services to airports in Laos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Douangchay Phichit</span> Laotian politician

Lieutenant general Douangchay Phichit was a Laotian politician from Attapeu and a Politburo member of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party. He served as the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antonov An-74</span> Soviet/Ukrainian military transport aircraft

The Antonov An-74 is a Soviet/Ukrainian transport aircraft developed by Antonov. It is a variant of the An-72.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lao Airlines Flight 301</span> 2013 aviation accident

Lao Airlines Flight 301 was a scheduled domestic passenger flight from Vientiane to Pakse, Laos. On 16 October 2013, the ATR 72-600 aircraft operating the flight crashed into the Mekong River near Pakse, killing all 49 people on board. The accident was the first involving an ATR 72-600 and the deadliest ever to occur on Laotian soil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pany Yathotou</span> Laotian politician

Pany Yathotou is a Laotian politician and member of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soukanh Mahalath</span> Laotian politician

Soukanh Mahalath was a Laotian politician and member of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party. Mahalath was the Mayor of Vientiane, the country's capital city, until his death in May 2014. He had previously held the positions of Minister of Finance from 2001 to 2003 and the governor of the Bank of the Lao P.D.R., the country's central bank, from 1999 until 2001.

The following lists events that happened during 2014 in Laos.

The 1973 Laotian coup d'état attempt was a final attempt to stave off a communist coalition government of the Kingdom of Laos. Exiled General Thao Ma returned from the Kingdom of Thailand on 20 August 1973 to take over Wattay International Airport outside the capital of Vientiane. Commandeering an AT-28, he led air strikes upon the office and home of his hated rival, General Kouprasith Abhay. While Thao Ma was unsuccessfully bombing Kouprasith, loyal Royalist troops retook the airfield. Shot down upon his return, Thao Ma was hauled from his airplane's wreckage and executed. The coalition agreement was signed 14 September 1973.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2000 ASA Pesada Antonov An-24 crash</span> Aviation accident

The 2000 ASA Pesada Antonov An-24 crash occurred on 15 November 2000 when an Antonov An-24 registered as D2-FCG operated by Angolan airliner ASA Pesada crashed shortly after taking off from Quatro de Fevereiro Airport in Angola's capital Luanda. The aircraft was carrying 52 passengers and 5 crewmembers and was heading to Yuri Gagarin Airport in Namibe Province, Angola. All 57 people on board were killed in the crash.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meridian Flight 3032</span> 2022 aviation incident

Meridian Flight 3032 was an Antonov An-12BK which crashed in July 2022 near Antiphilippi, Kavala, Greece while trying to make an emergency landing at Kavala International Airport.

References

  1. ↑ Network News, Australia. "Laos plane crash: Five officials including Laotian defence minister killed as military plane crashes in country's north". ABC News. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 "Plane crashes in Xiengkhouang province '". KPL. 17 May 2014. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 "Laos air force plane crashes, defence minister reported dead". Reuters. 17 May 2014. Archived from the original on 27 April 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 Peng, Fu (17 May 2014). "At least five confirmed dead, three survive in air crash in northeastern Laos". Xinhuanet. Archived from the original on 20 May 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 "Laos Defence Minister Douangchay Phichit's plane crashes". BBC News. 17 May 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  7. 1 2 "Technical Error Behind Laos Plane Crash". New Indian Express. 20 May 2014. Archived from the original on 20 May 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  8. ↑ "Soviet Database". www.scramble.nl. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  9. 1 2 3 "Lao deputy PM dies in plane crash". Bangkok Post . 17 May 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  10. ↑ Waldron, Greg (19 May 2014). "Crash of Lao air force An-74 kills 20". Flightglobal . Singapore. Archived from the original on 10 August 2014. 
  11. ↑ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  12. 1 2 Fuller, Thomas (17 May 2014). "Crash in Laos Kills Top Government Officials". The New York Times . Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  13. 1 2 Chaichalearmmongkol, Nopparat (18 May 2014). "Laos Declares Days of Mourning After Plane Crash". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  14. ↑ "Lao defence minister, top officials, lie in state after plane crash; investigation underway". Ottawa Citizen. 19 May 2014. Archived from the original on 20 May 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2014.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.