What makes this crash more dramatic is that CCN reports that there where some 80 children aboard, on a school excursion from Cyprus to Athens. The aircraft seems to have been uncontrollable, and I guess that we can agree that they where lucky that the aircraft did not crash into populated area (like Athens).
Reports where that the pilot was not in his seat, this could indicate that the pilot was checking-out what was wrong with the aircraft.
The Greek Army denies speculations of the F-16 having shot the aircraft down because it did not respond to any calls and/or instructions that the ground and/or the F-16's gave to the pilots.
The aircraft crashed near the town of Marathon.
CNN reports that a passenger has send a SMS to a cousin in which the passenger claims that the pilot was back in the cabin and when he was back in the cockpit they both slumped and it was freezing in the aircraft.
Apparently the aircraft was flying on the autopilot. When the a/c entered the Greek airspace it did not have any communication with the Greek controllers. As it was approaching Athens, two F-16’s took off to intercept the aircraft. They could not see anybody in the cockpit but they reported someone standing in the cockpit with mask on. However, the a/c was still flying its scheduled course. After they passed Athens airport, the a/c banked to the left and descended in what seemed an uncontrolled crash into a mountain (not very high one) area north east of Athens.
Rescuers that have approached the area of crash reported that the a/c was destroyed to pieces, and that only the tail section was somewhat in one piece. There was a small fire in the area that is under control.
Horrible news....
Plane crashes north east of Athens
Moderator: Latest news team
-
- Posts: 413
- Joined: 04 Jan 2004, 00:00
Reminds me of the Payne Stewart crash. His Lear35 had pressurization problems the flight crew didn't notice in time. Cabin pressure was slowly lost but they didn't put their masks on. All onboard went unconscious before freezing up while the autopilot continued to fly the airplane for hours until the engines stopped. The Lear was escorted by fighters, ready to shoot it down if it came near a populated area, until the final dive.
To all pilots on the forum: go on oxygen as soon as you have aircon/pressurization issues.
My thoughts go to the families of the pax and crew.
To all pilots on the forum: go on oxygen as soon as you have aircon/pressurization issues.
My thoughts go to the families of the pax and crew.
- B744skipper
- Posts: 1509
- Joined: 21 Apr 2004, 00:00
Pictures of the crash-site:
Last edited by B744skipper on 14 Aug 2005, 13:33, edited 1 time in total.
It is indeed a very sad event - also I wondered why we have such three big incidents in a row (Toronto, Sicily and now Athens).
I bet someone will come up next with the idea of remote controllable pax-aircraft. As they did already after 9-11. Besides the massive loss of people such tragedies will also make flying more complicated.
is there a possibility that there was too much C0_2 or CO in the air which made the people slowly unconscious?
I bet someone will come up next with the idea of remote controllable pax-aircraft. As they did already after 9-11. Besides the massive loss of people such tragedies will also make flying more complicated.
is there a possibility that there was too much C0_2 or CO in the air which made the people slowly unconscious?
It's coincidence. The 3 major crashes this month were all different.
But after those three, there were some smaller crashes who doesn't reach the news, also this month.
But we can also say that there were no major crashes in the other months of this year. I'm happy about that.
This crash with the Helios is really weird. Somebody send an SMS with the message " the pilots are dead, we are freezing dead", when somebody received it they get loss.
But this month could be worse if the AF flight to Toronto was not ending by rescuing all the passengers and the cabincrew.
Otherwise there were 443 deads only this month.
But after those three, there were some smaller crashes who doesn't reach the news, also this month.
But we can also say that there were no major crashes in the other months of this year. I'm happy about that.
This crash with the Helios is really weird. Somebody send an SMS with the message " the pilots are dead, we are freezing dead", when somebody received it they get loss.
But this month could be worse if the AF flight to Toronto was not ending by rescuing all the passengers and the cabincrew.
Otherwise there were 443 deads only this month.
- B744skipper
- Posts: 1509
- Joined: 21 Apr 2004, 00:00
Here are more pictures of the crash:
Pictures via: http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,3 ... 66,00.html
Pictures via: http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,3 ... 66,00.html
TWA suffered a mid-air explosion of the [empty] fueltanks which were filled with a fatal fuel-vapour/oxygen mix, probably ignited by faulty insulation of a wire which ran through the fueltank.moons wrote:I read some things about the airco...
If I'm not mistaken, the airco is driven by the engines? As TWA 800, the engines were running for quite long time on ground to have some airco on that hot day. The rest of that story we all know I think...
In my opinion there's no connection between these two accidents.
Coincidence?
Coincidences do no exist, Atlantis.Atlantis wrote:It's coincidence.
Some sources mention unconscious pilots? Or ill pilots?
Do we look for catering, food, drink intoxication? A case of HFP or Scromboid poisoning?
A 'crab' sandwich can cause disasters: therefor beware of "hidden" seafood allergens, like surimi - that's a processed food sold as imitation crabmeat, but contains fish and egg white. Surimi and codfish contain a common allergen identified as a 63-kDa protein, combine that with Worcestershire sauce or Caesar salad dressing (both contain anchovies)...
It's just a guess, as Atlantis mentioned coincidence, I was thinking catering (GG) -> food intoxication*. My god, do coincidences really exist?
It would be unforgivable if that would be the case.... It would be really stupid that so many people died over such an issue...
*GG is catering Co, but no harm intended here, just jumping from one idea to another. From a cucumber andwich to a crabsandwich.f
Strange and intriguing story.
And the CVR. Wonder what the pilots talked about in their last minutes... and why there was no radio contact.MrAirbus wrote:Ohh my god! This accident is awful! Just the thinking about what went on in the passenger and crews mind makes me soo sad!
Hope they find the BLACK BOX in good condition!
And each time there is a (air)disaster* I read this too, and I find this each time quite shocking as these people do not show any sympathy with the families, they only seem to feel relieved. Each time quite shocking and showing a certain mentality. A pity. 8O
*or any other disaster, btw.
Last edited by SN30952 on 14 Aug 2005, 16:39, edited 1 time in total.
What a horrible thing to read. two fatal crashes in a month and a potentially catastrophic incident...
Could it be that if both pilots are unconcious, no passenger or crew can enter the cockpit to try something because of the new "closed-door" regulations scince 9/11 ?
TriStar
Could it be that if both pilots are unconcious, no passenger or crew can enter the cockpit to try something because of the new "closed-door" regulations scince 9/11 ?
YES this also applies for short routes. Although they mostly eat & drink before takeoff on short hops. But for the rest it's the same procedure.lastrow wrote:Hi, regarding the food/toxic stuff theory: I have herad that pilot and co-pilot usually eat and drink different food/beverages for long haul routes. Does this rule also apply for such short routes?
TriStar
Poisoning by meals and/or drinks is almost impossible: pilot and copilot must order different meals, and food poisoning usually only happens after a certain time - and do not cause immediate inactivation.
Flying time LCA-ATH is 1h45 min; plane left LCA at 09h00 a.m., so I don't think a breakfast was served.
Flying time LCA-ATH is 1h45 min; plane left LCA at 09h00 a.m., so I don't think a breakfast was served.
- Airbus330lover
- Posts: 883
- Joined: 21 Jul 2005, 00:00
- Location: Rixensart
Very good question.Could it be that if both pilots are unconcious, no passenger or crew can enter the cockpit to try something because of the new "closed-door" regulations scince 9/11 ?
If the result of the search prove that only the cockpit crew was unconscious and the rest of the crew or the passengers really don't can go into the cockpit, we must revise the regulations about the cockpit door.
Wait and see