Looking back on Singapore Airlines flight 006

SINGAPORE AIRLINES BOEING 747-412 9V-SPN (MSN 28031)

Singapore Airlines Flight 006 was a scheduled international passenger service from Singapore Changi Airport (SIN/WSSS) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX/KLAX), with a stopover at Taoyuan International Airport (TPE/RCTP) in Taipei, Taiwan. On the 31st of October 2000, at 23:16 local time in Taipei, the Boeing 747-412 assigned to the flight mistakenly attempted takeoff from an incorrect runway at Chiang Kai-shek International Airport amidst a typhoon. The plane collided with construction equipment on the runway, resulting in the deaths of 83 of the 179 passengers on board. Initially, 98 passengers survived the crash, but two later succumbed to their injuries in the hospital. This incident marked the first fatal crash of a Boeing 747-400.

At 23:05 ground control cleared the aircraft to taxi to runway 05L via taxiways SS, WC, and NP. 

At 23:15 the aircraft was cleared for takeoff on runway 05L.

After a six-second hold, at 23:16 the crew attempted takeoff on runway 05R—which had been closed for repairs—instead of the assigned runway 05L (which ran parallel to 05R). The captain correctly acknowledged that he needed to take off at 05L, but he turned the aircraft 215 m (705 ft) too soon and lined up with 05R. The airport at the time was not equipped with ASDE, a ground radar that enables air traffic controllers to detect potential runway conflicts by providing detailed coverage of movement on runways and taxiways.

Due to poor visibility from the heavy rain, the pilots failed to notice the construction equipment parked on runway 05R, which included two excavators, two vibrating rollers, a bulldozer, and an air compressor. Additionally, the runway was obstructed with concrete Jersey barriers and pits. Roughly 41 seconds later, the aircraft collided with the equipment, breaking into three main sections. The fuselage split, the engines and landing gear detached, and a crane severed the left wing, causing the plane to crash back to the ground. The nose hit a scoop loader, leading to a large fire that consumed the forward fuselage and wings.

The aircraft involved was a Boeing 747-412, registered as 9V-SPK with serial number 28023, it was powered by four Pratt & Whitney PW4056 engines. It was the 1,099th Boeing 747 built and its first flight took place on the 12th of January 1997. It was one of two Singapore Airlines 747-412s painted in a special "Rainbow" livery to promote Singapore Airlines' latest cabin product and service offerings across all of the airline's travel classes at the time.