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. 

Remembering Lion air flight 610

LION AIR BOEING 737-8GP PK-LQV (MSN 39861)

 

Lion Air Flight 610 was a scheduled domestic passenger flight from Jakarta-Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK/WIII), Indonesia to Pangkal Pinang Airport (PGK/WIKK), Indonesia

On the 29th of October 2018, the Boeing 737 MAX operating the route crashed into the Java Sea 13 minutes after takeoff, killing all 189 passengers and crew. It was the first major accident involving the new Boeing 737 MAX series of aircraft, introduced in 2017, and the highest death toll of any accident or incident involving the entire Boeing 737 series, Original, Classic, Next Generation or MAX, surpassing Air India Express Flight 812 in 2010. It was the deadliest accident in Lion Air's history, surpassing the 2004 Lion Air Flight 538 that killed 25, and the second deadliest aircraft accident in Indonesia behind Garuda Indonesia Flight 152.

The aircraft departed at 6:20 a.m. local time and was scheduled to arrive at Depati Amir Airport in Pangkal Pinang at 7:20 a.m. It took off in a westward direction before circling around to a northeast heading, which it held until crashing offshore northeast of Jakarta in waters estimated to be up to 35 m (115 ft) deep. The flight crew had requested clearance to return to the Jakarta airport 35 km (19 nautical miles) into the flight. The accident site was located 34 km (18 nautical miles) off the coast of the island of Java.

Communication between air traffic control (ATC) and Flight 610 was suddenly lost at 6:33 a.m. ATC informed the National Search and Rescue Agency, which deployed three ships and a helicopter to the area. At 7:30 a.m., the agency received reports that Flight 610 had crashed a few kilometres from an offshore oil platform. Workers on the platform reportedly saw the aircraft crash with a steep nose-down angle. Boats from the platform were immediately deployed and debris from the crashed aircraft was found shortly after.

The aircraft was a Boeing 737 MAX 8, registration PK-LQP, serial number 43000, line number 7058, powered by two CFM International LEAP - 1B25 engines. The aircraft was leased from China Minsheng Investment Group (CMIG) Aviation Capital. It made its first flight on the 30th of July 2018 and was delivered new to Lion Air on the 13th of August 2018. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was only three months old had flown around 800 hours in service.

OUR THOUGHTS ARE WITH THE FAMILIES AND FRIENDS THINGING ABOUT THEIR LOVED ONES TODAY.

Spotting at Naritia Airport

This morning my wife and I left our accommodation at Gotunda very early and headed off to our next hotel for the night, which was Hotel Nikko - Narita Airport. When booking the room, I asked for a high floor overlooking the airport, and can I say, they did not disappoint. Below are some of the photos I took from the room.

PEACH AIRBUS A320-251N JA212P (MSN 11495)

BATIK BOEING 737-MAX 8 9M-LRG (MSN 43016)

TURKISH AIRWAYS BOEING 787-9 TC-LLJ (MSN 65810)

JAPAN AIR BOEING 737-846 JA304J (MSN 35333)

AERO K AIRBUS A320-214 HL8562 (MSN 2620)

UNITED BOEING 737-824 N33264 (MSN 31584)

JAPAN AIR BOEING 787-9 JA864J (MSN 34858)

JETSTAR JAPAN AIRBUS A320-232 JA07JJ (MSN 5355)

NIPPON CARGO BOEING 747-8KZF JA18KZ (MSN 36141)

YAMATO TRANSPORT AIRBUS A321-231 JA81YA (MSN 4173)

JAPAN AIR BOEING 767-346 JA606J (MSN 33495)

AIR BUSAN AIRBUS A321-231 HL7730 (MSN 2226)

JIN AIR BOEING 777-2B5 HL7734 (MSN 34207)

NIPPON CARGO BOEING 747-8KZF JA17KZ (MSN 36140)

GARUDA INDONESIA BOEING 777-3U3 PK-GIF (MSN 29148)

AIR SEOUL AIRBUS A321-231 HL7789 (MSN 4112)

I thought the view from our 9th floor room was pretty good, then my wife went up to the 11th floor, to the lounge bar area, and came back and got me. To say the view up there was incredible is an understatement.

I will try and post those photos over the next few days.

Emirates swaps the A380 for 777 on Brisbane's second service

EMIRATES AIRBUS A380-861 A6-EDV (MSN 101)

Starting tonight, Emirates, is scaling back its A380 flights to Brisbane.    Sadly, the airline is replacing the second daily service to the city with a Boeing 777-300ER. After consistently running double daily A380 operations since October 2024. 

EMIRATES BOEING 777-31H A6-EGC (MSN 35596)

While the Airbus A380 might be the crown jewel of Emirates' fleet, the Boeing 777 is the backbone of its operations. This year this reliable twinjet handled some of the airline's toughest long-haul routes, connecting Dubai with distant destinations across the US, South America, and Australia.

With over 140 in service, Dallas/Fort Worth leads as Emirates' longest nonstop 777 route at 8,038 miles, flown daily with nearly a million annual seat miles. Miami and Orlando follow, tapping into Florida's tourism and Latin American links. Other ultra-long missions include Seattle, Chicago, and Boston -- all beyond 6,600 miles and crucial for Emirates' US footprint. 

South America is covered by the Dubai-Rio de Janeiro run, while Oceania sees 777 flights stretching to Brisbane, Melbourne, and Adelaide. Cargo demand also keeps these flights profitable. 

EMIRATES BOEING 777-F A6-EFT (MSN 67462)

From tech freight into Seattle to pharmaceuticals and electronics across the Atlantic, the 777's belly capacity balances passenger loads. 

With the 777X on order, Emirates is set to replace today's workhorse with an even more efficient twinjet - but for now, the Triple Seven still carries the crown.

Plane spotting at Haneda Airport

For those of you that have been following me for a while, you might remember that this time last year my wife and I spent the afternoon at Haneda Airport, and we went to terminal three, overlooking All Nippon Airways and the bay area. Well, yesterday my wife and I went back to Haneda airport for another four hours of plane spotting, but this time at terminal one, overlooking Japan Air and the main runway, which is far more exciting.

But before heading to the airport, we stopped along the way to view the statue of Liberty down by the bay and take in the harbour views, including the bridge. 

Then to my surprise, aircraft departing Haneda airport were taking off just near us. So here are a few I took from there.

ALL NIPPON BOEING 787-10 JA984A (MSN 66998)

JAPAN AIRLINES AIRBUS A350-10 JA05WJ (MSN 670)

SAS AIRBUS A350-941 SE-RSF (MSN 499)

JAPAN AIRLINES BOEING 777-346 JA743J (MSN 36130)

LUFTHANSA BOEING 747-830 D-ABYT (MSN 37844)

If you are interested, the Statue of Liberty in Tokyo is located in the Odaiba district, specifically within the Odaiba Seaside Park, in front of the Aqua City shopping mall and the Rainbow Bridge. The most direct way to get there is by taking the Yurikamome Line to Odaiba-Kaihinkoen Station or Daiba Station.

JAPAN AIR BOEING 737-846 JA304J (MSN 35333)

CHINA SOUTHERN AIRLINES AIRBUS A330-323 B-5970 (MSN 1645)

SHANGHAI AIRLINES BOEING 737-8P B-20G (MSN 63076)

GARUDA INDONESIA BOEING 777-3U3 PK-GIF (MSN 29148)

ALL NIPPON AIRWAYS BOEING 737-881 JA71AN (MSN 33914)

J AIR EMBRAER E190STD JA245J (MSN 19000724)

SKYMARK BOEING 737-8AL JA73AC (MSN 63410)

JAPAN AIRLINES AIRBUS A350-941 JA08XJ (MSN 476)
SHO JET LIVERY

JAPAN AIRLINES AIRBUS A350-941 JA02XJ (MSN 333)

CHINA EASTERN AIRBUS A330-343 B-5969 (MSN 1595)

SOLASEED AIR BOEING 737-81D JA807X (MSN 39431)

J-AIR EMBRAER E190STD JA245J (MSN 19000724)

VIETNAM AIRLINES BOEING 7687-9 VN-A870 (MSN 39289)

BOMBARDIER GLOBAL 7500 VP-CSY (MSN 70041)

JAPAN AIRLINES AIRBUS A350-941 JA01XJ (MSN 321)

PHILIPPINE AIRLINES AIRBUS A321-231 RP-C9905 (MSN 5820)

SINGAPORE AIRLINES AIRBUS A350-941 9V-SHN (MSN 385)

JAPAN AIRLINES AIRBUS A350-941 JA08XJ (MSN 476)

SHANGHAI BOEING 787-9 B-20EV (MSN 63717)

J-AIR EMBRAER E190STD JA241J (MSN 19000708)

UNITED BOEING 777-224ER N78017 (MSN 31679)

STAR ALLIANCE 

AMERICAN AIRLINES BOEING 787-9 N820AL (MSN 40639)

JAPAN AIRLINES AIRBUS A350-941 JA03XJ (MSN 343)

JAPAN AIR BOEING 767-346 JA622J (MSN 37546)
TOKYO DISNEY SEA LIVERY

SOLASEED BOEING 737-86N JA804X (MSN 38026)

DELTA A350-941 N520DN (MSN 654)

STARFLYER AIRBUS 320-214 JA27MC (MSN 8964)