On the evening of 24 February 1999, China proved to be a black day in aviation history. China Southwest Airlines flight China Southwest Airlines Flight SZ-4509, which was flying from Chengdu to Venzhou, fell victim to a horrific accident a few minutes before the landing. All 61 people aboard the aircraft lost their lives in this accident. This accident not only indicates technical flaws, but also highlights serious consequences of human errors in aircraft maintenance.
Details of accident
China Southwest Airlines flight SZ-4509 flew from Chengdu Shwangliyu International Airport to Venzhou Yongkiang Airport on 24 February 1999 at 2:35 pm. The aircraft had 50 passengers and 11 crew members. Around 4:30 pm, when the aircraft was just 27 km from Venzhou Airport and was preparing for landing, suddenly there was a strong explosion in the aircraft. The aircraft was divided into two pieces in the air and fell into a flame in a field near Venzhou. All 61 people died in this accident.
Aircraft and crew information
The crashed aircraft was the Tupolev Tu-154M, which was imported from Russia in 1990. The three-engine aircraft was the captain of the aircraft Yao Fuchain, who had a 4054-hour flight experience, out of which he spent 1962 hours at TU-154m. First officer Joo Mao, navigator Lan Zhangfeng and flight engineer Guo Shuming were also present in the cockpit. The cabin had 7 flight attendants, who were posted in the service of passengers.
Incidents before accident
During the flight, the crew felt abnormalities in the control of the aircraft. Captain Yao Fuchain felt that the front of the aircraft was bending downwards and there was difficulty in control. He directed flight engineer Guo Shuming to examine fuel balance, but the problem remained. Before the landing, when the flaps opened, the aircraft suddenly bent downwards and turned out to be out of control. In a few seconds, the aircraft divided into two pieces in the air and collapsed to the ground.
Investigation and conclusions
After the accident, a detailed investigation was done. According to reports, incorrect types of locks were installed in the aircraft’s elevator system. These locks became loose due to vibration during flight, losing the elevator’s control. This technical flaw was ignored in the pre -flying investigation. As a result of this error, the front part of the aircraft leaned downwards, which split into two pieces and crashed.
Post -accident action
After the accident, China took an important decision on 30 October 2002 and removed all Tupoolv TU-154 aircraft from service. This step was taken keeping in mind the aviation security, so that such accidents could be avoided in the future.
This tragic accident of China Southwest Airlines flight SZ-4509 is recorded as an important lesson in aviation history. This phenomenon shows how a small technical error and negligence in inspection can cause mass tragedy. This makes it clear how necessary it is necessary to follow the highest standards in the aircraft maintenance and inspection, so that the safety of the passengers can be ensured.
