atprm
04-04-2009, 04:34 PM
Cargo Plane Bursts Into Flames In Tokyo
http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2009/Mar/Week4/15246949.jpg
Two US pilots have been killed after a FedEx cargo plane crashed in high winds at Tokyo's international airport.
The McDonnell Douglas MD-11 was flying in from Guangzhou in southern China when it burst into a ball of flames at Narita airport.
TV footage showed FedEx Flight 80's nose hit the runway before the plane bounced onto its left wing and exploded.
It skidded along at high speed as black smoke poured out, and then flipped over before coming to a halt.
Police spokesman Yoshino Ichihara said pilot Kevin Kylemosley and co-pilot Anthony Stephen-Pino were both killed in the crash.
The pair were reportedly the only people on board the plane.
Investigators said the accident may have been caused by low-level turbulence or wind shear, sudden gusts that can lift or smash an aircraft into the ground during landing.
The crash has closed down Runway A, the longest of the airport's two runways.
Officials said the incident also caused cancellations and delays, and scores of flights are being diverted to other airports.
The transport ministry is investigating the cause of the crash.
Last month, 47 passengers and crew were injured when a Northwest Airlines Boeing 747 hit turbulence while circling near Narita.
http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2009/Mar/Week4/15246949.jpg
Two US pilots have been killed after a FedEx cargo plane crashed in high winds at Tokyo's international airport.
The McDonnell Douglas MD-11 was flying in from Guangzhou in southern China when it burst into a ball of flames at Narita airport.
TV footage showed FedEx Flight 80's nose hit the runway before the plane bounced onto its left wing and exploded.
It skidded along at high speed as black smoke poured out, and then flipped over before coming to a halt.
Police spokesman Yoshino Ichihara said pilot Kevin Kylemosley and co-pilot Anthony Stephen-Pino were both killed in the crash.
The pair were reportedly the only people on board the plane.
Investigators said the accident may have been caused by low-level turbulence or wind shear, sudden gusts that can lift or smash an aircraft into the ground during landing.
The crash has closed down Runway A, the longest of the airport's two runways.
Officials said the incident also caused cancellations and delays, and scores of flights are being diverted to other airports.
The transport ministry is investigating the cause of the crash.
Last month, 47 passengers and crew were injured when a Northwest Airlines Boeing 747 hit turbulence while circling near Narita.