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2014 Lao People's Liberation Army Air Force An-74 crash

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2014 Lao People's Liberation Army Air Force An-74 TK300 crash
A Antonov 74TK-300 similar to the accident aircraft
Date17 May 2014
SummaryUnder Investigation [1]
SiteBaan Nadi, Xiangkhouang Province
Aircraft
Aircraft typeAntonov 74TK-300
OperatorLao People's Liberation Army Air Force
RegistrationRDPL-34020
Flight originWattay International Airport, Vientiane
DestinationXieng Khouang Airport, Phonsavan
Fatalities11-17(Not released)
Survivors3

On 17 May 2014, an Antonov An-74 airplane of the Lao People's Liberation Army Air Force crashed in northern Laos while en route to Xiangkhouang Province. The crash occurred around 6:30 am (ICT).

Background

The Ukrainian[2] built Lao People's Liberation Army Air Force Antonov An-74[2] registered as RDPL-34020[3] or AN-74TK-300[4][5] was carrying top officials, who were on their way to attend a ceremony celebrating the 55th anniversary of the second division of the Lao People's Army.[2] Included in the casualty count was Minister of Defense Douangchay Phichit and Secretariat of the Party Central Committee, Cheuang Sombounkhanh.[6] In addition to the defense minister, the Minister of Public Security, the mayor of Vientiane, the deputy Minister of Cultural Affairs, and other officials were on the plane.

Crash

At around 6:15,[7] 6:30,[8] or 7:00[5] local time on the 17 May 2014 local time, 1,500 metres (4,900 ft)[8] or 2,000 metres (6,600 ft)[7] from the destination in Xiang Khouang, the Xieng Khouang Airport,[8][3] the aircraft crashed in Nadee,[5] Xiang Khouang, 500 kilometres (310 mi) from where it left in Vientiane[4] at the Vientiane-Wattay Airport.[3]

Passengers

Initial reports suggested that there were fourteen passengers[2] [6] but later reports gave the figure as twenty[4] on board at the time of the accident, only three have survived, according to official sources:[2] Notable passengers included:

Although the names of the survivors have not yet been released,[2] a Thai news source said that the co-pilot, a nurse, and another person had survived.[6] The defence ministry permanent secretary in Thailand said that the Defence Minister of Laos and four others had been killed,[4] and a witness also said that the Defence Minister had died, and gave the figure of fourteen deaths.[7]

Reactions

The death of "arguably the two most powerful people in the security apparatus" was reported to be a significant blow to the Communist party in power.[9] After the crash, the ceremony was cancelled.[2]

References

  1. ^ Network News, Australia. "Laos plane crash: Five officials including Laotian defence minister killed as military plane crashes in country's north". ABC News. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Military plane with top officials crashes in northern Laos". RT. 17 May 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  3. ^ a b c "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d "Laos Defence Minister Douangchay Phichit's plane crashes". BBC. 17 May 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  5. ^ a b c "Plane crashes in Xiengkhouang province '". KPL. 17 May 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g "Lao deputy PM dies in plane crash". Bangkok Post. 17 May 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  7. ^ a b c "Laos air force plane crashes, defence minister reported dead". Reuters. 17 May 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  8. ^ a b c Peng, Fu (17 May 2014). "At least five confirmed dead, three survive in air crash in northeastern Laos". Xinhuanet. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  9. ^ a b Fuller, Thomas (17 May 2014). "Crash in Laos Kills Top Government Officials". New York Times. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
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