Freight Boeing 747 Crash After Take-Off in Brussels
A freighter Boeing 747 crashed today on the runway, while taking-off from Brussels airport. The accident took place at 13:30 (local time), as the JumboJet was taking-off from runway 20. Some media reported this runway as “the shorter of the three at Brussels”. It’s technically true, but this runway is nearly 3 kilomters long…
Reports mention four or five crew members, which all survived. The 747 (registered N704CK) was operated by Kalitta Air. Many pictures are available here. Hopefully no fire developed, but firemen “splashed” the aircraft anyway as a preventive measure.
Some debates were already going on about new traffic repartition around Brussels airport. As there are several populated areas around the airport, this will certainly revive the debate. But one more time, the crash occured on the southbound runway.
As always under such circumstances, it’s way too early to draw any conclusion. The investigation team is at work, and any “cause” you could hear now would be speculation only.
Additional Media Coverage:
RTBF (Belgian National TV – in french)
4 Comments, Comment or Ping
marsh
Couple of thoughts:
I understand there was a car aboard.
Load shift?
ALso, one of the “reports” said that the plane was carrying “diplomatic” materials”.
a 747 for “diplomatic materials”?
Marsh
May 26th, 2008
PlasticPilot
Marsh, I “heard” the same things, but I beware of rumors. Just to explain to non-experts readers, a load-shift refer to freight moving on-board, thus displacing the airplane center of gravity, possibly making it change its attitude. Not a good thing at take-off time.
Regarding the diplomatic things, here again I don’t want to propagate rumors. Media can easily make the move from “some diplomatic materials on board” to “a plane full of diplomatic material”.
Thank you for you contribution, which made these explanations possible. Regarding the facts, I’ll wait for the report, and I’m sure you won’t mind
.
May 26th, 2008
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