So these are plane crashes from around the world, but it's only for the countries that had a true crime case, if you don't see a plane crash in here, check my True crime from around the world book.
Warning, this book contains plane crashes and the a...
This plane crash takes us to the Asian country of Thailand, which is located next to the following countries: Cambodia, Malaysia, Laos and Myanmar.
WARNINGS OF A PLANE CRASH AND A MID AIR BREAKUP
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Pictured above is the accident aircraft, photographed in 1989.
Lauda Air Flight 004 (NG004/LDA004) was a regularly scheduled international passenger flight from Hong Kong, via Bangkok, Thailand, to Vienna, Austria. On the 26th of May 1991, the Boeing 767-300ER operating the route crashed following an uncommanded deployment of the thrust reverser on the No. 1 engine during the climb phase, causing the aircraft to enter an aerodynamic stall, uncontrolled dive, and in-flight breakup, killing all 213 passengers and ten crew members on board. It is the deadliest aviation accident involving the Boeing 767, and the deadliest aviation accident in Thailand's history. The accident marked the 767's first fatal incident and third hull loss. Formula One world motor racing champion Niki Lauda, who founded and ran Lauda Air, was personally involved in the accident investigation.
The aircraft involved was a Boeing 767-300ER, the 283rd Boeing 767 built, that was powered by Pratt & Whitney PW4060 engines and was delivered new to Lauda Air on the 16th of October 1989. The aircraft was registered OE-LAV (Oscar Echo- Lima Alpha Victor) and named Mozart. At the time of the incident, the No. 2 engine had been on the airframe since assembly of the aircraft (7,444 hours and 1,133 cycles) whereas the No. 1 engine (with the faulty thrust reverser) had been on the aircraft since October 3rd, 1990 and had accumulated 2,904 hours and 456 cycles.
At the time of the accident, Lauda Air operated three weekly flights between Bangkok and Vienna. At 23:02pm ICT on the 26th of May 1991, the Boeing 767-3Z9ER operating as Flight 4 (originating from Hong Kong's Kai Tak Airport, IATA: HKG, ICAO: VHHH) departed Don Mueang International Airport (IATA: DMK, ICAO: VTBD) in Bangkok for its passenger service to Vienna International Airport (IATA: VIE, ICAO: LOWW) with 213 passengers and 10 crew under the command of American captain Thomas John Welch (48) and Austrian first officer Josef Thurner (41). Both pilots were regarded as very competent. At 23:08pm, Welch and Thurner received a visual warning indication on the EICAS display that a possible system failure would cause the thrust reverser on the No. 1 engine to deploy in flight. After consulting the aircraft's Quick Reference Handbook, they determined that the alert was "coming on and off" and that it was "just an advisory thing". The pilots took no remedial action, possibly believing that the indication was false, but also with the knowledge that the 767 could land safely with only one operational reverser.
At 23:17pm, the No. 1 engine reverser deployed while the plane was over mountainous jungle terrain in the border area between the Suphan Buri and Uthai Thani provinces in Thailand. Thurner's last recorded words were "Oh, reverser's deployed." Moments later, the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) recorded a shuddering sound, followed closely by a snap. Due to the reverser design, an aerodynamic plume of air disrupted the airflow over the leading edge of the left wing during the engine's rundown to idle thrust, which resulted in a 25% loss of lift and an aerodynamic stall.
