United Airlines Flight 27

Recent Plane Crashes

It has not been looking too good for Eastern European flying lately (though when has it ever...?) The Ukrainian company, which has the largest operating airplane in the world (An-225) has had several accidents. This comes not long after Polish officials perished last month when a Tupolev model Tu-154 crahsed on landing. 96 other people died on that flight.

Antonov 225 prop plane

According to planecrashinfo.com, an An-24B on its way to Kunduz Airport crashed over the mountains in Salang pass, Afghanistan. It was operated by Pamir Airlines and on Mar 17, 2010 at around 9:30 in the morning, all 43 were killed when the plane went down, perhaps due to fog, over a mountain pass.

Just two days prior to that on the 15th of May, an An-28 operated by Blue Wing Airlines and carrying 8 passengers and crew, crashed in the woods over Suriname.

The Tu-154 has an "average" safety record, but has been involved in 66 serious accidents; 6 of which have been a result of terrorist activities. Those are frightening statistics. Aeroflot, which is generally pretty reliable, retired them all from service as of January 2010, a smart move in my opinion.

If you have ever seen the show Air Crash Investigation, there have been many survivable plane crashes. I can't recall where I read it, but generally, most plane crashes (41% perhaps?) occur on take off and landing, but they are also the most survivable, which is good news for us. There was one episode in which a New Zealander managed to survive because, as he explained it, he was in the head down position putting his shoes back on. I wish it were as simple as that. I don't think I will be flying in Russia, Poland, or the Ukraine anytime soon, however. Just to be safe.

tupolev tu-154