 |
| Red Cross workers carry body parts from the scene of the KQ plane crash in a swampy area 23 km east of the city of Douala. Photo credit: NMG. |
IN BRIEF:
- The KQ 507 crash in Douala, Cameroon, remains one of the deadliest aviation disasters in Kenyan history.
- It was a tragic reminder of the importance of safety in the aviation industry and the need for constant vigilance in the face of changing weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances.
- The lessons learned from this tragedy have helped to make air travel safer for millions of people around the world.
On May 5, 2007, a Kenya Airways (KQ) flight, carrying 114 passengers and crew members, crashed in Douala, Cameroon, killing all on board. The tragedy, which lasted just 102 seconds from takeoff to impact, shook the aviation industry and left families and friends of the victims devastated.
Now, 16 years later, the Nation revisits the events leading up to the crash, detailing the mistakes made and the lessons learned.
The flight, KQ 507, was scheduled to depart from Douala International Airport in Cameroon at 1:15 am local time, bound for Nairobi, Kenya. It was being operated by a Boeing 737-800, a modern aircraft with an excellent safety record.
The captain of the flight was Francis Mureithi, an experienced pilot with over 10,000 flight hours, while the first officer was Andrew Kiuru, a relatively new pilot with only 361 flight hours.
The weather conditions that night were challenging, with heavy rain and thunderstorms. The airport’s instrument landing system (ILS) was also not functioning properly, forcing the crew to rely on visual approaches.
The crew started their pre-flight checks at around 12:30 am, but due to communication breakdowns between the tower and the cockpit, the flight was delayed by over an hour. Finally, at 2:04 am, the aircraft was cleared for takeoff.
As the plane climbed into the sky, it encountered severe turbulence and heavy rain. The crew struggled to maintain control of the aircraft, and within seconds of takeoff, the plane’s angle of climb became too steep.
The aircraft stalled and started to descend rapidly, crashing into a swampy area about four kilometers from the airport.
An investigation by the Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority revealed that the accident was caused by a combination of factors, including the crew’s lack of experience in handling severe weather conditions and the malfunctioning of the airport’s ILS.
The report also highlighted the inadequate training and supervision of the first officer, who was found to be at fault for his failure to respond appropriately to the captain’s commands during the flight.
Following the crash, Kenya Airways implemented a number of safety measures, including upgrading its pilot training programs and improving its communication protocols with air traffic control.
The airline also entered into a partnership with the Boeing Company to enhance its safety standards and procedures.
The tragedy also led to a review of safety standards in African aviation, which was found to be lagging behind the rest of the world.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) launched a program to help African countries improve their safety records by providing training and technical assistance.