The Terrible Disaster of US Bangla 211

Summary

US Bangla Flight 211, bound for Kathmandu, faced a series of critical mishaps due to the captain's erratic behavior and lack of preparation. Amidst poor visibility and fog, the disoriented crew, including a first-time female pilot, struggled with the challenging approach. The captain's distraction, including smoking and an emotional outburst, led to a series of procedural errors, ultimately resulting in a tragic crash with 51 fatalities.

Takeaways

• ✈️ US Bangla Flight 211 was a tragic flight from Dhaka to Kathmandu, where the plane crashed due to a series of errors and miscommunications.
• 👩‍✈️ First Officer Prithula Rashid, the first female pilot of US Bangla Airlines, was flying the challenging Kathmandu approach for the first time under the supervision of an experienced captain.
• ⛈️ Poor weather conditions with low visibility and fog added to the difficulty of the approach, which is already complicated by the airport's location in a valley surrounded by mountains.
• 😡 Captain Abid Sultan exhibited erratic behavior and violated cockpit rules, showing signs of stress and anger, which affected the cockpit environment negatively.
• 🚭 Captain Sultan smoked in the cockpit, disregarding safety protocols, and his mental state was a cause for concern, with a history of depression.
• 🛫 The flight crew failed to follow proper procedures, including not reviewing the landing checklist thoroughly and not ensuring the landing gear was down before landing.
• 🔄 A critical oversight was made when the HOLD pattern was not removed from the flight management system, causing the plane to deviate from the correct approach path.
• 🚨 The crew's lack of situational awareness and the captain's poor decision-making led to a series of incorrect turns and altitude adjustments, putting the plane in dangerous positions.
• ⚠️ The ground proximity warning system alarms were ignored or mishandled, contributing to the pilots' failure to correct the plane's path in time.
• 💥 The final attempt to land was made at a dangerously steep angle and high speed, resulting in the plane skidding off the runway, crashing, and catching fire, with a high loss of life.

Q & A

What was the final destination of US Bangla Flight 211?

The final destination of US Bangla Flight 211 was Kathmandu Airport in Nepal.

Why was landing at Kathmandu Airport considered challenging?

Landing at Kathmandu Airport was challenging due to its location in a narrow bowl-shaped valley surrounded by tall Himalayan mountains, which required special training and navigation skills.

What was significant about First Officer Prithula Rashid's role on this flight?

First Officer Prithula Rashid was the first female pilot of US Bangla Airlines and this was her first time attempting the tricky approach into Kathmandu.

What was Captain Abid Sultan's background, and what was his relationship with Kathmandu route?

Captain Abid Sultan was a former Bangladesh Air Force pilot with over 22 years of flying experience and more than 100 flights to Kathmandu, making him well-acquainted with the route.

How did Captain Sultan's behavior during the flight deviate from standard procedures?

Captain Sultan violated the Sterile Cockpit Rule by engaging in non-essential conversations, showing aggressive behavior, and smoking in the cockpit, all of which are against safety protocols.

What was the condition of Captain Sultan's mental health, and how did it affect his performance?

Captain Sultan had a history of depression and had been removed from active duty in the Bangladesh Air Force due to a psychiatric assessment. His mental state during the flight was unstable, which affected his decision-making and performance.

What was the error made by the pilots when they were approaching Kathmandu Airport?

The pilots forgot to remove the HOLD pattern that was programmed into the computer after being cleared to approach the runway directly, leading the plane to follow an incorrect path.

Why was the landing gear of the aircraft a critical issue during the approach?

The landing gear was not lowered despite the captain's incorrect statement that it was down. This was discovered only when the landing gear unsafe alarm went off, posing a significant safety risk.

What was the role of the cross-wind in the accident sequence?

The strong cross-wind pushed the plane further to the right, causing it to drift off course. The pilots, flying manually, failed to correct for this cross-wind, leading the plane further away from the intended approach path.

How did the pilots' confusion and the ATC's instructions contribute to the final moments of the flight?

The pilots' confusion about their location and the ATC's instructions led to a series of incorrect turns and altitude adjustments, culminating in a desperate attempt to land on Runway 20 from an unsuitable position and angle, resulting in the crash.

What was the final outcome of US Bangla Flight 211, and how many casualties were there?

US Bangla Flight 211 crashed, resulting in the tragic loss of both pilots, two cabin crew members, and 47 passengers. Only those seated on the right side or in the front of the plane survived.