Post by Bobae on Aug 5, 2018 18:37:18 GMT
Junkers JU-52 Crashes in Switzerland.
A vintage plane crashed at altitude in the Swiss Alps on Saturday, in canton Graubünden. All 20 passengers lost their lives in Switzerland's worst air tragedy since 2001.
"Auntie Ju" was the name of the aircraft.
The crashed plane was a Junker Ju-52 (affectionately known as 'Tante Ju' or 'Auntie Ju' in German), owned and operated by the JU-Air company based in Dübendorf, which specialises in sightseeing flights using old military planes. The craft was constructed in 1939, and before Saturday had flown for 10,187 hours.
JU-Air has been operating sightseeing tours with three Ju-52s since 1983, explained CEO Kurt Waldmeier, who said that Saturday was the worst day in the 36-year history of the company.
The two pilots (62 and 63 years old) had previously worked with the Swissair, Swiss, and Edelweiss airlines, and had served as military pilots with the Swiss Air Force for over 30 years. Both captains had several hundred hours flight experience on the Ju-52.
The 66-year-old flight attendant also had 40 years of professional experience, according to Waldmeier, who confirmed that the latest check-up of the plane was done in July, when no defects were found.
All flights operated by the company have been suspended until further notice.
The cause of the crash is as yet unknown, and officials said they're not aware of any distress call beforehand.
Daniel Knecht of the Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board said the plane appears to have hit the ground near-vertically and at high speed.
Speaking at the news conference Sunday in Flims, near the crash site, Knecht also said the vintage plane presumably didn't have the crash-resistant cockpit voice and data recorders that more modern aircraft have, which could complicate further investigations.
He said officials have essentially ruled out a collision with another aircraft or hitting an obstacle such as a wire. He also said there was no indication of foul play or that the aircraft lost parts or broke up before the crash.
As for the weather, he did not comment on whether or not the high temperatures, which can affect engine performance, may have played a role, but said that all avenues of investigation would be pursued.
The age of a plane also has no connection with its safety, he said, as long as the aircraft is well maintained.
Daniel Knecht of the Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board said the plane appears to have hit the ground near-vertically and at high speed.
Speaking at the news conference Sunday in Flims, near the crash site, Knecht also said the vintage plane presumably didn't have the crash-resistant cockpit voice and data recorders that more modern aircraft have, which could complicate further investigations.
He said officials have essentially ruled out a collision with another aircraft or hitting an obstacle such as a wire. He also said there was no indication of foul play or that the aircraft lost parts or broke up before the crash.
As for the weather, he did not comment on whether or not the high temperatures, which can affect engine performance, may have played a role, but said that all avenues of investigation would be pursued.
The age of a plane also has no connection with its safety, he said, as long as the aircraft is well maintained.
At a sombre press conference in the town of Flims on Sunday, a day after the accident, cantonal police announced that all passengers on board – 17 passengers, two pilots, and a flight attendant – lost their lives in the crash.
It's the worst accident in Swiss aviation since the crash of a Crossair plane at Bassersdorf, canton Zurich, killed 24 in 2001.
All of the passengers and crew members were Swiss, except for a couple from Austria who were also on board with their son.
The plane went down on the western side of the Piz Segnas mountain on Saturday afternoon (see map), at an altitude of 2,540 metres (8,330 feet). It was travelling between Locarno and Dübendorf when it crashed for unknown reasons.
A large-scale salvage operation, which included the deployment of five helicopters, continued on Sunday morning and the airspace around the accident site remains closed; some of the walking trails in the area popular with hikers were also closed off.
It's the worst accident in Swiss aviation since the crash of a Crossair plane at Bassersdorf, canton Zurich, killed 24 in 2001.
All of the passengers and crew members were Swiss, except for a couple from Austria who were also on board with their son.
The plane went down on the western side of the Piz Segnas mountain on Saturday afternoon (see map), at an altitude of 2,540 metres (8,330 feet). It was travelling between Locarno and Dübendorf when it crashed for unknown reasons.
A large-scale salvage operation, which included the deployment of five helicopters, continued on Sunday morning and the airspace around the accident site remains closed; some of the walking trails in the area popular with hikers were also closed off.