Next week marks 24 years since China Airlines flight 642 crashed while attempting to land in Hong Kong. The flight, which was operated by a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 trijet, had originated in Bangkok and was on its way to Taiwan. Here is a look at how the accident, which was the first at Hong Kong's new airport, unfolded.

The flight and aircraft involved

China Airlines flight 642 was a multi-leg affair that began its journey at Bangkok's Don Mueang International (DMK). This facility was the Thai capital's primary international air hub at the time, as the current Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) didn't open until 2006. Its final destination was Taipei's Chiang Kai-shek International Airport (TPE), which, now known as Taoyuan, still serves as China Airlines' main hub.

In between these two Asian destinations, the flight had a planned stopover at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG). Given that the accident took place on August 22nd, 1999, this facility had been open for little more than a year at the time. Indeed it had only replaced Hong Kong's famous Kai Tak Airport in July 1998.

According to the Aviation Safety Network, the aircraft operating China Airlines flight 642 on August 22nd, 1999, was a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 registered as B-150.

The featured image shows B-150 in China Airlines subsidiary Mandarin Airlines livery. The below image shows China Airlines' older livery in the early 1990s.

Photo: Manuel Negrerie via Wikimedia Commons

The trijet had 300 passengers and 15 crew members onboard. ATDB.aero shows that it was just under seven years old, having been built in September 1992.

Disastrous landing attempt

Sadly, the MD-11 would never make it back to its home airport in Taipei, due to circumstances that befell it while touching down in Hong Kong. At the time that the aircraft was making its way toward Hong Kong, weather conditions in the area were severe due to the nearby presence of Tropical Storm Sam. This resulted in heavy winds that prompted diversions and go-arounds.

Nonetheless, the flight continued towards its planned stopover, and it was cleared to land in conditions that were close to the MD-11's tested limit. The trijet was also very close to its maximum permitted landing weight, as it was carrying enough fuel to divert directly to Taipei in the event of being unable to touch down in Hong Kong.

Owing to the challenging conditions, the aircraft's right wing was slightly down at the time that the landing flare was attempted. This caused the MD-11 to come down hard on its starboard landing gear, whereupon the wing and engine on this side made contact with the ground, causing them to separate. As the jet rolled over, the large amounts of fuel onboard prompted it to ignite in a skidding fireball.

Rescue efforts and investigation

The inverted, burning wreckage of the MD-11 eventually came to a stop some 1,100 meters from the threshold of Hong Kong's runway 25L. Despite the typhoon-scale winds, emergency services soon arrived to contain the fire and assist with the evacuation. Their swift response may well have played a key role in keeping the accident's death toll as low as just three passengers.

A Civil Aviation Department Hong Kong Accident Investigation Division Report stated the following about the efforts:

"Rescue vehicles quickly arrived on the scene and suppressed the fire on and in the vicinity of the aeroplane, allowing rescue of the passengers and crew to progress in very difficult conditions. Two passengers rescued from the wreckage were certified dead on arrival at hospital and one passenger died five days later in hospital. A total of 219 persons, including crewmembers, were admitted to hospital, of whom 50 were seriously injured and 153 sustained minor injuries."

An investigation found pilot error to have been a key factor, as those controlling the aircraft failed to arrest the overly high descent rate that caused the hard landing. However, despite suggestions concerning its training in the aftermath of the accident, China Airlines instead argued that a microburst had downed the jet.

What are your thoughts about the crash of China Airlines flight 642 in 1999? What do you make of the overall accident? Let us know what you think in the comment section.

Sources: ATDB.aero, Aviation Safety Network