The Nepalese investigation commission has released its primary report on US-Bangla Airlines deadly plane crash quoting that there was no corresponding replies or acknowledgements between pilot and ATC (Air Traffic Control) tower just before the crash.
Not mentioning any cause behind the fatal accident, the five-page primary report noted all important equipment including the "Black Box" of the crashed aircraft had been sent to Transport Safety Board (TSB) of Canada for downloading, decoding, readout and analysis including animation to make the final report.
"Two-way communication between the aircraft and the approach as well as tower control was normal until 14:17:58 (local time). Thereafter, a few transmissions were made by both ATC and the Pilot until 14:18:45, but no corresponding replies or acknowledgements were made from either side," the report said.
It affirmed that the aircraft was crashed at 14:19:10 in the eastern part of the field of Runway 02, just outside the inner perimeter fence of the aerodrome of the airport.
A US-Bangla aircraft crashed at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu, Nepal on March 12 killing 51 passengers including 27 Bangladeshi nationals of the 71 on board.
After the accident, the Nepal authority formed a probe body named "Aircraft Accident Investigation Commission, 2018" to investigate the tragic incident. The commission published the report on April 9 and sent to Civil Aviation authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) on Wednesday, officials said.
"The aircraft touched down at about 1700 meters down the threshold and on the left portion of centerline of Runway 20 and travelled on ground towards Southeast, went out of the Runway, ran through the inner perimeter fence of the airport area, moved down along rough downslope and finally stopped at about 442 meters Southeast side of the Runway from its initial touchdown point," the primary report said, adding "At this point, the aircraft caught fire and was completely destroyed."
It said the runway, taxiway and apron area at Tribhuvan International Airport were adequate for the operation of the DHC-8 Q 400 aircraft, the model of US-Bangla crashed plane.
The report also mentioned that firefighting and emergency services reached the crash site within two minutes and immediately started operation to douse the flames. Four large foam tenders, one medium foam tender and two water tankers were used with full effectiveness.
It said the process of investigation is ongoing and the Commission shall make the final report publicly available as per the provisions outlined in Chapter 6, Section 6.5 of ICAO Annex 13.
The reviewing of the available documents and testing, decoding, research and analysis of all pertinent equipment retrieved from the aircraft are ongoing and the results shall be included in final report, it added.
Apart from Nepalese officials, reports BSS, among those in the investigation commission were representatives from the host country, aircraft manufacturer - Bombardier of Canada, and engine manufacturer of the aircraft, a British company.
Head of Aircraft Accident Investigation Group of Bangladesh Captain Salahuddin M Rahmatullah is representing Bangladesh in the commission.
