VIVAnews – Indonesia on Saturday witnessed another plane crash as a Chinese-made aircraft Xian MA60 belonging to Merpati Nusantara Airlines fell into the sea. All crews and passengers are allegedly dead.
However, plance crashes which involved the said aircraft model did not only occur in Indonesia. Countless overseas airlines operating Xian MA60 turned out to have undergone similar problems.
On January 11, 2009, Zest Airways recorded that one of its aircrafts, a Xian MA60 of flight number 865 with 22 passengers and 33 crews, had an undershot while landing on the runway 06 at the Godofredo P. Ramos Airport, Philippines. The accident took place as the aircraft suddenly swerved to the left and hit a concrete wall, ruining front bit of the aircraft.
The plane's wheels and propellers were seriously damaged. Three men were injured. However, no casualties were found.
On June 25, 2009, an aircraft of the same model carrying 54 passengers and 5 crews experienced an overshot while landing at the Godofredo P. Ramos Airport. All crews and passengers were safe.
Meanwhile, on November 3, 2009, Xian MA60 UM-239 belonging to the Air Zimbabwe ran over 5 wild hogs while taking off at the Harare International Airport. The pilot managed to cancel the take-off process. Yet, the aircraft hull was terribly affected, causing a serious damage.
Another MA60 aircraft crashed on the north waters of Utarom Airport or Kaimana Airport, Kaimana Regency, West Papua. 25 passengers and crews were assumed dead.
In fact, the specific model of the Chinese-made aircraft proves to be quite popular. Other than Indonesia and China, various airlines in Myanmar, Kirgizstan, Zambia, Laos, and Philippines use the aircraft.
