KLM-MD11 escape from disaster

[JS50557]

A KLM plane with 294 people on board escaped from a disaster last Saturday on Curacao.

The aircraft was on final when the pilot noticed a private yet on the runway.
Later on the aircraft landed safely.

KLM-vliegtuig aan ramp ontsnapt
Een vliegtuig van KLM met aan boord 294 passagiers is zaterdag op Curacao aan een ramp ontsnapt.

Het vliegtuig was bezig met de landing toen de piloot een privé-toestel op de landingsbaan zag. Hij kon ternauwernood uitwijken.

Het toestel is later alsnog geland.
http://www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/2707 ... html?p=2,1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[patrick@tediek.com]

typical media, don't believe it is that close. You can see this from far away and make a go around.

[Key]

Apart from that, this area is 'English only' - not dual language...
But I agree: looks like the typical after a go-around.

Erik

[gatso76]

But it is 'our' KLM so the whole nation should know ...let's call it 'komkommertijd'

[pe]

It doesn't suprise me a lot that the ATC gave clearance to land for the KLM, while an other aircraft was still on the runway. A few months ago we had the same problem at Hato (but during a flight with a helicopter). The approach frequentie is a mess as well. They use the Spanish language a lot.

[patrick@tediek.com]

well when it happens that often, might be good to take it up into the approach charts.

[phkza]

Seems like everything is a 'near disaster' nowadays, especially in certain media.

Engine failure, burst tire, hard landing, you name it...

[aviodromefriend]

What interests me: Who was allowed to be at the runway, KLM, the small aircraft or were both cleared to be there?

[Key]

See above question too,

It doesn't suprise me a lot that the ATC gave clearance to land for the KLM, while an other aircraft was still on the runway.

That is your interpretation of the Televaag's interpretation of what happened.
Bases on that news item, this may or may not have been the case. It is said to have been a late go-around because of an occupied runway. That's all we (sort of) know, I think...

Erik

[Miguel van der Loos]

Hello,

at http://www.liveatc.net/archive.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;, you can follow the conversation between the KLM and Hato.

Choose as date 29 november 2008, as feed TNCC and select time 2030-2100Z. The KLM is to be heard from 11.48 min.
It looks like that he was too close at the plane in front of him.

Grtz,

Miguel

[adz]

Well, aside from the fact that there are several frequencies combined in this 'logging', it is perfectly clear that the KLM has got the preceding Aero Commander in sight. So if the conflict was between these two aircraft, there could be 2 possibilities in my opinion.
1. The KLM was too close behind.
2. The Aero Commander did not vacate the runway in time to issue a landing clearance to the KLM.

So a go-around was initiated.

It is not clear from this mp3 file who initiated the go-around. But the one doing the R/T on the KLM-flight seems more annoyed that his flight isn't over yet and he has to make another circuit than that he sounds like he just missed another aircraft by a few inches.

So as usual, the televaag blew the story up to the point where it was suitable to mention and please the 'public' with another exciting story that turns out to be not so exciting after all.

Sleep well,

Ard

[Antilliaan]

I was at the airport at the time it happened; traffic was fairly busy with lots of private aircraft visiting and part of the taxiway was used to park aircraft as resurfacing work was carried out at the general aviation platform. Hence, aircraft had to back-track on the runway before they could exit, causing delays in handling traffic and leading to some confusion.

An Aero Commander was still on the runway, ready for departure, just using the last 3,000 ft of Hato's 9,000 ft runway, when the KLM MD11 appeared on the horizon. Arriving from the NE the MD11 has to make a turn to position itself for landing. It seemed to me that it made a very short turn, way shorter than usual. This suprised me as I noticed the Commander was still on the runway. I don't know who initiated the go around, or who told the captain to make such a short turn, but the distance between the aircraft has never been less than 2 kilometers before the go-around was initiated.

Fact is that the incident was mentioned in the local press (always looking for some kind of sensation), as for some people the arrival of KLM is the highlight of the day when their relatives arrive from Holland. Hence, the go-around did not go unnoticed. The captain, who was still on the island by that time, felt like he had to defend himself. Hence, he sought to publish his side of the story and found an ear with the local press and the Telegraaf (always looking for some kind of sensation).

It seems to me the story was blown out of proportions, caused by the fact that the local press mentioned it (without blaming anyone specifically). The captain, instead of ignoring it or trying to de-escalate, choose to defend himself vigorously.

[pe]

You are right Key, it might be a wrong interpretation.

[Key]

I was at the airport at the time it happened

I was hoping for that! Thanks all, to put this into proportions.

Erik