Breaking News on CNN - Sad Story

[MarkLawrence]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/08/27/plane.crash/index.html

Comair RJ down at Blue Grass Airport - Lexington, KY....

[mirrodie]

And the US was having a good year thus far too. watching cnn now :(

[T-Bird76]

Very sad news indeed, Mario is right the U.S was on such a good safety run lately.

[Matt Molnar]

And the US was having a good year thus far too.

We've been in an unprecedented era of safety in US airline flight over the past several years. This is the worst crash since Flight 587 in 2001, which was quite a bit worse than this.

[PhilDernerJr]

Look like Josh has a shot of the crashed plane in better days.

http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=5640604

Thoughts are with the families of those lost.

[T-Bird76]

Some reports are saying the plane may have taken off from the wrong runway.

[Midnight Mike]

The crash marks the end of what has been called the "safest period in aviation history" in the United States. There has not been a major crash since Nov. 12, 2001, when American Airlines Flight 587 plunged into a residential neighborhood in Queens, N.Y., killing 265 people, including five on the ground.

On Jan. 8, 2003, an Air Midwest commuter plane crashed on takeoff at Charlotte/Douglas International Airport, killing all 21 aboard.

Last December, a seaplane operated by Chalk's Ocean Airways crashed off Miami Beach when its right wing separated from the fuselage shortly after takeoff, killing the 18 passengers and two crew members. That plane, a Grumman G-73 Turbo Mallard, was built in 1947 and modified significantly in 1979.

The NTSB's last record of a CRJ crash was on November 21, 2004, when a China Eastern-Yunnan Airlines Bombardier crashed shortly after takeoff. The 6 crew members and 47 passengers on the CRJ-200 were killed, and there were two fatalities on the ground.

[SengaB]

Runway 26/8 is 3501ft
Runway 4/22 is 7002ft
They are now leaning to this is a strong possibility the plane took off on the shorter runway RWY26. After looking at my charts I can see how this could easily happen if you are not paying attention.
Senga

[Alex T]

Mike-

What defines a major crash? Because the commuter ones are just as bad and people died in those too.

But, looking back it is true we have not had a huge incident since the Airbus crash on United States Soil.

Thats 5 yrs of flying safety, extremely remarkable one must admit!

Also, it seems everyone survived the impact of the crash but later died in the fire, that has to be horrible to know if it is true.

Heard reports two of the passengers had just gotten married and were on their way to a honeymoon.

Rest in Peace to all the victims.

Alex

[fly.mcs]

Just woke up to hear the news; it's very sad.

Rest In Peace all of those lost onboard. Hopefully we'll be able to find out some news from the First Officer... And as Senga did, I checked the KLEX chart and it's pretty sad how the mistake could be made :(

[Midnight Mike]

[quote=Alex T]

Mike-

What defines a major crash? Because the commuter ones are just as bad and people died in those too.

But, looking back it is true we have not had a huge incident since the Airbus crash on United States Soil.


Alex

[/quote:82c59]

I am not sure? I would think that a major crash would result in a loss of life & equipment, I will ask the FAA if they have any answers.

[hiss srq]

I got off my flight in Houston and Idle told me, my jaw dropped, god bless and rest in peace to all of those involved. It is weird how they happen in groups though.

[Derf]

The plane did in-fact take off from the wrong runway and there have been
complaints in the past about confusing the two runways on takeoffs. In
the past pilot have had clearance for departure and takeoff and were on
the wrong runway. One pilot wrote a report that I am aware of saying
that there should be a special advisory as in some other airports to check
compass upon lineup to make sure this exact thing does not
happen.....because it almost happened to them!

Cut an dry, pilots were up early.....probably the only aircraft moving at
the airport at the time and probably had clearance as they were taxing on
the ramp! Only a year will tell us how right the comments are when the
final report Finlay comes out. (LOTS OF SPECULATION fed By LOTS of
alcohol from a man that has not had a drink since a great night out with
my good friend Nick(amongst others))

[moose135]

The plane did in-fact take off from the wrong runway and there have been complaints in the past about confusing the two runways on takeoffs. In the past pilot have had clearance for departure and takeoff and were on the wrong runway. One pilot wrote a report that I am aware of saying that there should be a special advisory as in some other airports to check compass upon lineup to make sure this exact thing does not happen.....because it almost happened to them!

Cut an dry, pilots were up early.....probably the only aircraft moving at
the airport at the time and probably had clearance as they were taxing on
the ramp! Only a year will tell us how right the comments are when the
final report Finlay comes out. (LOTS OF SPECULATION fed By LOTS of
alcohol from a man that has not had a drink since a great night out with
my good friend Nick(amongst others))

I came across that same report today, Fred. Looking at the chart, I can see where they could line up on the wrong runway. One report I saw said 2 RJs departed shortly before this one.

I'm wondering about the runway lights. The reports all said it was an unlighted runway. Looking at the AirNav page for LEX, it shows runway lights on 8/26, but says they are out of service indefinitely. If so, how do these guys continue take off down a dark runway?

It's been a hundred years since I've flown, but I still remember that one of the things you do before pushing up the throttles is to check your compass/HSI to see that it matches runway heading - not so much to see if you are on the correct runway, but to see that your instruments are correct. If my HSI was 40 degrees off Rwy heading, I might think twice before launching into the darkness.

[T-Bird76]

I'm sure there's more to the story regarding the runway. There might have been enough light that runway lights weren't needed. Besides the victims families I truly feel bad for the surviving FO who if in-fact did take off from the wrong runway will have to live with the fact he did. This just really goes to show you how in just a blink of an eye your life can be cut short. I travel over 100,000 miles a year and hardly think that this stuff can happen, today's event was a sobering moment for me.