2008 Suriname plane crash
Encyclopedia
On Thursday, April 3, 2008, an Antonov An-28
operated by Blue Wing Airlines
(registration
PZ-TSO) crashed upon landing at the Lawa Antino Airport of Benzdorp
in Suriname
. The plane carried 17 passengers and a crew of 2, all of whom died in the crash.
The crash occurred around 11:00 ART
(14:00 UTC). Initial media reports indicate that the airplane had to abort the landing, as the runway
was being used by another Bluewing AN-28 aircraft.
The airplane attempted a go-around
, but failed to gain height and crashed into a mountain.
Also among the casualties was co-pilot Robert Lackin, as well as a family of six from Antecume Pata, citizens of French Guiana
. They were to have flown on to Anapaike
.
A Dutch national police forensic team was dispatched to assist in the identification of victims. While nine of the victims were identified in Suriname, the last ten were identified, using DNA analysis, by the Dutch forensic institute.
in Suriname
's capital Paramaribo
with seventeen passengers and two crew at 10:00 local time. Eleven were due to disembark at Lawa Antino airstrip, 10 km west of the southeastern gold mining
town of Benzdorp
, near the Lawa River bordering French Guiana
, where they would work for telecommunications company Telesur
.
Antonov An-28
|-See also:-External links:**...
operated by Blue Wing Airlines
Blue Wing Airlines
Blue Wing Airlines n.v. is an airline with its head office on the grounds of Zorg en Hoop Airport in Paramaribo, Suriname. The airline started operations in 2004 and operates charter and scheduled services from Paramaribo to destinations in the Caribbean area. Its main base is Zorg en Hoop Airport...
(registration
Aircraft registration
An aircraft registration is a unique alphanumeric string that identifies a civil aircraft, in similar fashion to a licence plate on an automobile...
PZ-TSO) crashed upon landing at the Lawa Antino Airport of Benzdorp
Benzdorp
Benzdorp is a town in the Sipaliwini District of Suriname. On April 3, 2008, an airplane operated by Blue Wing Airlines crashed upon landing at Lawa Antino Airport near Benzdorp....
in Suriname
Suriname
Suriname , officially the Republic of Suriname , is a country in northern South America. It borders French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west, Brazil to the south, and on the north by the Atlantic Ocean. Suriname was a former colony of the British and of the Dutch, and was previously known as...
. The plane carried 17 passengers and a crew of 2, all of whom died in the crash.
The crash occurred around 11:00 ART
UTC-3
UTC−03:00 is an identifier for a time offset from UTC of −03:00.-As standard time :*Suriname*Falkland Islands*French Guiana*Brazil - East Northern and Northeastern States...
(14:00 UTC). Initial media reports indicate that the airplane had to abort the landing, as the runway
Runway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
was being used by another Bluewing AN-28 aircraft.
The airplane attempted a go-around
Go-around
A go-around is an aborted landing of an aircraft that is on final approach.- Origin of the term :The term arises from the traditional use of traffic patterns at airfields. A landing aircraft will first join the circuit pattern and prepare for landing in an orderly fashion...
, but failed to gain height and crashed into a mountain.
Casualties
The pilot, Soeriani Jhauw-Verkuijl, was the wife of Blue Wing Airlines president Amichand Jhauw. Her brother and colleague was an eyewitness to the crash.Also among the casualties was co-pilot Robert Lackin, as well as a family of six from Antecume Pata, citizens of French Guiana
French Guiana
French Guiana is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department located on the northern Atlantic coast of South America. It has borders with two nations, Brazil to the east and south, and Suriname to the west...
. They were to have flown on to Anapaike
Anapaike
Anapaike is an indigenous village in Suriname. It is located on the bank of the Lawa river, which forms the border with the French overseas province named La Guyane. Anapaike is the name of the first tribal chief of the Wayana people. The geographical name of the village is the indigenous word...
.
A Dutch national police forensic team was dispatched to assist in the identification of victims. While nine of the victims were identified in Suriname, the last ten were identified, using DNA analysis, by the Dutch forensic institute.
Background
The Antino project sits on part of a rich gold deposit that has been mined since the 1880s. The carrier flies scheduled An-28 flights Monday through Saturday to Antino site 7, where there is a 600 metre gravel strip.Flight
The plane had taken off from Zorg en Hoop AirportZorg en Hoop Airport
Zorg en Hoop Airport , is an airport located in the city of Paramaribo, Suriname.- Airlines and destinations:-Flight schools:*Caricom Aviation Academy*Kuyake Aviation Academy...
in Suriname
Suriname
Suriname , officially the Republic of Suriname , is a country in northern South America. It borders French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west, Brazil to the south, and on the north by the Atlantic Ocean. Suriname was a former colony of the British and of the Dutch, and was previously known as...
's capital Paramaribo
Paramaribo
Paramaribo is the capital and largest city of Suriname, located on banks of the Suriname River in the Paramaribo District. Paramaribo has a population of roughly 250,000 people, more than half of Suriname's population...
with seventeen passengers and two crew at 10:00 local time. Eleven were due to disembark at Lawa Antino airstrip, 10 km west of the southeastern gold mining
Gold mining
Gold mining is the removal of gold from the ground. There are several techniques and processes by which gold may be extracted from the earth.-History:...
town of Benzdorp
Benzdorp
Benzdorp is a town in the Sipaliwini District of Suriname. On April 3, 2008, an airplane operated by Blue Wing Airlines crashed upon landing at Lawa Antino Airport near Benzdorp....
, near the Lawa River bordering French Guiana
French Guiana
French Guiana is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department located on the northern Atlantic coast of South America. It has borders with two nations, Brazil to the east and south, and Suriname to the west...
, where they would work for telecommunications company Telesur
Telesur (Suriname)
The Telecommunications Company Suriname is the government owned full telecommunications service provider for the South American nation of Suriname. The services provided by Telesur include telephone, internet and wireless GSM, CDMA services...
.