Flash Airlines
Encyclopedia
Flash Airlines was a private charter airline
operating out of Cairo
, Egypt
that was part of the Flash Group tourism company. The airline operated two Boeing 737-3Q8
aircraft manufactured in 1993 on non-scheduled commercial passenger flights on both international and domestic routes.
In 2002 Swiss aviation authorities performed a surprise inspection on SU-ZCF, a Flash Airlines Boeing 737-300. They discovered missing pilot oxygen masks, a lack of oxygen tanks, and inoperable cockpit instruments. The Swiss grounded the aircraft until Flash repaired the plane. Several days later Switzerland banned Flash. In addition, Poland banned Flash. Tour operators in Norway ceased contracting with Flash. The crash of Flight 604
led to an investigation that exposed poor safety measures and helped lead to the folding of Flash.
In 2003,a passenger reported flames from an engine.
On 3 January 2004, Flash Airlines Flight 604
, using the 737-300 aircraft SU-ZCF, crashed into the Red Sea
shortly after leaving Sharm el-Sheikh
. All passengers and crew died.
Following the crash, a spokesman for Switzerland
's Federal Office for Civil Aviation said that inspections in April and October 2002 had revealed safety glitches on Flash Airlines's aircraft, and since Flash did not respond to these concerns, the airline was no longer permitted to fly to or over Switzerland
. Finnish
National Airline Department granted Flash Airlines a permission to do charter flights from Finland
to Egypt in September 2003, because (according to the newspaper Helsingin Sanomat
) the warning e-mail from Switzerland got to a wrong folder in an e-mail client.
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
operating out of Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
that was part of the Flash Group tourism company. The airline operated two Boeing 737-3Q8
Boeing 737
The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
aircraft manufactured in 1993 on non-scheduled commercial passenger flights on both international and domestic routes.
History
The airline was established in 1995 as Heliopolis Airlines. It received its certificate of operation from the Egyptian authorities in 1996. It became a member of the Flash group in 2000. During that year Flash Airlines had one 737-300 with another that joined in 2002.In 2002 Swiss aviation authorities performed a surprise inspection on SU-ZCF, a Flash Airlines Boeing 737-300. They discovered missing pilot oxygen masks, a lack of oxygen tanks, and inoperable cockpit instruments. The Swiss grounded the aircraft until Flash repaired the plane. Several days later Switzerland banned Flash. In addition, Poland banned Flash. Tour operators in Norway ceased contracting with Flash. The crash of Flight 604
Flash Airlines flight 604
Flash Airlines Flight 604 was a charter flight operated by Egyptian charter company Flash Airlines. On 3 January 2004, the Boeing 737-300 crashed into the Red Sea shortly after takeoff from Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport, killing all 142 passengers, many of them French tourists, and all six...
led to an investigation that exposed poor safety measures and helped lead to the folding of Flash.
Flash Airlines
The Flash Airlines fleet consisted of the following aircraft during operations:| Aircraft | Registration | Delivered | Exited | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 737-3Q8 | SU-ZCF | 22 July 2001 | 3 January 2004 | Crashed as Flash Airlines Flight 604 Flash Airlines flight 604 Flash Airlines Flight 604 was a charter flight operated by Egyptian charter company Flash Airlines. On 3 January 2004, the Boeing 737-300 crashed into the Red Sea shortly after takeoff from Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport, killing all 142 passengers, many of them French tourists, and all six... |
| Boeing 737-3Q8 | SU-ZCD | 16 February 2002 | 5 March 2004 | Became N271LF with ILFC |
Heliopolis Airlines
The Heliopolis Airlines fleet consisted of the following aircraft before merging into Flash group:| Aircraft | Registration | Delivered | Exited | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A310-222 | SU-ZCC | 27 October 1997 | 26 August 1999 | Became N453FE with FedEx Express |
| Boeing 737-3Q8 | SU-ZCE | 21 April 2000 | 17 May 2000 | Became N221LF with ILFC |
| Boeing 737-3Q8 | SU-ZCF | 23 June 2001 | 22 July 2001 | Stayed as SU-ZCF with Flash Airlines |
| Boeing 737-3Q8 | SU-ZCD | 16 February 2000 | 27 August 2000 | Stayed as SU-ZCD with Ecoair International Ecoair International Ecoair International was an airline based in Algeria.The company was founded in 1999; in 2002 it was integrated into Khalifa Group, the parent of Khalifa Airways. The company was based in Algiers Houari Boumedienne Airport... |
| McDonnell Douglas MD-83 | SU-ZCA | 23 August 1996 | 13 February 1998 | Became HK-4137X with Avianca Avianca Avianca S.A. is the flag carrier airline of Colombia since December 5, 1919 when it was initially registered under the name SCADTA. It is headquartered in Bogotá, D.C. with its hub at the El Dorado International Airport... |
Accidents and incidents
On 3 January 2004, Flash Airlines Flight 604
Flash Airlines flight 604
Flash Airlines Flight 604 was a charter flight operated by Egyptian charter company Flash Airlines. On 3 January 2004, the Boeing 737-300 crashed into the Red Sea shortly after takeoff from Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport, killing all 142 passengers, many of them French tourists, and all six...
, using the 737-300 aircraft SU-ZCF, crashed into the Red Sea
Red Sea
The Red Sea is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. The connection to the ocean is in the south through the Bab el Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden. In the north, there is the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Gulf of Suez...
shortly after leaving Sharm el-Sheikh
Sharm el-Sheikh
Sharm el-Sheikh is a city situated on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, in South Sinai Governorate, Egypt, on the coastal strip along the Red Sea. Its population is approximately 35,000...
. All passengers and crew died.
Following the crash, a spokesman for Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
's Federal Office for Civil Aviation said that inspections in April and October 2002 had revealed safety glitches on Flash Airlines's aircraft, and since Flash did not respond to these concerns, the airline was no longer permitted to fly to or over Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
National Airline Department granted Flash Airlines a permission to do charter flights from Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
to Egypt in September 2003, because (according to the newspaper Helsingin Sanomat
Helsingin Sanomat
Helsingin Sanomat is the largest subscription newspaper in Finland and the Nordic countries, owned by Sanoma. Except after certain holidays, it is published daily. In 2008, its daily circulation was 412,421 on weekdays and 468,505 on Sundays...
) the warning e-mail from Switzerland got to a wrong folder in an e-mail client.
External links
- Flash Group official website (now known as Flash International)
- Flash Airlines crash article
- Flash Airlines accident report