PIC.......The wreckage of a Boeing 737 which crashed in Afghanistan

[ElsewheresDaughter]

[Democrat 4 Ever]

1. Reports that US troops responsible for KAM Air crash

US troops held responsible for KAM AIR crash --A source close to the Afghan government has held United States troops responsible for crash of a passenger plane. Talking to Radio Tehran, on condition of anonymity,the source said that the KAM AIR, which was on its way from Herat to Kabul, did not land at Kabul airport due to bad weather. The pilot of the plane wanted to land at Bagram airbase where the US forces have been stationed; however, the US troops did not allow the plane to land. The source further said that the staff of the plane had informed the US troops at Bagram airbase that it could remain in air for only fifteen minutes.

Breaking News and Commentary from Citizens for Legitimate Government
February 8, 2005
http://www.legitgov.org/

I don't know if there is any truth in this report by the Afghani government - but, if it is, we are still busy winning the hearts and minds of the people we occupy.

[Worst Username Ever]

2. What is that?

[DemoTex]

4. I'm a former B-737 pilot and I can't tell.

Maybe an engine nacelle?

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[DemoTex]

3. Probably little or no fire.

They most likely ran out of fuel. If US officials indeed denied an emergency landing request at Bagram Airbase, manslaughter charges should be sought. An aircraft in distress has the internationally-recognized right to land at any suitable airport. Often a military airport is more suitable than others because of longer runways, better approach facilities, and better ground fire-rescue equipment. That was probably the case at Bagram. To deny an aircraft with 15-minute of fuel remaining permission to land, especially a civilian airliner with passengers aboard, is criminal.

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[AP]

5. If you were a pilot denied landing permission in these circumstances...

...I suspect you'd try to land at Bagram anyway. Better to get shot down over an airbase than crash into a remote mountain?

So I suspect there's more to that story.

[DemoTex]

6. Probably couldn't see the airport because of the weather.

I would have shot the ILS, if it was available, and landed. The Bagram ILS might have been switched off or otherwise unavailable. But your instinct is spot-on, AP. Sometimes it is better to just "do it" and then beg for forgiveness, than to ask for permission and risk a beadle turning you down for bureaucratic reasons.

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