Royal Brunei's Safety Record: Crashes And Concerns

Royal Brunei Airlines is the national flag carrier of Brunei, headquartered at Brunei International Airport. The airline was established in 1974 and has expanded its network over the years, now serving 32 destinations across south-east Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Oceania. While the airline has had several air safety incidents, only one fatal crash has been recorded. On September 6, 1997, Flight BI238, a Dornier 228, crashed in Lambir Hills, killing all ten passengers and crew on board. The Dornier 228 was owned by Royal Brunei Airlines but operated and maintained by Hornbill Airways, a Malaysian regional carrier.

Royal Brunei Airlines Flight 839 crashed in 1997

Royal Brunei Airlines Flight 839, a Dornier 228, took off from Brunei International Airport at 19:03 local time on 6 September 1997. The short-haul flight was scheduled to fly from Brunei International Airport to Miri Airport, with eight passengers and two pilots on board.

The flight crew requested clearance to land at Miri Airport, and air traffic control cleared the flight for its final approach to runway 02. However, the flight crew did not radio back to confirm. At 19:42, while on approach to the runway, Flight 839 crashed into a slope at 500 metres (1,600 feet) in Lambir Hills National Park. The wreckage was found the next morning at 07:10.

Sadly, all passengers and crew members perished in the crash. The passenger list included four Malaysian nationals, two Japanese citizens, one Singaporean, and one Sri Lankan. The crew consisted of two Malaysian pilots.

The cause of the crash is not entirely clear, but weather conditions in the area were reported to be fine at the time. The flight service between Bandar Seri Begawan and Miri was suspended indefinitely following the tragedy.

All ten passengers and crew died in the 1997 crash

On 6 September 1997, Royal Brunei Airlines Flight 839, a Dornier 228, crashed on its final approach to Miri Airport. The aircraft was carrying ten people, including eight passengers and two pilots. The flight crew had requested clearance to land, but did not radio back to confirm. The plane struck treetops and crashed into a slope at 500 metres (1,600 ft) in Lambir Hills National Park, killing all on board. The passengers included four Malaysian nationals, two Japanese citizens, one Singaporean, and one Sri Lankan. The two pilots were also Malaysian.

The Dornier 228 was owned by Royal Brunei Airlines but operated and maintained by Malaysian regional carrier Hornbill Airways. The wreckage was found the following morning at 07:10. A search and rescue team was deployed during the night, with the Royal Brunei Armed Force sending a helicopter with winching facilities, but strong winds and poor visibility hampered the search. As a result of this crash, the flight service between Bandar Seri Begawan and Miri was suspended indefinitely.

The incident marked the first and only crash involving Royal Brunei Airlines, with no fatal accidents registered since. The remaining Dornier 228s were sold in 1997, and short-haul services connecting Brunei to Miri, Labuan, Mulu, and Bintulu were terminated.

The Dornier 228 was owned by Royal Brunei Airlines but operated by Hornbill Airways

Royal Brunei Airlines has experienced several air safety incidents and crashes since its establishment in 1974. One notable incident involving the airline was the crash of Flight 839 on September 6, 1997. The flight was a scheduled service from Labuan to Bandar Seri Begawan and Miri, operated by Merpati Intan on behalf of Royal Brunei Airlines. The aircraft, a Dornier 228 registered as 9M-MIA, crashed on its final approach to Miri Airport, with no survivors among the ten passengers and two crew members on board.

The Dornier 228 was owned by Royal Brunei Airlines but operated and maintained by Hornbill Airways, a Malaysian regional carrier. This particular aircraft was on a short-haul flight from Brunei International Airport to Miri Airport, carrying eight passengers and two pilots. During the final approach to runway 02, the flight crew of Flight 839 failed to radio back to air traffic control. The aircraft struck treetops and crashed into a slope at 500 meters (1,600 feet) in Lambir Hills National Park, resulting in the tragic loss of all lives on board.

The cause of the crash was not specified, but the weather conditions in the area at the time were reported to be fine. As a consequence of this accident, the short-haul services connecting Brunei to Miri, Labuan, and Mulu were terminated, and the remaining Dornier 228s were sold in 1997. This incident marked a significant event in the history of Royal Brunei Airlines, leading to operational changes and the discontinuation of certain routes.

It is worth noting that Royal Brunei Airlines has not registered any fatal accidents since this incident, and the airline has been recognized for its safety standards and awards. However, the crash of Flight 839 remains a reminder of the importance of air safety and the continuous efforts to improve aviation safety measures.

Royal Brunei Airlines has had several safety incidents

Royal Brunei Airlines, the flag carrier airline of Brunei, has experienced several safety incidents over the years. On 6 September 1997, Flight BI238, a Dornier 228 operated by Merpati Intan on behalf of Royal Brunei Airlines, crashed in Lambir Hills, killing all ten passengers and crew on board. Following this incident, short-haul services connecting Brunei to nearby destinations were terminated.

In addition to this tragic crash, Royal Brunei Airlines has had several other safety incidents and mechanical issues. For example, in 2012, there were reports of suspected engine damage on a Boeing 777-200 flight from London Heathrow to Dubai, and a cargo fire indication on a flight from Dubai to Bandar Seri Begawan. In 2015, a Royal Brunei Airlines flight from Manila to Bandar Seri Begawan experienced an in-flight engine shutdown, resulting in damage to both engines. More recently, in 2018, a flight from Bandar Seri Begawan to London Heathrow encountered an engine shutdown in flight. While these incidents did not result in crashes, they highlight the importance of aviation safety and maintenance.

Despite these safety incidents, it is worth noting that Royal Brunei Airlines has not had any fatal accidents registered since its establishment in 1974. The airline has continuously worked to improve its operations and customer service, and in 2023, it was awarded a Five Star rating for the Major Airline category by the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX).

The airline has expanded its fleet and destinations since its founding in 1974

Royal Brunei Airlines, the flag carrier of Brunei, has indeed expanded its fleet and destinations since its founding in 1974.

The airline was established on 18 November 1974 as an independent corporation wholly owned by the government of Brunei. It started with a fleet of just two Boeing 737-200 aircraft, serving Singapore, Hong Kong, Kota Kinabalu, and Kuching. The maiden voyage took place on 14 May 1975 from the newly built Brunei International Airport to Singapore, with flights to Hong Kong, Kota Kinabalu, and Kuching commencing on the same day.

Over the years, Royal Brunei Airlines has progressively increased its fleet size and expanded its network. Early route expansions included services to Manila in 1976 and Bangkok in 1977. The acquisition of additional Boeing 737s enabled the airline to reach Kuala Lumpur in 1981 and Darwin in 1983.

Following Brunei's independence from the United Kingdom in 1984, the airline further expanded its services, linking all five ASEAN capital cities at the time: Bangkok, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, and Singapore. With the purchase of Boeing 757-200s in the mid-1980s, Royal Brunei Airlines expanded to Taipei in 1986 and Dubai in 1988.

The 1990s marked a period of rapid expansion for the airline. They introduced new aircraft types, such as the Boeing 767, and expanded their network to include European destinations like Frankfurt, London, and Zurich. The 2000s saw further growth, with the addition of Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft, and new destinations such as Auckland, Ho Chi Minh City, and Sydney.

Today, Royal Brunei Airlines operates to 32 destinations across south-east Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Oceania. The airline has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 1974 and continues to enhance its fleet and network.

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