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| Burma plane crash survivors describe 'rollercoaster' landing | Burma plane crash survivors describe 'rollercoaster' landing |
| (4 months later) | |
| Survivors of a plane crash-landing in Burma on Christmas Day have told of their escape, as the airline said it had found the plane's black box and was investigating the accident, which killed two people. | Survivors of a plane crash-landing in Burma on Christmas Day have told of their escape, as the airline said it had found the plane's black box and was investigating the accident, which killed two people. |
| Details of the crash remain unclear, though Air Bagan and officials have blamed heavy fog. Two died and 11 were injured, including four foreigners, when the plan crashed into a rice paddy field and burst into flames. | Details of the crash remain unclear, though Air Bagan and officials have blamed heavy fog. Two died and 11 were injured, including four foreigners, when the plan crashed into a rice paddy field and burst into flames. |
| The ageing Fokker 100 jet was carrying 71 people, including 48 foreigners, from Rangoon via Mandalay to Heho airport, which is the gateway to the popular tourist destination Inle Lake. | The ageing Fokker 100 jet was carrying 71 people, including 48 foreigners, from Rangoon via Mandalay to Heho airport, which is the gateway to the popular tourist destination Inle Lake. |
| "We felt the first bump, then a few big bumps and then [started] sliding very fast," said Anna Bartsch, a 31-year-old Australian advertising executive. | "We felt the first bump, then a few big bumps and then [started] sliding very fast," said Anna Bartsch, a 31-year-old Australian advertising executive. |
| Her boyfriend, Stuart Benson, said the landing was like a rollercoaster ride. The plane came to a stop and they felt relief and then panic. | Her boyfriend, Stuart Benson, said the landing was like a rollercoaster ride. The plane came to a stop and they felt relief and then panic. |
| Bartsch said: "In my window I saw the flames, and it was hot and we knew straight away we didn't have much time to get out." | Bartsch said: "In my window I saw the flames, and it was hot and we knew straight away we didn't have much time to get out." |
| Passengers rushed up the aisle to the front door, which was initially stuck shut, she said. "We didn't know then that the wings had come off." | Passengers rushed up the aisle to the front door, which was initially stuck shut, she said. "We didn't know then that the wings had come off." |
| The door was quickly forced open and passengers raced from the plane, some in shock and some suffering smoke inhalation. Once on safe ground, Bartsch said, she saw the pilot and co-pilot with bloodied faces and other people with serious burns. | The door was quickly forced open and passengers raced from the plane, some in shock and some suffering smoke inhalation. Once on safe ground, Bartsch said, she saw the pilot and co-pilot with bloodied faces and other people with serious burns. |
| "It's amazing that the injuries were not more serious," she said. "It could have been much worse." | "It's amazing that the injuries were not more serious," she said. "It could have been much worse." |
| Air Bagan said the plane's black box would be sent to Singapore for analysis. "The plane hit electrical cables about a mile from Heho airport as it descended and landed in rice fields," it said. | Air Bagan said the plane's black box would be sent to Singapore for analysis. "The plane hit electrical cables about a mile from Heho airport as it descended and landed in rice fields," it said. |
| Burma's information ministry said the pilot mistook a road near the airport for the runway. It was unclear if the plane made its crash-landing on the road or the rice field. | Burma's information ministry said the pilot mistook a road near the airport for the runway. It was unclear if the plane made its crash-landing on the road or the rice field. |
| All fatalities were Burmese citizens, including a man who was riding a motorcycle where the plane came down and a tour guide on board the plane. There were earlier reports of an 11-year-old child also among the dead. | All fatalities were Burmese citizens, including a man who was riding a motorcycle where the plane came down and a tour guide on board the plane. There were earlier reports of an 11-year-old child also among the dead. |
| The accident has raised concerns about the safety standards of Burma's overburdened airlines as foreign visitors have flocked to the country, which is emerging from half a century of military rule. | The accident has raised concerns about the safety standards of Burma's overburdened airlines as foreign visitors have flocked to the country, which is emerging from half a century of military rule. |
| Air Bagan is one of half a dozen private airlines that fly domestic routes in Burma. It is a unit of Htoo Trading Company, which is owned by the business tycoon Tay Za. | Air Bagan is one of half a dozen private airlines that fly domestic routes in Burma. It is a unit of Htoo Trading Company, which is owned by the business tycoon Tay Za. |
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