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Bin Laden plane landed too far down the runway to stop, say investigators Bin Laden plane landed too far down the runway to stop, say investigators
(about 1 hour later)
A plane that crashed in Hampshire killing three members of the Bin Laden family landed too far down the runway and collided with several cars after avoiding a microlight, air accident investigators have found.A plane that crashed in Hampshire killing three members of the Bin Laden family landed too far down the runway and collided with several cars after avoiding a microlight, air accident investigators have found.
Relatives of the al-Qaida founder, Osama bin Laden, were among the four people, including the pilot, who died when the jet crash-landed in Hampshire last week. Relatives of the al-Qaida founder, Osama bin Laden, were among the four people, including the pilot, who died when the jet crash-landed last week.
The Saudi-registered Embraer Phenom 300, built in 2010, was attempting to land at Blackbushe airport when it ploughed into dozens of cars at a nearby auction site and burst into flames.The Saudi-registered Embraer Phenom 300, built in 2010, was attempting to land at Blackbushe airport when it ploughed into dozens of cars at a nearby auction site and burst into flames.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said in a special bulletin report that the private plane, travelling from Milan, overtook a microlight aircraft after beginning its descent from cruise level.The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said in a special bulletin report that the private plane, travelling from Milan, overtook a microlight aircraft after beginning its descent from cruise level.
It then landed two-thirds of the way along the runway, which gave it only 438 metres to complete the landing, instead of the required 616 metres.It then landed two-thirds of the way along the runway, which gave it only 438 metres to complete the landing, instead of the required 616 metres.
The report said: “The aircraft departed the paved surface at the end of runway 25 approximately three metres to the left of the extended runway centreline. It then collided with a one-metre high earth bank, causing the lower section of the nose landing gear and the nose gear doors to detach. The report said: “The aircraft departed the paved surface at the end of runway 25 approximately three metres to the left of the extended runway centreline. It then collided with a one-metre-high earth bank, causing the lower section of the nose landing gear and the nose gear doors to detach.
“The aircraft became airborne again briefly, before colliding with several cars parked at an adjacent business and coming up to rest approximately 70 metres beyond the earth bank.“The aircraft became airborne again briefly, before colliding with several cars parked at an adjacent business and coming up to rest approximately 70 metres beyond the earth bank.
“The aircraft’s wings detached from the fuselage during the impact sequence and an intense fire developed shortly thereafter, consuming the majority of the aircraft.”“The aircraft’s wings detached from the fuselage during the impact sequence and an intense fire developed shortly thereafter, consuming the majority of the aircraft.”
The aerodrome’s rescue and firefighting service attended the scene, followed by local emergency services, but the four occupants were fatally injured.The aerodrome’s rescue and firefighting service attended the scene, followed by local emergency services, but the four occupants were fatally injured.
Andrew Bradley, the coroner for north Hampshire, who opened and adjourned the inquest into their deaths, said the bodies were “incinerated”.Andrew Bradley, the coroner for north Hampshire, who opened and adjourned the inquest into their deaths, said the bodies were “incinerated”.
Bradley confirmed the identities of the three family members as Osama bin Laden’s stepmother Raja Bashir Hashem, 75, her daughter, Sana bin Laden, 53, and Zouheir Anuar Hashem, 56. The Jordanian pilot was 58-year-old Mazen Salim Alqasim.Bradley confirmed the identities of the three family members as Osama bin Laden’s stepmother Raja Bashir Hashem, 75, her daughter, Sana bin Laden, 53, and Zouheir Anuar Hashem, 56. The Jordanian pilot was 58-year-old Mazen Salim Alqasim.
Aviation experts had previously expressed bafflement at the cause of the crash. Local pilots said the £7m plane, which was equipped with fly-by-wire electronic systems supposed to make it easy to control, was a regular visitor to the airport.Aviation experts had previously expressed bafflement at the cause of the crash. Local pilots said the £7m plane, which was equipped with fly-by-wire electronic systems supposed to make it easy to control, was a regular visitor to the airport.
Related: Bin Laden plane crash: aircraft went down in near perfect conditionsRelated: Bin Laden plane crash: aircraft went down in near perfect conditions
The runway was also fitted with four precision approach path indicators, which can be seen from more than half a mile away and flash white if the pilot is coming in too high and red for too low.The runway was also fitted with four precision approach path indicators, which can be seen from more than half a mile away and flash white if the pilot is coming in too high and red for too low.
Simon Moores, a flight instructor and pilot who has flown from Blackbushe many times, said: “It doesn’t make sense to me, as an ordinary pilot, why something that advanced and easy to fly would bury itself in the auction ground at the end of such a long runway.”Simon Moores, a flight instructor and pilot who has flown from Blackbushe many times, said: “It doesn’t make sense to me, as an ordinary pilot, why something that advanced and easy to fly would bury itself in the auction ground at the end of such a long runway.”
The AAIB report said the weather at Blackbushe on the day of the crash was “fine with light and variable winds, visibility in excess of 10km, and no low cloud.”The AAIB report said the weather at Blackbushe on the day of the crash was “fine with light and variable winds, visibility in excess of 10km, and no low cloud.”
Barry Wright, who was working close to the crash site, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “It was as though a missile had come flying down. It was the sound of what you hear in the movies, followed by a huge bang and then an explosion. There was instantly smoke coming up, then there were small flames from the top of the aircraft and then it went into a ball of flames within a minute.”Barry Wright, who was working close to the crash site, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “It was as though a missile had come flying down. It was the sound of what you hear in the movies, followed by a huge bang and then an explosion. There was instantly smoke coming up, then there were small flames from the top of the aircraft and then it went into a ball of flames within a minute.”
Shortly after the crash, the Saudi ambassador to Britain, Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf bin Abdulaziz, offered condolences on the embassy’s official Twitter account to the Bin Laden family, a prominent Saudi clan with vast business interests.Shortly after the crash, the Saudi ambassador to Britain, Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf bin Abdulaziz, offered condolences on the embassy’s official Twitter account to the Bin Laden family, a prominent Saudi clan with vast business interests.
He said: “His royal highness Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf bin Abdulaziz, the ambassador of the custodian of the two holy mosques to the United Kingdom, offered his condolences to the sons of the late Mohammed bin Laden and their relations for the grave incident of the crash of the plane carrying members of the family at Blackbushe airport.”He said: “His royal highness Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf bin Abdulaziz, the ambassador of the custodian of the two holy mosques to the United Kingdom, offered his condolences to the sons of the late Mohammed bin Laden and their relations for the grave incident of the crash of the plane carrying members of the family at Blackbushe airport.”
The Saudi embassy said it was working with the British authorities to investigate the incident, and the country’s civil aviation authority said it was sending a representative to the UK to assist the British investigators.The Saudi embassy said it was working with the British authorities to investigate the incident, and the country’s civil aviation authority said it was sending a representative to the UK to assist the British investigators.
The aircraft wreckage has now been taken to the AAIB facility at Farnborough, where investigations will continue. A final report on the incident is to be published in due course.The aircraft wreckage has now been taken to the AAIB facility at Farnborough, where investigations will continue. A final report on the incident is to be published in due course.