Episode 27 - Emotional distress and the 2018 US-Bangla Airlines crash that killed 51

Plane Crash Diaries

We’re focusing on the US-Bangla Airlines Flight 211 that came in too high and fast at Kathmandu Airport on 12th March 2018 then slid off the runway and burst into flames. 51 of the 71 on board died including both aircrew. Of all the accidents I’ve covered so far – this has to be one of the worst examples of cockpit resource management – it verges on a suicide flight particularly the last two minutes as you’re going to hear. There was an unusual and intense psychological undercurrent that caused this accident. We have all been in situations of stress while flying, but the emotional trauma on the flight deck was beyond reasonable. You’ll also feel some sympathy not just for the passengers killed by crew erratic emotional behaviour – but also First Officer 25-year-old Prithula Rashid the First women airline pilot hired by the Bangladeshi Airline. Her senior partner let her and the passengers down. This is another of those terrible stories of what ifs. It’s also an example of when a highly experienced pilot and an inexperienced pilot work together, coupled with cultural quirks.