China Airlines Flight 642
China Airlines Flight 642 was a flight that crashed at Hong Kong (Chep Lap Kok) International Airport on 22 August 1999. It was operating from Bangkok (Bangkok International Airport, now renamed as Don Mueang International Airport) to Taipei with a stopover in Hong Kong.
B-150, the aircraft involved in the accident in 1998, while still in service with Mandarin Airlines at Hong Kong International Airport | |
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | 22 August 1999 |
| Summary | Crashed on landing due to pilot error |
| Site | Hong Kong International Airport 22.305°N 113.922°E |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | McDonnell Douglas MD-11 |
| Operator | China Airlines |
| IATA flight No. | CI642 |
| ICAO flight No. | CAL642 |
| Call sign | DYNASTY 642 |
| Registration | B-150 |
| Flight origin | Don Mueang International Airport |
| Stopover | Hong Kong International Airport |
| Destination | Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport |
| Occupants | 315 |
| Passengers | 300 |
| Crew | 15 |
| Fatalities | 3 |
| Injuries | 208 (44 serious, 164 minor) |
| Survivors | 312 |
The plane, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 (registration B-150), was still carrying Mandarin Airlines' livery from its time of service with the carrier. While landing during a typhoon, it touched down hard, flipped over and caught fire. Of the 315 people on board, 312 survived and three were killed. It was the first fatal accident to occur at the new Hong Kong International airport since it opened in July 1998.
Flight 642 was one of only two hull losses of MD-11s with passenger configuration, the other being Swissair Flight 111, which crashed in 1998 with 229 fatalities. All other hull losses of MD-11s have been when the aircraft has been serving as a cargo aircraft.