Officials say that at least 66 people dead in Singapore Airlines crash

179 on board, says airline

TAIPEI, Taiwan (CNN) -- Airline officials say that at least 66 people died when Los Angles-bound Singapore Airlines Flight 006 crashed during takeoff in stormy weather in Taipei late Tuesday.

James Boyd, an airline spokesman in Los Angeles, said that according to the latest information available from the crash site, 75 people on board the Boeing 747-400 were unaccounted for.

Boyd said that according to the airline's latest estimates there were 159 passengers and 20 crew members on board the aircraft.

Officials said dozens of survivors had been taken to three local hospitals.

EMERGENCY NUMBERS Relatives of those on board flight SQ006 can call (65) 542-3311 in Singapore, or (800) 828-0508 from inside the United States     AUDIO "We thought we were all going to die:" Hear a passenger decribe the crash Part 1 1.2MB/60 sec. AIFF or WAV sound Part 2 1.2MB/60 sec. AIFF or WAV sound    VIDEO A survivor recounts the disaster (October 31) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) Amateur video of the plane on fire following the crash (October 31) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) Firefighters rushed to the crashed jetliner (October 31) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)     GALLERY Images from the crash of Singapore Airlines Flight 006     TRANSCRIPT Crash survivor describes the ordeal     WEATHER Taipei weather conditions     RESOURCES Recent plane crashes     MESSAGE BOARD Air safety

Boyd said the airline was in the process of contacting relatives of those on board. A special phone line -- (800) 828-0508 -- has been set up for relatives of passengers in the United States.

The aircraft involved in the crash was bought new from Boeing in January 1997 and had its last major maintenance in September 2000, Boyd said.

Chaplains, counselors and the Salvation Army were on site at Los Angeles International Airport to offer comfort to friends and relatives of passengers, he said.

The pilot of the aircraft reported hitting an object on the runway during the attempted take-off, Boyd said.

"The whole plane was shaking and ... and then it split in half. There was flames everywhere," passenger John Diaz told CNN. "I ran to the door. It was stuck and I hit the door with my shoulder and it popped open."

Diaz said he slid off the plane on an inflatable escape ramp. "It was a nightmare," he said.

The plane went down while attempting takeoff in severe weather, as Typhoon Xangsane was approaching the island. Witnesses said a weather phenomenon known as wind shear appeared to slam the plane to the ground, where it exploded in flames and broke in two.

According to a definition provided by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, wind shear is an abrupt change in wind speed or direction within an air mass. The shear takes place at the boundaries where the winds meet, causing turbulent eddies to occur. It can accompany frontal passages, and can crop up whenever there are strong surface winds.

At the crash scene, firefighters quickly put out flames aboard the aircraft, aviation officials said.

The plane had been scheduled to arrive at Los Angeles International Airport at 6:15 p.m. Pacific Time.

CNN Meteorologist Orelon Sydney reports the weather at the time of takeoff "was the equivalent of a Category 2 hurricane making landfall on the island. Shortly after the crash, bands of bad weather extending outward from Typhoon Xangsane were creating winds measured from 40 to 73 mph, Sydney said.

Rescuers locate Taiwan airliner wreckage
March 18, 1998
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February 16, 1998

Singapore Airlines
CKS International Airport, Taipei
Los Angeles World Airports
The Boeing Company
Government Information Office, Republic of China
Taiwan Ministry of Transportation and Communications

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