Monday, July 22, 2024
Reading Time: 5 minutesExplore the heroism of Asiana Flight 162’s cabin crew as they manage a crisis with precision and bravery, ensuring passenger safety against all odds.
It was an ordinary day, and the flight proceeded like any other. The cabin crew diligently performed their responsibilities, meticulously adhering to safety protocols and completing their service tasks.
At 18:58 local time, while cruising at an altitude of 33,000 feet, the first officer received updates about the weather conditions in Hiroshima. The captain, who was piloting the aircraft, conducted an approach briefing, announcing his plan to land on runway 10, guided by radar vectors from air traffic control. He cautioned the first officer about the limited visibility from the threshold of runway 28, advising him to voice any concerns.
Shortly afterward, the first officer obtained a transmission from the Automatic Terminal Information System (ATIS), indicating that runway 28 was currently active and the aircraft would employ an RNAV approach. With this information, the crew affirmed their approach plan. The first officer then adjusted the flight management system (FMS) for the approach and initiated the descent.
In the cabin, the crew members were busy ensuring that everything was safely stowed and that all passengers had their seatbelts securely fastened in preparation for landing. After completing their checks, they reported to the purser, who in turn informed the captain that the cabin was secure.
Once their tasks were completed, the cabin crew took their designated jumpseats, bracing themselves for the descent. Although the flight had experienced some turbulence earlier, conditions had begun to stabilize as they approached their destination.
During the final approach, the captain updated the first officer with the latest information they had received. At 19:57, air traffic control communicated that radar vectors were to be expected soon. Just two minutes later, the flight received clearance for the approach.
By 20:00, a different controller had taken over and gave the final clearance for landing. The crew lowered the landing gear and fully extended the flaps, completing the landing checklist in the process.
The captain also provided details for a potential go-around, explaining that they would use TOGA (Takeoff/Go-Around) thrust and retract the flaps incrementally. At 20:03, the first officer raised concerns about the unusual and awkward appearance of the runway, possibly due to cloud coverage. In response, the captain turned off the autopilot and manually continued guiding the aircraft downward.
As the cabin crew members sat at their designated stations, they were mentally rehearsing their emergency procedures—a routine practice before landing and takeoff, known as the 30-second review. Unbeknownst to them, these preparations would soon become crucial.
At 20:05, amidst growing concerns, the captain made the decision to execute a go-around. However, only three seconds later, a loud bang resounded throughout the cabin. The boarding mechanic, seated in row 27F, witnessed flames erupting from the left engine and detected a strange odor.
The aircraft unexpectedly made contact with the ground short of the runway, causing the rear tail section to strike a localizer antenna. Almost immediately, smoke began to fill the cabin, prompting the cabin crew to spring into action. They urgently instructed passengers to “Heads down, hold ankles!” recognizing that the situation was far from a standard landing.
In the midst of the chaos, the cabin was plunged into darkness, illuminated only by the emergency lighting. Oxygen masks deployed from the ceiling, some overhead compartments burst open, and luggage tumbled out. Throughout this ordeal, the cabin crew continued to shout commands in English, Korean, and Japanese, managing the emergency with professionalism and urgency.
After the initial impact, the aircraft continued to skid along the runway on its tail. It bounced three times and veered sharply to the left, eventually spinning around 120 degrees before coming to a stop on the grassy area opposite the terminal building.
Inside the cockpit, the purser rose from her jumpseat when the cockpit door swung open. The captain, however, instructed her to remain outside and await further directions as he was focused on executing the emergency evacuation procedures.
Meanwhile, the cabin crew stationed at the rear of the aircraft found themselves in a smoke-filled environment, struggling to establish contact with the purser since the interphone system had failed. Resorting to shouting, they managed to communicate their urgent need for evacuation.
Taking decisive action, the purser initiated the evacuation process. She opened the L1 door and patiently waited for the evacuation slide to deploy. Once ready, she began directing passengers to exit the aircraft using loud commands. The cabin crew also employed flashlights, hand gestures, and a megaphone to guide passengers safely off the plane, ensuring everyone could understand and follow the evacuation instructions amidst the confusion.
Despite the evacuation alarm failing to sound, the cabin crew quickly recognized that the purser had initiated the evacuation by opening her door, prompting them to act in unison. Observing this, a cabin crew member in the center of the aircraft instructed a nearby passenger to open the left side overwing emergency exit and wait for the slide to deploy.
The crew utilized all available exits, except for one right side overwing exit that remained unused. Once all passengers were evacuated and gathered safely outside, the cabin crew, together with the boarding mechanic, conducted a thorough final sweep of the cabin. They carefully checked every area to ensure that no one was left behind in the potentially hazardous environment, completing their responsibilities with diligence and ensuring the safety of everyone involved.
Once outside, the cabin crew diligently worked to keep the passengers at a safe distance from the aircraft, using a megaphone to issue clear instructions. Although three fire engines were quickly on the scene, fortunately, there was no fire. However, without specific guidance from the emergency services, the passengers and cabin crew organized themselves into groups and began making their way toward the terminal building.
The conditions outside were less than ideal; it was raining, and the field was muddy, complicating the evacuation process. Meanwhile, the flight crew remained in the cockpit, completing the emergency evacuation checklist, with the boarding mechanic being among the last of the crew to evacuate.
By the time the flight crew was ready to leave the aircraft, they discovered that everyone else had already evacuated. They were the last to exit the plane, ensuring no one was left behind.
Despite the challenges, the evacuation was deemed successful. However, the incident was not without consequences. Twenty-five passengers and two cabin crew members sustained injuries, one of which was serious. Most of the injuries were minor, such as cuts and bruises. The aircraft itself could not be salvaged and was declared a total loss.
The investigation into the accident concluded that the primary cause was the captain’s delay in initiating a go-around when visual cues became insufficient for a safe landing. Compounding this error, the first officer did not challenge the captain’s decision-making, a deviation from Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Additionally, the report highlighted deficiencies in crew resource management (CRM), pointing to a lack of effective communication and teamwork during the critical moments of the flight. The report also criticized Asiana Airlines for not providing adequate training, which contributed to the crew’s inability to manage the situation effectively. These factors combined led to the unfortunate accident.