All 49 On Board Reported To Be Fatally Injured

A Laos Airlines ATR 72-600 turboprop airliner has gone down in the Mekong River in southern Laos, resulting in the fatal injury of all 49 people on board the aircraft.

In a statement, ATR said that the accident occurred at around 1600 (local time) Wednesday near Pakse (Laos). The flight QV301 was operating between Vientiane and Pakse with 44 passengers and 5 crew members on board.

The aircraft, registered under RDPL-34233, was MSN (Manufacturing Serial Number) 1071, delivered from the production line in March 2013.

At this time, the circumstances of the accident are still to be determined. Official sources of Lao Airlines declared that “the aircraft ran into extreme bad weather conditions and was reportedly crashed into the Mekong river. There (is) no news of survivors at this time”.

The Laos’ Authorities will lead the investigation and will remain the official source of information. In line with the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) Annex 13 convention, ATR will provide full assistance the French Bureau d’Enquêtes et Analyses (BEA), safety investigation authority representing the country of the aircraft manufacturer.

(ATR 72-600 pictured in file photo. Not accident aircraft)

FMI: www.atraircraft.com