Worldwide Old & New Jets

Worldwide Old & NewJets
Enjoy the pics and captions
by Jan Koppen

'Our' flight VN604 is seen here on finals to Ho Chi Ming, Ton Son Nhat's runway 25R on January 17, 2025.

Ho Chi Ming or 'more popular' Saigon, Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

Vietnam Airlines Airbus VN-A395 pushed back from its gate at Tan Son Nhat.

Vietjet Air is a major player at Tan Son Nhat.

French hardware on a sweltering Tan Son Nhat tarmac on January 17, 2025.

Vietjet Air Airbus 320 VN-A669 being prepared for her flight to Hai Phong.

VN-A637 between flights at her Tan Son Nhat base.

Here, Viet Travel Airlines Airbus 321 VN-A288 receives attention from some mecanics.

Good morning all, this a nice shot of VN-A658 resting between flights at Tan Son Nhat.

Also the rich and shameless are present at Saigon.

Vietnam Airlines Engineering Company (VAECO) hangar is occupied by a VASCO ATR-72-500.

Vietnam Air Services Company (VASCO), is a fully owned subsidiary of Vietnam Airlines.

VAECO maintenance area at Ho Chi Ming City has some interesting visitors.

Behind the yellow scaffolding you can detect a C-47D.

Originally the Tupolev was registered with Interflug as DDR-SDP. In August 1991 she was bought by Vietnam Airlines and registrated VN-A132. During March 1999 she was withdrawn from use and stored at Ho Chi Ming City. Nine years later she became a ground trainer.

2-FWCD is a relative young Airbus 321. She was delivered in July 2019 to a leasing company who leased her to Vietjet Air that same year. Due unkonwn reasons she was withdrawn from use in July 2022 and stored at Ho Chi Ming City. Leasing company FitzWalker Aviation A321 seems to be the owner and registrated her 2-FWCD. I spotted her, still in her Vietjet Air uniform, in VAECO's maintenance hangar at San Ton Nhat.

Vietnam Airlines A321 VN-A398 is parked at Ho Chi Ming City VAECO maintenance area.

Splendid Vietnam Airlines family portrait.

Vietnam Airlines A321 VN-A617 in store. Flight deck windows, doors, hatches, engine and air conditioning intakes and other orifices are hermetically sealed to prevent dust and moisture penetrating the aircraft’s systems and interior, thus preserving the aircraft in as good a condition as possible.

What the hell is this?

From our hotel we had a 'view' on Vietjet's maintenance hangars and ramp. Several Airbuses seemed stored and cocooned.

Air pollution in Vietnam is severe and Saigon is most of the time in smog shroured. All my pics at Tan Son Nhat went through Photo Shop to give them a bit color! I really doubt if this will turn out OK in Vietnam's future.

Long distance shot of the Tu-134 and the C-47D.

This aircraft, a C-47, left the factory in 1944 for delivery to the USAAF with serial 43-49524. During the 50's she was sold to the French Air Force. Wearing serial "349524" she did operate in Indo-China. In October 1955 she was transferred to the South Vietnam Air Force. A long time ago she was withdrawn from use and stored in a corner of Tan Son That Airport (c/n. 26785/15340).

We arrived arrived back at Saigon from Puc Quoc on board this Vietnam Airlines A321 VN-A621. January 27, 2025.

This time the smog had lifted a little.

Vietnam Air Services Company (VASCO), is a fully owned subsidiary of Vietnam Airlines.

VN-B221 resting before her next departure.

Vietnam Airlines is making good use of their Airbus 321 fleet.

A VietjetAir Airbus parked-up with its engines covered.

Technic workmates walking the tug.

VN-A618 pushes back at SGN.

The entrance of the Vietnam Aviation Academy in Saigon is very hard to find!

Yakovlev Yak.40 registration VN-A243, (c/n. 9631748) is presently preserved at the Vietnam Aviation Academy in Saigon, Vietnam.

Yakolev Yak-40 VN-A243 on a broiling Aviation Academy tarmac in February 2025, 2018.

I believe this is the former Vietnam Airlines Yak-40 VN-A446.

A moderately swept wing was a compromise between the need for good field performance and high speed cruise capabilities.

It's difficult to make a decent pic at Phu Quoc Airport.

Special Cargo Air Transport (SCAT) Boeing 737-900 UP-B3740 is seen arriving from Symkent, Kazachstan.

Due relaxed visa requirments between Kazakhstan and Vietnam there are a lot of Kazakh tourist on the island.

Air Astana Airbus 321 EI-KGG pushback truck being disconnected at PQC.

Our transport for our flight to Saigon.

Boarding flight VN1830.

SCAT, UP-B3740, tops up with Jet A-1 at Phu Quoc.

SCAT Boeing 737-900MAX at PQC in January 2025. External electrical power is plugged in, fuel is pumped, the catering truck is busy at the aft galley, bags on the belt loader behind the right wing are being handled and the lav service truck behind the left wing is doing what it does.

HKexpress Airbus 320 B-LCI just arrived from Hong Kong.

Freebird Airbus 320 TC-FHC is seen here operating a flight for Vietjet Air.

Bye, bye Phu Quoc.

Vietnam Airlines Airbus 321 VN-A397 getting fuel at Hanoi.

Our transport from Saigon to Hanoi was on this Vietnam Airlines Airbus 350.

Bamboo Airbus 320 JU-1410 is seen taxiing at Hanoi - Noi Bai Airport. The Airbus is leased from Mogolian Airways.

Vietjet Air Airbus 330-300 VN-A812 pushing back off stand in her special Coca Cola Real Magic scheme.

Communisme in Vietnam has to be taken with a grain of salt!

The ferry and sea plane terminal at Ha Luong.

Hai Au Aviation Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX at Ha Luong seaplane base.

Pratt & Whitney PT6A 140 with Hartzell HC B3TN props.

VN-B466 in almost on the steps at Ha Long Bay.

After a 30 minutes sightseeing flight over the Cat Ba islands the Grand Caravan came 'steaming' towards us.

A couple of weeks later we were back in smog shroured Saigon and I was granted some minutes airplane spotting.

SF Airlines 757-freighter making her way to runway 25L.

Chinese low cost carrier Ruili Airlines Boeing 737-700 B-5829

VASCO ATR-72-500 VN-B223 is seen taxiing outbound for takeoff en-route to Con Dao on a smog shroured morning at Saigon.

Boarding time for our 45 minutes flight from Saigon to Phom Phen on board this Qatar Triple-7.

Sun Air Gulfstream VI VN-A966 is seen parked at Tan Son Nhat on February 15, 2025.

VASCO ATR-72-500 VN-B225 making her way to runway 25L.

This Dassault Falcon 8X VN-A499 is owned by Hai Au Aviation.

Our Qatar Triple-7 was blasting out of smog shrouded Saigon.

Thai Airways put part of their Boeing 777-200/300 and their complete A380 fleet up for sale as they've reduced their fleet substantially after/during covid. They're sold as is and as they are parked in Bangkok in warm humid conditions, they're not getting any better as you can already tell from the fading livery.

Engineless Thai Airways Triple-7's at Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The stored Thai Airways Triple 7's and A380's look rather lackluster.

Rows of stored Thai Airways Triple-7's and A380's in what’s left of their glory.

Airbus 330-300 HS-TEO is fortunately still operational.

Bangkok is really not a great place to store planes. Way too humid!

Ultra violet light is the culprit, bleaching out colors.

A view of the Suvarnabhumi storage apron, taken from 'our' Amelia Airbus 319.

Thai Vietjet Airbus 320 HS-VKB at one of the Suvarnabhumi stands. Her "Amazing Thailand livery" looks quite ‘weather-beaten’. This morning she arrived at Suvarnabhumi as flight VZ130 from Chiang Rai, Thailand and after a quick turn around she left as VZ960 to Da Nang, Vietnam.

An airco unit pumps cold air into this stationary Bangkok Air ATR-72 HS-PZK as it sits on the ramp at Suvarnabhumi, Thailand.

HS-TXO and a friend at Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi.

Vietjet Airbus 320 HS-VKL at Suvarnabhumi on February 20. Despite a color scheme that hints at previous operation with Wow Air, this Airbus already operates six years for Vietjet.

Sibir Boeing 737-800 RA-73667 is being serviced for her flight back to Novosibirsk, Russia.

Parked on the ramp is this Mahan Air Airbus 340-600 EP-MMQ. In the evening she departed back to Tehran as W550.

Our transport from Bangkok to Saigon was this Vietnam Airlines Airbus 321 VN-A612.

Royal Brunei Airbus 320 V8-RBF is seen here departing Suvarnabhumi for Brunei.

Sky Angkor Airlines Airbus 321 XU-723, taxiing out at Suvarnabhumi, bound for Phnom Penh.

February 21, 2025 and I photographed this SriLankan Airbus 320 4R-ABL beginning its taxi from the ramp at BKK.

Malaysia Airlines Boeing 737-800MAX taxi to take off from BKK.

Malaysia "9M-MXL" joins the take off queue for runway 02L at Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi.

'Our' Vietnam Airlines Airbus 321 VN-A612 quickly taxied to the runways for an immediate take off.

Next in line for departure was this Thai Airways Airbus 350 HS-THL.

Thai Airways retired its Airbus A380 fleet in the early 2020's after an ambitious endeavour to operate the world’s largest passenger plane across its network. Internal problems and an operating climate that didn’t favour such an aircraft.

Thai Airways placed its order for six Airbus A380s in the mid-2000's.

The COVID-19 pandemic devastated the global aviation industry and Thai Airways was no exception.

In 2021, Thai Airways confirmed it would go on to sell its six A380's.

Our transport from Saigon to Phnom Phen was this Qatar 777-300 A6-BAK.

Amelia Airbus 320 F-HBNA was daily operting for Bangkok Airways between Bangkok and Phnom Phen.

Air Cambodia Airbus 320 XU-356 is seen here slowing down on runway 5 at Phonm Phen - Pochentong after landing on 29th February 2025.

I took this and below photo's while taxiing to our gate. Looks like an Air Force Xiam MA-60. One can also see another one inside the hangar.

Two stored Royal Phnom Phen Airways Xiam Y7-100C's.

A MiG-21, five Aero L-39's and a Mil Mi-8 are just visible in the pics.

Two Cambodia Air Force Mil-Mi 26T Halo's, surrounded by stored MiG-21's and Aero L-39/Z9's, were present at the storage area.

We bought a ticket for Bangkok Airways flight PG924 with destination Bangkok. It appeared that the flight was operated by a French Amelia Airbus 319.

AirAsia Airbus 320 XU-818 on a deserted Siem Reap Angkor Airport.

XU-818 is seen taxiing to the active as KT103 with destination Phnom Phen.

Thai Airways Airbus 320 HS-TXD as gate 203. Siem Reap Angkor Airport, February 21, 2025.

Our transport is seen arriving for our flight to Bangkok.

Amelia was operating this flight for Bangkok Airways.

This ship is former Spanair MD-87 EC-GRL (Palma de Malloca - December 2024).

Not really an Oldjet but nevertheless. This Dreamliner -900 series is former Avianca N797AV. When I photographed her, she was registrated OE-IBM and owned by Aviation Capital (Palma de Mallorca - December 10, 2024).

Nice line-up at SAMCO MRO at Maastricht-Beek Airport. October 15, 2024.

Airbus 220 VP-BMV is owned by State Transport Leasing Company from Russia.

Airbus 220 VP-BJB is owned by State Transport Leasing Company from Russia.

Airbus 220 VP-BMZ is owned by State Transport Leasing Company from Russia.

All three Airbuses were destined for Red Wings of Russia, but not-taken-up by the airline. The brand new aircraft were ferried to MST and are in storage since late 2019.

What will happen with these brand new Airbusses? - Five years of storage will do no good for these machines!

Embraer 190 P4-KCG is in storage at MST since March 2024.

SAMCO is taken care of Swiss Airbus 220 HB-IJP.

From left to right; - Air Astana EMB 190 EI-KHA, former JetLines Airbus 320 C-GJLH and Air Astana EMB 190 EI-KHD are all in store with SAMCO for re-sale. MST, October 15, 2024.

Zimex ATR-freighter OE-LFM is flying every night the cargo run MST/BHX/MST.

From left to right; - Adria CRJ-700 S5-AAN, Flybe Dash-8 G-JECO, Yakutia Dash-8 VP-BNU and Flybe Dash-8 G-JECK are all stored at MST for a long time.

This Jet is older than I am ........ consequently, it must be a fossil ! - Geilenkirchen, October 15, 2024.

The stunningly looking, USAF KC-135R 57-2597, operating under call-sign ESSO76, slowing down on runway 09 of Geilenkirchen AFB, arriving from a training sortie above Northern Germany, on October 15, 2024.

57-2597 is a quintessential OldJet! First flight on December 29, 1958. Re-skinned during February 1979 and re-engined in May, 1991.

Stratotanker 57-2597 was on a training sortie, with E-3A Sentry LX-N90454, above Northern Germany on October 15, 2024.

Tennesse ANG KC-135R 57-1451 at Geilenkirchen for some tail-boom repairs, made her first flight on August 06, 1958!

"Smoker Alert"

After her training sortie with Stratotanker 57-2597 in German airspace, E-3A Sentry LX-N90454, performed several touch-and-go's. Geilenkirchen, October 15, 2024.

Distinctively loud on climb-out!

Air China Cargo Airbus 330-200F arrived Liége-Bierset from Stockholm in the morning of October 15, 2024.

The World On Time has three departures daily from Liége. One to Indianapolis, one to Memphis and one to Oakland. All flights are operated by Boeing 777-200F's. LGG/15oct.

On an overcast day at Liége-Bierset Airport, Aviation Service Liége (ASL) Boeing 747-400F OE-IFM is seen taxiing toward runway 22L, for a morning departure to Hangzhoe, China.

OE-IFM started her career with Cargo B Airlines of Belgium.

The Big Boeing once worked for the Russian operator AirBridgeCargo.

OE-IFM is second in line after a departing Fedex 777. LGG/15oct.

Compass Air Cargo Boeing 747-400F LZ-CJA is seen here taxiën to the holding point runway 22L of Liége-Bierset Airport, in preparation for her flight to New York, JFK Airport.

Compass Air Cargo is a Bulgarian Air Cargo operator.

This 'Queen' started her career with Singapore Airlines.

LZ-CJA kicking-up a lot of water on this wet runway 22L departure. LGG/15oct.

Ethiopian Cargo is one of the main users of Líége Airport.

Magma / Air Atlanta arrived from Entebbe, Uganda. LGG/15oct.

Seconds from touch-down. LGG/15oct.

ET-ARI is seen here departing for Caïro on another Ethiopian Cargo flight. LGG/15oct.

ASL Airlines Boeing 738F OE-IXO is seen here departing for Tel Aviv. Eventually she had to divert to Amman due to the war situation in Israël. LGG/15oct.

Despite the horrible weather I took this pic of Flamingo Cargo Airbus 330-200 5A-BRG, still wearing her basic Middle East Airlines uniform, on October 14, 2024, at Woensdrecht, Netherlands. Former registrations were; - VP-CKK and OD-MED.

Oldjets.net management team visited MRO Fokker at Woensdrecht, Netherlands on October 14, 2024. I photographed this scrubby looking former Thai Airways Airbus 330-300 2-STBB, which is owned by the HSBC bank and stored at the airfield since May 2023. Keep in mind this ship left the Toulouse production-line only 13 years ago!

This Fokker 100 has registration 2-OAOM and wears basic SkyWard Express colors. The constrution number of this frame is 11321. Woensdrecht, October 14, 2024.

Fokker 100 PH-MKH was the Fokker Aircraft test ship and is a long resident at Woensdrecht.

PH-KBX is back in Holland after a career in Australia. WDT/14oct.

OE-IGK is a 'new' Airbus 320 for Vueling and is leased from GECAS. During her career she was leased to Aeroflot and Brussels Airlines. WDT 14oct.

Long distance shot of Sky Gerorgia Douglas DC-9-51 4L-GNN marooned in a corner of Tiblisi Airport. Stored next to the Douglas is Geo Sky Boeing 747-200F 4L-GEO.

The Douglas rolled-off the Long Beach production-line in September 1975. With construction number 47657 she was delivered to Swissair as HB-ISN. As such she was a regular visitor to my home-base airport Amsterdam Schiphol. After 12 years of faithful service for the Swiss she was sold to SAS Scandinavian. Her career with the Scandinavians was short and already in April 1990 she was exported to respectively to Alisarda and Meridiana. During 2001 she went working for the Ukrainian Aircompany Khors. During her service life with Khors she was leased to Hunair Hungarian and Aero Asia International. In October 2008 ownership changed again and Sky Georgia became the new owner. Service life with the latter was short and one year later she was withdrawn from use and stored at Tiblisi. The Jumbo was once a British Airways flagship! (Tiblisi Airport,Georgia, September 25, 2024).

Still in one piece but time is running out for the last survivors of Russian jet technology. I photographed this Yak-40, tail 4L-AAK at Tiblisi Airport, Georgia, in September 2024.

Dumped in a corner of Tiblisi Vovoalexeyevka airport are the remnants of Boeing 747 4L-GEL.

This ship started her career in 1987 with United Airlines. After conversion to a freighter she worked for respectively; - Northwest Cargo, Kalitta and finally The Cargo Airlines of Georgia.

In command of flight KL9165 was Captain Kidd. Co-pilot was a kid who flew Learjets before the 747! The F/E was a former USAF C-141 Starlifter Flight Engineer.

Evergreen Boeing 747-212B(F) N485EV operating flight KL9165 AMS/MXP/DXB. Milan-Malpensa February 6, 1999.

'485' was owned and operated by Evergreen International Airlines.

Stansted was a wonderful place in the late 70's.

The wartime Bellman hangar in the background is magnificant.

This original BOAC Boeing 707-436 ended it's days as a training aid with Aviation Traders at Stansted Airport. It was scrapped in 1989, within two years after this photo was taken.

The Rolls-Royce Conway Mk. 540 turbofan was the first turbofan that was in commercial usage. It has powered the Boeing 707 as well as the Douglas DC-8, the Vickers VC-10 and the Handley Page Victor.

Balair DC-10-30, HB-IHK, taxies to her gat in the summer-time sunshine glow. GVA, August 1979.

After her career with Balair, she worked for airlines like; Martinair Holland, Corsair, Caledonian Airways, ChallengAir, World Airways and Arrow Air. She is listed scrapped at Opa-Locka in May 2012.

Swissair DC-10-30 'Luzern' taxies to its gate at Geneva-Cointrin in August 1979.

In September 1991 she was sold to Northwest Airlines as N220NW. She is listed scrapped at Maxton Laurinburg Airport after 2013.

A Swissair DC-10 is seen blasting-out of Geneva on a sticky day in the summer of 1979.

An absolute stunner, during our USA spotting-trip in April 1980, was this Air Haïti Boeing 707-331C.

Originally delivered in June 1968 to TWA as N15711, this aircraft retired after only 11 years of service with the U.S. airline and was bought by aircraft broker Guiness Peat Aviation in May 1979, who leased her for one year to Pakistan Intl. Airlines (PIA). The 707 changed hands again in April 1980, when she was leased to Air Haïti. After flying for almost three years for Air Haïti, the new owner became the Citicorp. bank. In October 1984 she was ferried to Davis-Monthan for the KC-135 parts project. In November 2013 her nose section was trucked to Atlixco airfield near Puebla Mexico. The nose section is owned by SMEAL-Mexican Aviation Society.

Aerotal Colombia, Boeing 707-321(F), still in basic Kuwait Airways colors, with its cavernous cargo door open to swallow another load at Miami, Florida on April 04, 1980.

Originally Pan Am's N727PA from January 1960. She was converted to a -321(F) in November 1971, on sale to Donaldson, becoming G-AZWA. Repossed by Pan Am on Donaldson's collapse in August 1974. In February 1975 she was sold to BMA, who on their turn leased the 707 to Kuwait, MAS and EAS. In October she was purchased by International Air Leases and leased to Bayu Indonesia, before sale to Aerotal Colombia some time later. She was re-registered HK-2410X in September 1980 but ownership by Aerotal did not last long. While the Boeing was approaching Bogotá runway 12, on December 20, 1980, it entered a zone of heavy rain and dense fog. The aircraft descended into the ground, crash-landed and caught fire and was damage beyond repair.

Still surviving: Avianca Boeing 720 HK-749 at a children play park at Bogota Colombia April 19, 2015.

Former Avianca Boeing 720-030B HK-749 preserved in old Avianca colors. This 720 is preserved in the central park of Museo de los Ninos in Bogota City Center, close to Parque Salitre Magico where the Avianca 727 is preserved.

Other interesting OldJets at Bogota El Dorado in 2015 were:

Fuerza Aerea Colombiana Boeing 707-373C FAC-1201 is stored at the CATAM AirBase at Bogota El Dorado.
Fuerza Aerea Colombiana Fokker F28-1000 FAC-1041 is based at the CATAM AirBase at Bogota El Dorado.
AeroSucre Boeing 737-200F HK-5026 is based at El Dorado.
Former InterContinental Douglas DC-9-14 HK-4271X. ex Intercontinental Douglas DC9 HK-4271-X seen in use as a Ground Instruction Airplane. reg repo 02.03 airline grounded 10.06.04 wfu Bogota seized 24.02.05 by gvmt s24.04.09 wfu now as HK-4271,
The cockpit of a former Aero Republica MD80.

While in Bogota we visited the Museo de Los Ninos and playground Salite Magico for some Colombian aviation history. The previous identities of the 1973-vintage 727, acquired by the Colombian flag carrier in 4.89, included TS-JHG (Tunis Air), N189CB (Air One), PH-AHB (Air Holland) and OY-SCA (Sterling). In late 1996 she appeared in a BancoQuia billboard livery but was wfu at BOG by early 1999. This aircraft, is restored with the old Avianca colors (red and white) and is preserved at Parque Salitre Magico in downtown Bogotá. She is painted in current Avianca colours.

Cosmos Air Cargo (Transporte Aéreo de Carga COSMOS) was a cargo airline which was founded in 2006 and was based at Bogota El Dorado Airport. Operations had ceased in the meantime.

HK-4386 is a 727-100 series and started in 1968 with TAP of Portugal as CS-TBO. After her 20 year carreer with TAP she left for the U.S.A. and worked for DHL before being sold to Cosmos in 2006. Presently this very old 727 is hangared in the south-west corner of Bogata airport and presumately used for ground instruction. Her vertical stabilazor is painted in golden colors.
Photo: Javier Topper

The cockpit of Comos HK-4407 is a 727-100 series which was built in 1967 and started operating for Lufthansa as D-ABIA. During the years she also had brief carreers with ATASCO, Transjet, Jet East, DHL and Express One. Finally she left for Colombia in 2006 and started working for Cosmos.

I found the following incident report on the Aviation Herald:

A Cosmos Air Cargo Boeing 727-100, registration HK-4407 performing a freight flight from Leticia to Bogota (Colombia) with 5 crew, was approaching Bogota in poor weather conditions. After reaching Bogota BOG VOR the aircraft was cleared for the ILS approach to runway 13L and left the VOR at 12000 feet at 04:52L (08:52Z). Subsequently the tower cleared the airplane to land on runway 13L reporting, that the first 500 meters of the runway were wet. At about that time the first officer called 1000 feet, looked out of the window and saw a dark silhouette prompting him to call "climb, climb!" to which the captain responded "Go around". While the airplane rotated nose up, the commander felt a bump prompting him to order declaration of emergency. The flight engineer reported no system anomalies. When the tower asked for the reason of the go-around, the crew replied they never saw the runway, the tower reported a runway visual range of 2000 meters. Following the go-around the crew performed a second approach and managed a safe landing on runway 13L, the airplane stopped on the runway near the runway end and got stuck. The runway was closed for more than 4 hours.

A post flight inspection revealed tree remains in the landing gear, damage to the right hand main gear and right hand flaps, a large portion of the left hand flap had separated. The lower fuselage showed impact marks. It was established, that the airplane impacted trees just before the outer marker.

The Colombian Aeronautica Civil (CAC) released their Spanish final report concluding:

After leaving the VOR the approach was performed with an inadequate rate of descent applying inadequate techniques and procedures without callouts and cross checks as required by manuals and procedures, that would have warned the crew of the proximity to ground. The Go-Around was initiated too late causing the airplane to hit a tree just before the outer marker. The missed approach was carried out in a dangerous manner in non-compliance with established procedures regarding speed and height. The errors probably were caused by fatigue and tension of the crew due to prolonged vigil and the low phase of the natural circadian rythms, which led to diminution of cognitive processes such as attention, memory and concentration.

Contributing factors:

The lack of monitoring of the aircraft after the VOR and outer marker by the controller, who had retired to the bathroom. In addition, the display of radar information was lost due to the selection by the controller. The lack of a supervisor on duty between 07:00Z and 11:00Z, who could have assumed position as a replacement controller. The lack of an indication in the radar system alerting the controller to an aircraft descending below minimum sector altitude. The flight data recorder showed, that after leaving the VOR at 12000 feet the airplane initially settled at a sink rate of 600 fpm until descending through 10900 feet, when the sink rate increased to 1800 fpm, the speed reducing at the same time from 220 KIAS to 160 KIAS. The airplane descended to 8500 feet, before the airplane climbed again at about 800 fpm until about 10300 feet at an airspeed of about 158 KIAS. At 10300 the airplane accelerated above 230 KIAS. The crew did not protect the recordings of the cockpit voice recorder hampering the investigation.
The investigation established, that the Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) functioned normally, all alarms occured properly and were sounded, although the crew reported that they did not hear any alarms. All indications from the pitot system, the VOR, the localizer and glideslope worked normally. The crew did not perform the call outs and cross checks necessary to determine their current position, especially also the necessary checks at the outer marker.
The tower did not detect the fast rate of descent, but was not required to monitor or control the rate of descent.
The GPWS "terrain, terrain" warning was disabled in the landing configuration.
The crew was awake for 19 hours since 09:00am the previous morning resulting in fatigue.

In February 2023, my wife and I visited Cyprus. I took the oppertunity to visit some aviation highlights on the island.

TUS Air A320, 5B-DDN, just arrived from Tel Aviv, Israel, as flight U8/103. February 9, 2023.

Tus Air A320, 5B-DDK, is an ex Air Malta ship.

5B-DDN parked-up at Larnaca.

5B-DDR being parked in a corner of Larnaca airport. February 21, 2023.

A Cyprus Airways is pushed back at Larnaca for her upcoming flight to Tel Aviv.

5B-DDQ is a former Flynas bird.

Unexpected vistor at Larnaca was this Fuerza Aerea Argentina Boeing 737-700. She flew as FAG22 from her Buenos Aires/Porlamar AFB, via Maceio/Brasil, Esparagos/Cabo Verde, Malaga/Spain to Larnaca, Cyprus on February 6/7.

Before acquired by the Fuerza Aerea Argentina on April 27, 2021, T-99 flew for Ethiopian Airlines and SAS in Scandinavia.

Inbound from Leipzig and operating for DHL as QY7061 is this Compass Air Cargo Boeing 737-800(F).

Aegean Airlines A320 at LCA in 2023. External electrical power is plugged in, aviobridge connected, the catering truck is busy at the forward galley and bags on the belt loader behind the left wing are being handled.

Boarding-time for Qatar flight 266 with destination Doha, Qatar. Larnaca, February 21, 2023.

'Old' Larnaca International Airport.

Larnaca ramp 2.

UPS Boeing 757APF, N431UP, is seen here parked at Larnaca on a gorgeous February day in 2023.

That evening this Boeing would operate flight 5X/267 from Larnaka to Colgone with an intermediate stop at Tel Aviv. Her ETD was set for 19:15LT. Larnaca Airport, February 9, 2023.

This 30 year old Boeing has spent its entire life with UPS flying express cargo.

This Fokker is going nowhere!

This particular aircraft first flew from Fokker's production site in October 1992 and was delivered to American Airlines several days later. Other operators of the Fokker 100 were Ocean Air Brasil and Avianca. TUS Air acquired the Fokker in June 2017, registrated her 5B-DDD and flew her for just two years.

The next night she would operate DHL cargo flight QY7061 to Milan-Malpensa.

Compass Air Cargo Boeing 737-800F worked among others for Inter Express, Garuda and SunExpress.

Aviation Service Liege Airlines (ASL) Boeing 737-800(F), OE-IXB, arrived at Larnaca the previous night as flight 3V/4193 from Paris, Charles de Gaulle, with an intermediate stop at Athens. February 9, 2023.

This 737 started her career with Ryanair before being to ASL in August 2021.

Great pic with authentic airport flair!

Based at Larnaca Airport, BIRD Aviation is an Aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Service Company.

G-EZFZ is a former EasyJet Airbus A319 and made her last revenue flight during March 2020.

G-EZGC is also a former EasyJet Airbus A319. She was build in March 2010 and made her last commercial flight in March 2020.

Another former EasyJet Airbus A319. G-EZGA made her last revenue flight for EasyJet in March 2020.

Colorful airplanes have low resale value. Painting an aircraft in a color other than white can negatively affect its resale value as the buyer will have to repaint the plane which will further add more weight to the plane.

SMBC Aviation Capital Airbus A320, OE-IWW, is in storage at Larnaca since June 2022.

On Wednesday, August 29, 1973, CSA Flight 531 (DAM/LCA/PRG) landed at Nicosia's runway 14 and veered to the right, 150 m short of the runway end.

Crashed on landing at Nicosia in Aug 1973, the wreckage remains in the United Nations Buffer Zone.

The Tupolev Tu-104A was powered by two Mikulin AM-3M turbojet engines.

The Tupolev struck two taxi lights and skidded down a four feet embankment. A fire started in the no. 1 engine, but was quickly contained by the fire services.

On August 29, 1973, a Czechoslovak Airlines Tupolev Tu-104A, OK-DME, operating flight CSA531 from Damascus overran the runway upon landing. The aircraft was due to fly onwards to Prague from Nicosia. No fatalities were reported on the flight, and the wreckage on the aircraft still lies at the end of the runway.

The wreck is located in the zone of the UN between Cyprus and the Turkish part of Cyprus.

A Greek shoe factory close to the UN zone.

Arrival at Malta-Luqa Airport.

9H-NEO being fueled-up for her next flight.

The Maltese Cross was introduced to Malta by the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem.

The Maltese Cross is sporting on the ventral fin of each Air Malta aircraft.

Ryanair is the major user of Malta-Luqa Airport.

The Airport is named after the nearby city of Luqa.

The airline of the Maltese Islands.

NEO stands for; - new engine option.

9H-NEO is powered by two CFM LEAP-1A26 engines.

The sun sets at Malta-Luqa.

The airline was founder in 1984 by Christopher Ryan, Liam Lonergan and Irish businessman Tony Ryan, who was also the founder of Guiness Peat Aviation.