Myanmar Aircraft Lands Safely after Front Wheel Breaks

An aircraft of the Myanmar private airline, Air Kanbawza, landed safely at the Thandwe Mazin Airport Friday morning without any casualties although the front wheel of the aircraft was broken, sources with the airline confirmed.

It happened that the aircraft of the airline, on its flight from Heho to Thandwe (Flight No. K7242/243), met with the accident when landing at 10:30 a.m. (local time). But due to successful technical management by landing with the body on the field instead of on the runway, no fire was caused, officials of the airline witnessed.

Using three ATR-72-500 aircraft, Air Kanbawza, established on April 2 last year, has been operating flights from Yangon to Nyaung U, Mandalay, Heho, Tachileik, Dawei, Myeik, Myitkyina, Kalay, Kawthaung, Thandwe and Sittwe.

Starting January, the airline added more air routes of Yangon- Mandalay- Mongywa-Homelin and Yangon-Mandalay-Nay Phi Taw.

Currently, there are six domestic airlines in Myanmar including one state-owned, the Myanmar Airways, and five private-run ones -- Air Mandalay, Yangon Airways, Air Bagan, Asian Wings and Air Kanbawza.

There is also another Myanmar airline, the Myanmar Airways International (MAI), flying solely some foreign destinations.

The Kanbawza took over the MAI in May 2010 for continuous operation under the government's privatization plan, buying up 80 percent stake of the airline with the remainder still held by the government.