Summary
- KLM Boeing 777-200ER diverted to Ankara due to cargo fire warning.
- No evidence of fire found during inspection, aircraft resumed operations.
- Unclear passenger experience during the delay, another aircraft may have picked them up.
On 6 May (Monday), a KLM flight (a Boeing 777-200ER) was diverted for an unscheduled landing at Turkey’s Ankara airport (ESB) following indications of a cargo fire. According to Aviation24.be, the aircraft (registered PH-BQB) was en route from Amsterdam to Shanghai on flight KL895 and was flying over the Black Sea when the warning happened. Onboard fires can result from the loss of the aircraft. A few days ago a Delta Air Lines flight had a small fire from a mechanical malfunction.
KLM Flight diverted after fire warning
KLM Flight KL-895 was around 140 nautical miles north-northeast from Ankara (the capital city of Turkey) when the crew decided to divert for the unscheduled landing. The Aviation Herald reported the aircraft landed on Ankara’s runway 03R around 25 minutes after diverting to Ankara. After landing at Ankara Airport, the aircraft was inspected, and the attending emergency services found no evidence of a fire (or heat or smoke).
Photo: Aerovista Luchtfotografie | Shutterstock
After six hours, the aircraft was cleared for take-off and returned to Amsterdam. After three days, the aircraft was observed having resumed operations flying to Mexico City – so it appears there was nothing significantly wrong with the aircraft. According to Planespotters.net, the aircraft (registered PH-BQB) was delivered to KLM in 2003 and is now 20.6 years old.
It remains unclear what the passenger’s experience was during the delay. However, another KLM Boeing 777-200 (registered PH-BQE) did a rotation for the Amsterdam-Ankara-Amsterdam route the same night. It is assumed this second aircraft flew to Turkey, picked up the stranded passengers, and returned them to Amsterdam.
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KLM & its fleet
KLM is considered the oldest airline in the world and is the flag carrier of The Netherlands. KLM was founded in 1919 – only around 16 years after the Wright flier first flew. It operates a fleet of Airbus, Boeing, and Embraer aircraft. Its Airbus fleet is composed of Airbus A330-200 and A330-300. The Boeing fleet is composed of Boeing 737-100, 737-800, 737-900, Boeing 777-200ER, 777-300ER, Boeing 787-9, and 787-10. The Embraer fleet operates short-haul flights within Europe and includes Embraer 175, 190, and 195-E2. KLM no longer operates Boeing 747s or Fokkers.
Boeing 777s are typically used on KLM’s long-haul flights to destinations like Buenos Aires, Singapore, Quito, Osaka, and Tokyo. The Boeing 777 is the largest twin-engined airliner in the world and first entered service (with United Airlines) in 1995. Longer ranger variants were first delivered in 2004.
On 27 March 1977, KLM’s Boeing 747-200B was one of the two Jumbo jets involved in the Tenerife disaster. The KLM flight attempted to take off without clearance and collided with a Pan Am Boeing 747 resulting in 583 deaths (the most airliner passenger fatalities from a single incident). However, over the last 20 or more years, KLM has enjoyed an excellent safety record. According to Airlineratings.com, KLM has a Safety Rating of 7/7 and a Product Rating of 6/7.