Draft:TransAsia Airways Flight 543

TransAsia Airways Flight 543

B-22603, the aircraft involved, seen here on February 6, 2001
Accident
Date	March 21, 2003 (2003-03-21)
Summary	Runway incursion; collision with construction vehicles during landing
Site	Tainan Airport, Tainan, Taiwan
Aircraft
Aircraft type	Airbus A321-131
Operator	TransAsia Airways
IATA flight No.	GE543
ICAO flight No.	TNA543
Call sign	TransAsia 543
Registration	B-22603
Flight origin	Taipei Songshan Airport, Taipei, Taiwan
Destination	Tainan Airport, Tainan, Taiwan
Occupants	175
Passengers	169
Crew	6
Fatalities	0
Survivors	175
Ground casualties
Ground fatalities	0
Ground injuries	2

TransAsia Airways Flight 543 was a scheduled domestic passenger flight operated by TransAsia Airways. On March 21, 2003, the Airbus A321-131, registered as B-22603, collided with construction vehicles during landing at Tainan Airport in Taiwan. While all 175 occupants on board survived, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, and two ground workers were injured.

Background

The aircraft involved in the incident was an Airbus A321-131, serial number 602. At the time of the accident, the aircraft had accumulated approximately 13,516 flight hours over 18,580 cycles.

Accident

On March 21, 2003, Flight 543 departed from Taipei Songshan Airport bound for Tainan Airport. The flight was uneventful until the landing phase. At approximately 22:35 local time, during the landing roll on runway 36R, the aircraft collided with construction vehicles that were parked adjacent to the runway.

The collision resulted in significant damage to the aircraft, including the left landing gear, left inner trailing edge flap, and left rear fuselage. Despite the damage, the flight crew managed to bring the aircraft to a complete stop on the runway. All 175 occupants, comprising 169 passengers and 6 crew members, evacuated safely. However, two ground workers in the construction vehicles sustained injuries and were transported to a hospital for treatment.

Investigation

The Aviation Safety Council (ASC) of Taiwan conducted an investigation into the incident. The final report,released on October 8, 2004, identified several factors contributing to the accident:

• Both the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) and the military authority failed to adequately plan and implement safety procedures for airport construction activities.

• The aircraft was granted landing approval despite exceeding the airport's curfew hours, indicating lapses in adherence to operational protocols.

• There was insufficient cooperation and coordination between the CAA and military base authorities regarding construction work near active runways.

• Construction personnel entered an active, lit runway without proper communication with air traffic control, demonstrating a lack of situational awareness and protocol adherence.

The ASC concluded that the runway incursion was the result of systemic failures within the aviation infrastructure, emphasizing the need for improved coordination and safety measures at joint civilian/military airports.

Aftermath

As a result of the collision, the Airbus A321-131 aircraft was declared a total loss and subsequently written off.

The council urged both the Civil Aeronautic Administration and Air Force Headquarters to clarify their responsibilities at the airport and improve safety mechanisms. In May and July of 2004, the council demanded that both authorities provide suggestions on improving their management of the airport. It has yet to receive a reply from either.

See Also

• LATAM Airlines Flight 2213
• Singapore Airlines Flight 006
• Unijet Flight 074P

External Links

• Final Report