spotter hely: Malev Tu-154

A chilling whisper echoed across the tarmac, “Go around, Malev, go around!” Right here at the spotter hely: Malev Tu-154, we remember a moment of near disaster. This spot offers a unique vantage point to contemplate the story of Malev Flight 262 and its Tu-154, HA-LCR. This particular Tu-154 usually served the Budapest to Thessaloniki route as a Boeing 737-300. But on July 4, 2000, fate intervened. A last-minute engine problem with the 737 meant the Tu-154 took its place. The flight from Budapest was uneventful until the descent into Thessaloniki. The plane, flying low over the mountains, triggered the ground proximity warning system. Annoyed by the constant alarm, the crew switched it off, a decision that would soon have consequences. The approach was faster than usual. The designated runway was occupied by a departing Boeing 757. The Malev captain initiated a go-around. But then, as the 757 began its takeoff roll, he changed his mind and decided to land. In the rush, the before-landing checklist was skipped. The crucial step of lowering the landing gear was missed. With the GPWS silenced, only the air traffic control tower could warn them. They were, however, preoccupied with the departing 757. Captain Peter Trenkner, witnessing the scene from another aircraft, desperately radioed the warning: “Go around, Malev, go around!” The Malev captain realized his mistake and attempted a go-around. But the engines, slow to respond, couldn’t prevent the inevitable. The Tu-154, traveling at 300 km/h, slammed onto the runway, skidding for 650 meters. Then, miraculously, it lifted off again. It circled for 16 minutes, giving the crew time to lower the landing gear and prepare for a second attempt. The second landing was smooth. But the fear remained: would the landing gear collapse? Would the 30 tons of jet fuel ignite? But the sturdy Tupolev, its large landing gear pods acting as sleds, held together. The aircraft was later deemed too expensive to repair and donated to the Thessaloniki airport fire department for training. Here at the spotter hely: Malev Tu-154, we’re reminded of that day, a testament to both human error and the resilience of this iconic aircraft.