Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777-200ER 9M-MRL. Sister of 9M-MRO which crashed #MH370 and 9M-MRD which crashed #MH17.
Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777-200ER 9M-MRL. Sister of 9M-MRO which crashed #MH370 and 9M-MRD which crashed #MH17. Photo by Devesh Agarwal.

Malaysia Airlines #MH370 Boeing 777-200ER had 2012 accident

March 8, 2014 1 Comment 702 Views

Malaysia Airlines’ Boeing 777-200ER registration 9M-MRO which was performing the ill-fated flight MH370 earlier this morning was involved in a minor accident about 20 months ago. On August 9, 2012 its wing-tip crashed in to the tail of a China Eastern Airlines A340-600 aircraft and broke-off as per reports in the aviation safety network and Shanghai Daily. The incident occurred at Shanghai Pudong airport, China.

All four Boeing 777 hull losses are 777-200ER

We must stress, the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 fleet is a well maintaine and the Boeing 777 aircraft has a stellar reputation. With over 1000 777s built, MH370 represents the fourth hull loss of the 777, and the second fatal accident, after the Asiana crash at San Francisco, which coincidentally was also a Boeing 777-200ER. Also coincidentally, all four 777 hull losses are of the 777-200ER variant.

Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777-200ER 9M-MRO MH370 Kuala Lumpur Beijing flight crash
Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777-200ER 9M-MRO. Photo by Flickr user RussAvia. Used under CC license.

9M-MRO was the 15th of the total 17 Boeing 777-200ER in the airline’s fleet. It was delivered in May 2002. 9M-MRO construction number is 28420 and line number is 404.

Rolls Royce Trent 800 series engines

Malaysia Airlines’ Boeing 777-200ERs are powered by two Rolls-Royce Trent 892 engines. The first ever hull loss of a 777 occurred when a British Airways 777-200ER (G-YMMM) performing flight BA38, suffered a dual engine loss of power when landing at London Heathrow airport. The cause was traced to ice crystals clogging the fuel flow in the fuel oil heat exchanger (FOHE). Those were Rolls Royce Trent 895 engines from the same Trent 800 series as on 9M-MRO.

Malaysia Airlines’ Boeing 777s are configured in a two class configuration with 35 seats in business class and 247 in economy class.

About Devesh Agarwal

A electronics and automotive product management, marketing and branding expert, he was awarded a silver medal at the Lockheed Martin innovation competition 2010. He is ranked 6th on Mashable's list of aviation pros on Twitter and in addition to Bangalore Aviation, he has contributed to leading publications like Aviation Week, Conde Nast Traveller India, The Economic Times, and The Mint (a Wall Street Journal content partner). He remains a frequent flier and shares the good, the bad, and the ugly about the Indian aviation industry without fear or favour.

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One comment

  1. Michael DeWitt
    March 13, 2014 at 00:58

    The initial reports stated that there had not been any maintenance issues with this airplane. Replacing any part of the wing after a ground collision with another airplane should require more frequent and/or more thorough inspection of the wing. Pass every inspection and it’s still an on going maintenance (inspection) issue for as long as the airplane is flying.

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