19 August 1980 - Saudi 163 Flight SV163 landed at Riyadh at 16.06h GMT for a scheduled intermediate stop after a flight from Karachi. At 18.08hrs the aircraft took off for the final leg to Jeddah. Six minutes and 54secs. after take-off, while climbing to FL350, visual and aural warnings indicated smoke in the aft cargo compartment C-3. Climbing through FL220 (at 18.20h), a return to Riyadh was initiated. About two minutes later smoke was noted in the aft of the cabin, and passengers were panicking. At 18.25:26h the no.2 engine throttle was stuck. The fire had by then entered the cabin of the TriStar. Because passengers where fighting in the aisles, aft of doors L2 and R2, the captain asked everybody to remain seated (18.27:40). On final approach engine no.2 was shut down, and the captain told the cabin crew not to evacuate. Flight SV163 landed back at Riyadh runway 01 at 18.36:24hrs. The crew continued to a taxiway and told the tower that they were going to shut the engines down and evacuate. The engines were shut down at 18.42:18h. Because no evacuation had been initiated by then, crash, fire and rescue personnel tried to open the doors. At about 19.05 they succeeded in opening door 2R. About three minutes later, the interior was seen to be engulfed in flames.
Legenda
CAM-1 = Voice identified as Captain
CAM-2 = Voice identified as First Officer
CAM-3 = Voice identified as Flight Engineer
CAM-4 = Voice identified as Flight Attendant
RDO-2 = Radio transmission by First Officer
PA = Public address system
TMACC = Riyadh Terminal Area Control Center
TWR = Riyadh Tower
(T) = translated part
Time (mm:ss) to landing GMT Time (hh.mm:ss) Source Content 28:41 18:07:49 Takeoff 18.14:53 CAM ((Hostess call signal followed by an alternating tone at 14.54) 21:32 18.14:58 CAM-3 "B" aft cargo CAM-1 What? 18.15:01 CAM-3 "B" aft cargo 18.15:04 CAM-2 What's going on? 18.15:10 CAM-3 Smoke detection "B" aft cargo 18.15:14 CAM-1 Stop ventilation 18.15:16 CAM-3 Smoke detection CAM-3 Smoke detection "B" aft cargo 21:10 18.15:20 CAM-1 In "B" aft cargo CAM-3 Yes 18.15:32 CAM-1 Did you turn it to the other one? 18.15:37 CAM-3 Just in "B". CAM-1 What? 18.15:39 CAM-3 Not in "A". CAM-3 Just in "B". CAM-1 Just "B". 18.15:42 CAM-3 Yeah, "A" is okay. CAM-1 Okay, so we can go on CAM-3 Yes 18.15:51 CAM-1 The ventilation is not working at all in that one CAM-3 Yeah CAM ((Alternating tone)) 18.15:55 CAM-3 There is "A" CAM-1 What? CAM-3 Now it is "A", both of them 20:31 18.15:59 CAM-1 So we got to be returning back right? CAM-3 Both "A" and "B" aft cargo smoke detection 18.16:06 CAM-1 So we have smoke there 18.16:07 CAM-3 I would say so, yeah 18.16:18 CAM-1 What's the procedure for it in the checklist? 20:10 18.16:20 CAM-1 Yeah I am looking for it now 18.17:10 CAM-1 ((Singing in Arabic)) 18.17:16 CAM-1 (T) See that, what's it's name 18.17:17 CAM-2 Abnormal 18.17:19 CAM-1 (T) No, no checklist abnormal 18:04 18.18:26 CAM-3 Both "A" and "B" CAM-3 Yeah. Both "A" and "B" CAM-3 Shall I test it again and see if it will test? CAM-1 Yeah 18.18:34 CAM-3 It doesn't test CAM-1 Doesn't test? CAM-3 Both off CAM-1 So that's actual isn't it? 18.18:54 CAM-3 That would ah --- I would say actual, yeah CAM-1 Uh CAM-3 I would say so, yeah both of them went 17:30 18.19:00 CAM-1 We have cleared the situation 18.19:17 CAM-1 There isn't anything about it in the abnormal procedures, huh. 18.19:20 CAM-3 Nothing about it, should I just go back there and see if I can find anything or smell anything? 18.19:25 CAM-1 What? 18.19:26 CAM-3 Shall I go back there and see if I can smell anything? CAM-1 Okay, sure. CAM-3 Yeah CAM ((Sound of cockpit door opening)) 17:00 18.19:30 CAM-1 Have they seen it CAM-3 If I can see, smell something I'm think we better go back 18.19:35 CAM-1 Surely check it CAM-3 We'll see 18.19:40 CAM ((Sound similar to cockpit door slamming)) 18.19:41 CAM-2 (T) Strange no procedure for it CAM-1 No procedure for it? 18.19:44 CAM-1 Tell them we're returning back CAM-2 To Riyadh 18.19:48 CAM-1 We are 60 miles out ah --- 18.19:58 CAM-1 We better go, go back to Riyadh CAM-1 (T) Look in the abnormal CAM-1 (T) By the way he's a jackass, in the abnormal it is in the checklist 18.20:16 CAM-3 We've got a fire back there CAM ((Sound similar to door slamming)) 18.20:18 CAM-1 We do? CAM-3 Yes we do CAM-1 It's okay call please 18.20:25 CAM-1 Tell him we're coming back 18.20:25 TMACC Go ahead 18.20:27 RDO-2 18.1-6-3, we're coming back to Riyadh 16:00 18.20:30 CAM-3 I would declare an emergency CAM-1 Yeah 18.20:33 TMACC Cleared to reverse course to Riyadh and request reason CAM-2 Declare emergency? 18.20:36 CAM ((Door slams)) 18.20:37 CAM-? Fire, fire in the cabin 18.20:37 RDO-2 Saudia one six three, we've got fire in the cabin and please alert the fire trucks CAM ((Noise similar to door slamming)) 18.20:45 TMACC Okay and cleared back and if you'd like to descend, you can descend to any altitude you like 18.20:50 CAM-1 Okay CAM-2 I already asked, I already asked 18.23:07 CAM-3 We definitely want 18.23:10 CAM-3 We definitely, we definitely want preference to land CAM-1 Huh? 18.23:13 CAM-3 We definitely want preference to land, that's for sure CAM-1 Yeah 18.23:22 CAM-1 Pressurization set? --- CAM ((cabin announcement - unintelligible)) 13:03 18.23:27 CAM-1 Okay 18.23:32 CAM-2 No smoking sign on CAM-1 Okay, no smoking sign 18.23:36 CAM-1 Landing preliminary 18.23:40 CAM-3 Okay landing preliminary 18.23:41 CAM-3 18.1-42 on the bug CAM-1 one fortytwo 18.23:42 CAM-2 one fortytwo CAM-3 Anti-ice CAM-1 Off 18.23:50 CAM-3 HSI heading CAM-1 Set 18.23:51 CAM-3 Seatbelt sign CAM-1 On CAM-3 Ah CAM-3 Logo light CAM-1 It's okay 18.23:55 CAM-3 Logo light CAM-1 Checked 12:32 18.23:58 CAM-3 Altimeters CAM-1 Altimeters is gonna be what it is CAM-1 It was 1-0-0-2 setting 18.24:03 CAM-3 Okay, and airspeed, groundspeed, airspeed and EPR bugs 18.24:16 CAM-3 Gross weight estimates 18.24:16 CAM ((Sound of alternating tone)) ((Smoke detector aural warning)) 18.24:21 CAM-3 What can I say 18.24:22 CAM-1 Okay CAM-3 I think it's all right now CAM-1 Okay 12:05 18.24:25 CAM-2 one one zero CAM-3 Gross weight airspeed and EPR bugs CAM-1 Set and cross checked, one forty two set here two and one five five check CAM-2 One five five CAM-3 Check 18.24:40 CAM-1 Keep the oxygen to be prepared 18.24:41 CAM-3 ((Sound of alternating tone three times simultaneously with above)) CAM-3 There goes "A" PA (T) # # # # 18.24:49 CAM-1 ((Singing in Arabic)) 11:31 18.24:59 PA Would passengers please remain seated 18.25:04 CAM-2 Six point eight CAM-1 Huh? CAM-2 Six point eight on the QNH CAM-2 One zero zero six decimal eight CAM-? ((Continuous talk by female voice in background)) 18.25:12 CAM-1 Okay zero six decima eight 11:04 18.25:26 CAM-1 Okay the throttle in engine number two, it's not returning back --- stuck CAM-3 Stuck? 18.25:32 CAM-1 Stuck 18.25:36 CAM-3 I would leave it the way it is, Sir CAM ((Sound of knocking)) CAM-1 Huh? CAM-3 Just leave it the way it is. 18.25:40 CAM-1 I'm going to shut it down 18.25:41 CAM-4 We tried to, we tried to put it off, at L4 there is a fire CAM-3 Theres a fire? CAM-4 Yeah CAM-3 Well go put it out 18.25:45 TMACC One six three, did you get the message to get us the passengers on board and fuel endurance CAM-4 How 18.25:47 CAM-3 In the ah, --- the fire extinghuisher CAM-4 I know I said we will do it 18.25:50 CAM-3 There is a fire back there CAM-1 Okay 18.25:54 CAM ((Sound similar to door slamming)) 18.25:55 CAM-1 Tell them we have actual fire in the cabin 10:31 18.25:59 RDO-2 Riyadh Saudi Arabia one six three, we have an actual fire in the cabin now 18.26:07 CAM-3 Shall I let Jeddah know on HF? CAM-1 No 18.26:10 TMACC Saudi one six three roger, the fire are in the standby position and they are ready CAM-3 No? CAM-1 Not with our situation 18.26:17 RDO-2 One six three 18.26:18 PA L4 and R4 get the fire extinguishers from the galley --- ((repeated)) 10:01 18.26:29 CAM-3 Jee's lets go on as fast as we can til we can get to approach 18.26:31 CAM-1 That's it, this is the maximum CAM-3 Yeah 18.26:34 CAM-1 Now engine number two is stuck there so something is wrong in it, I'm gonna be shut it down 18.26:39 CAM ((Sound similar to cockpit call chime)) 18.26:40 CAM-3 Well not yet, not yet, not yet 18.26:42 CAM-4 There is no way I can go to the back * * after L2 R2 because the people are fighting in the aisles CAM-3 Okay find a way if you can 18.26:53 CAM-4 L4 R4 L3 R3 * * open the cabinet and use all your fire extinguishers and the CO2 9:28 18.27:02 CAM-3 I'll keep your speed up as long as possible CAM-1 Okay CAM-1 As soon as possible we're gonna be down 18.27:16 PA (T) (All passengers remain in your seats, etc.) 18.27:21 CAM-3 And your target speed is one forty one CAM-1 Huh one forty one is set 9:00 18.27:30 CAM-3 Here's the bug card 18.27:32 CAM-1 Thank you 18.27:39 CAM-2 Set on mine 18.27:40 PA Please, everybody set down, move out of the way, everybody sit down, move out of the aisle, there is no danger from the airplane, everybody should stay in their seats PA (T) Sit on your seat, sit on your seat, ladies and gentlemen take your seat --- nothing will happen to aircratf, ladies and gentlemen fasten your seatbelt, don't stand like this set on your seats -- sit down, sit down [in Urdu] 8:27 18.28:03 CAM-3 Piece of cake, piece of cake 18.28:10 CAM-3 As soon as we land, sir, I suggest that we turn off all fuel valves 18.28:14 CAM-1 Okay CAM-3 As soon as we land CAM-1 Okay 18.28:17 CAM-3 As soon as we touch down CAM-1 Okay 18.28:22 CAM-1 Where is the runway? CAM-1 Can you see the runway? 18.28:27 CAM-2 No not yet, not yet 8:01 18.28:29 CAM-2 Twenty eight miles CAM-? # # # 18.28:40 CAM-3 Did you tell the fire trucks to go to the back of the airplane as soon as possible CAM-2 Yeah CAM-1 Huh PA (T) Will all passengers remain seated, will all passengers remain seated, ((Urdu)) --- ladies and gentlemen sit down, sit down (repeated) CAM-1 Advise them CAM-1 Huh CAM-2 Advise them? 18.28:50 CAM-1 (T) How? 18.28:50 RDO-2 Riyadh one six three CAM-2 Advise them 18.28:52 TWR Go ahead CAM ((Sound of two knocks)) CAM-1 Yeah, yeah 18.28:54 RDO-2 Please advise fire trucks to be at tail of the airplane after touch, please. 7:31 18.28:59 TWR Yes, will do 18.29:01 CAM-1 (T) Where is the airport, I don't see it? CAM-4 Captain there is too much smoke in the back CAM-2 (T) There is the airport road, the yellow lamps are the airport road. CAM-1 Huh CAM-2 (T) The yellow lamps are the airport road CAM-1 That CAM-2 Yeah CAM-4 # # # CAM-1 Are there too much smoke there? 6:56 18.29:34 CAM-3 Okay, I am going to test the system again 18.29:36 CAM ((Sound of alternating tone)) ((Smoke detector)) 18.29:38 CAM-3 Okay, there's both "A" and "B" loops working again 18.29:44 CAM-3 And no indication of smoke 18.29:46 CAM-1 Huh 18.29:47 CAM-3 No ah indication of smoke, however, the cabin is filled with smoke in the back CAM-1 Okay 18.29:53 CAM-1 Now the number two is stuck there the engine CAM-1 Okay 18.29:56 CAM-3 I suggest we shut it down on short final 18.29:59 CAM ((Sound of alternating tone)) 6:31 18.29:59 CAM-1 Yeah, on short final 18.30:01 CAM-3 Okay, there is "A" again 18.30:03 CAM-3 And "A" is going out 18.30:20 CAM ((Sound similar to door movement)) 6:03 18.30:27 PA (T) ((Passenger exhorting passengers to sit down)) 18.30:35 CAM-3 What is he saying? CAM-2 Trying to keep them calm, keep the down 18.30:41 CAM-1 Okay flaps four please 18.30:45 CAM-1 Okay, final to the box 18.30:47 CAM-2 Final to the box please 18.30:52 CAM ((Sound similar to seat movement)) 18.30:56 PA Everybody sit down please, all passengers 5:30 18.31:00 CAM-1 Okay flaps ten please, correction, it's okay CAM ((Sound of cough)) CAM-? * CAM-2 (T) They are the first people CAM-1 (T) What? CAM-2 (T) They are the first people CAM-1 (T) Who are they? 18.31:13 CAM-2 (T) They are the people we were talking about CAM-1 Huh CAM-2 They are the people we were talking about 18.31:18 CAM-1 (T) Where is the airport I don't see it CAM-2 (T) You see those lights over there, that's the stadium 18.31:22 CAM-2 I got the field in sight 18.31:25 CAM-1 I am just trying to interept this (radial) CAM-2 Okay 5:00 18.31:30 CAM-4 Shall we evacuate? CAM-1 What? 18.31:31 CAM-4 Did you say we should evacuate --- CAM-1 Okay CAM-4 The passengers CAM-3 Say again CAM-4 Can we evacuate all the passengers? 18.31:34 CAM-1 Flaps ten please CAM-3 When we're on the ground yes CAM-4 Okay after we are on the ground yes CAM-2 Flaps ten CAM-1 Yeah 18.31:38 CAM-1 Final to the box ! 18.31:40 CAM-2 Final to the box please 18.31:41 CAM-3 Final to the box 18.31:42 CAM-3 Okay ignition CAM-2 On CAM-3 No smoking sign CAM-2 Say again 18.31:48 CAM-3 No smoking sign CAM-2 On 18.31:49 CAM-3 Altimeters CAM-2 Set, cross checked CAM-3 Brake pressure CAM-2 Checked 18.31:51 CAM-3 Radio and R NAV selector CAM-2 Check 18.31:54 CAM-3 Okay complete to the box 18.31:58 CAM-3 Okay, right after landing sir do you want me to turn off all fuel valves? 4:28 18.32:02 CAM-1 No after we have stopped the aircraft CAM-3 Okay 18.32:05 CAM-1 Okay, I'll tell you 18.32:10 CAM-4 Do you want us to evacuate passengers Captain? CAM-1 What? CAM-4 Do you want us to evacuate the passengers as soon as we stop 18.32:16 CAM-1 Take your position CAM-4 Okay 18.32:19 CAM-3 The area duct overheat CAM ((Sound similar to door shutting)) CAM-1 Okay CAM-1 Flaps eighteen please 18.32:23 CAM-2 One eight 18.32:25 PA Flight attendants please take your position CAM-4 Flight attendants please take your positions 3:59 18.32:31 CAM-2 Got runway in sight? 18.32:33 RDO-2 Riyadh, one six three, we got the runway in sight, are we cleared to land? CAM-1 Oh yeah, I see it PA Please take your positions 18.32:36 TMACC Affirmative, you are number one cleared for approach and you can continue tower one eighteen one 18.32:42 RDO-2 Eighteen one, one six three 18.32:44 RDO-2 Riyadh, Saudia one six three ten miles final runway in sight, cleared to land? CAM-4 All of you sit down 18.32:48 TWR One six three cleared to land, wind three two zero at five 18.32:48 CAM-1 Okay I'm shutting PA (T) Fasten seatbelts all of you sit down [in Urdu] 18.32:52 CAM-1 Okay, I'm shutting down engine number two CAM-1 It's stuck, present EPR 18.32:53 RDO-2 One six three, cleared to land, confirm you have alterted the fire trucks CAM-3 Okay CAM-1 Okay CAM-3 Okay 18.32:58 TWR Affirmative, they are ready 18.32:59 CAM-1 Okay, it is coming down 3:29 18.33:01 RDO-2 (T) Thank you CAM-3 All right CAM-1 Okay 18.33:06 CAM-2 Flaps in eighteen 18.33:08 CAM-3 I'll keep our speed up as much as possible CAM-1 Okay, flaps twenty two CAM-2 Flaps twenty two CAM-4 Give me your attention please, be seated ladies and gentlemen, we are about to land there's no reason to panic 18.33:22 CAM-3 I'll give you a hundred and fifty down, okay CAM-1 What? 18.22:23 CAM-3 A hundred and fifty on down CAM-1 Yeah sure 3:01 18.33:29 PA We're about to land ladies and gentlemen place your hands behind your head for impact, girls demonstrate impact position, girls demonstrate impact position 18.33:31 CAM-1 Gear down please CAM-2 Gear is coming down 18.33:35 CAM-3 Okay, you can go one ninety CAM-1 Good 18.33:40 CAM-1 There is no, any procedure for the two engine, it's the same as three CAM-2 Okay CAM-3 Yeah 18.33:45 CAM-1 I just want to confirm it, I know it God damn it 18.33:52 CAM-1 Tell him that engine number two is should be shut down --- it's stuck 18.33:57 CAM-2 Okay 18.33:58 CAM-1 Tell the tower CAM-2 Yeah 2:30 18.34:00 CAM-1 Yeah, we just have engine number one 18.34:02 RDO-2 Tower Saudia one six three 18.34:04 PA The girls have demonstrated impact position, please go down half a minute before touhdown, it's half a minute before touchdown, hands behind your head 18.34:06 TWR Go ahead one six three, wind three two zero at five CAM-1 Number one and number three 18.34:10 RDO-2 One six three is cleared to land, we have engine number two shut down, we have only one and three 18.34:17 TWR Copied today PA Everybody, please sit down, everything's under control, we are landing back at Riyadh, please it down and fasten your seatbelts, sit down and fasten your seatbelts, please CAM-1 Okay 18.34:20 RDO-2 Okay 18.34:25 CAM-1 Complete the final checklist CAM-2 Complete, flaps 2:04 18.34:26 CAM-3 Okay, your altimeters are one zero zero seven, set and cross checked three ways, gear and anti-skid is down and checked and your flaps are at thir- twenty two 18.34:39 CAM-1 Yeah, I know it 18.34:44 CAM-3 Both loops "A" and "B" are out CAM-1 Thank you 1:37 18.34:53 PA (T) Ladies and gentlemen, no need to panic, place your hands behind your head for impact position [Urdu] 18.35:06 CAM-3 Aft cargo door is opened sir 18.35:11 CAM-1 Check CAM-3 No problem PA Now ladies and gentlement, may I ask you to please put your hands behind your heads for the impact position 18.35:56 CAM-3 Looking good 18.35:57 CAM-1 Tell them, tell them to not evacuate 0:30 18.36:01 PA Put your hand behind your head and head between your knees, hands behind your head CAM ((Sound similar to door opening)) 18.36:07 CAM-3 No need for that, we are okay, no problem, no problem 18.36:12 GPWS Minimum --- minimum 18.36:12 CAM-1 One hundred CAM-3 One hundred 18.36:15 CAM ((Loud squeal begins and continues until end of CVR tape)) 18.36:18 CAM-3 Fifty 18.36:19 CAM-3 Forty 18.36:21 CAM-3 Thirty 18.36:22 CAM ((Loud squeal)) ((End of CVR tape)) 0:00 18.36:30 approximate time of landing ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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