July 7th 2008 is another bad day for Kalitta Air. A former China Airlines Boeing 747-209F crashed shortly after take off in Bogota, all eight occupants survived but two people were killed on the ground as the aircraft hit a farm. The crew declared an emergency (engine fire) two minutes after take off but while following the emergency procedures to return to the airport, the fuselage teared apart.
The aircraft, delivered new to China Airlines in passenger version in 1981, was carrying some 70 tons of flowers and was scheduled to fly to Miami. This accident happened just six weeks after the Kalitta aborted take off in Brussels (see separate article in archive). 2008 is a very unfortunate year for Kalitta Air, the company lost 2 747's! The two disasters are both due to engine troubles upon take off, both aircraft involved were previously in service with China Airlines as passenger haulers.
Kalitta Air, founded by pilot and businessman Conrad Kalitta, is a freight company based in Michigan in the United States,. It started operations in November 2000 with three Boeing 747F's. Since then, the fleet has grown and there were as many as 18 Boeing 747's. With two aircraft lost this year, 16 Boeing 747's including three 400 BCF (Boeing Converted Freighters) remain in the fleet. Kalitta's radio call sign is "Connie".
