Investigation Summary
The accident occurred during a private flight carrying three members of the bin Laden family. During the visual approach to Runway 25, the pilot attempted to overtake a microlight aircraft on the downwind leg. This maneuver triggered a series of TCAS Resolution Advisories (RAs), including 'descend' and 'adjust vertical speed' commands, to resolve conflicts with the microlight and another light aircraft. To comply with the TCAS and maintain separation, the pilot climbed and then initiated a very steep descent, reaching rates of up to 3,000 feet per minute. The aircraft was configured with landing gear down and Flap 3, but the high speed inhibited the deployment of speed brakes. The Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS) issued six 'pull up' warnings during the final approach. The aircraft touched down approximately 710 meters beyond the threshold, leaving only 349 meters of the declared Landing Distance Available (LDA) and 438 meters of total paved surface remaining. The pilot applied full braking, but the excessive speed (134 knots at touchdown vs. 108 knots target) made a successful stop impossible. The aircraft exited the runway at 83 knots groundspeed, vaulted off an earth bank, and came to rest in a car park where a fuel-fed fire broke out within one second.
Final Conclusions
The AAIB concluded that the pilot's mental capacity became saturated due to a combination of high workload, audio overload from multiple cockpit warnings (TCAS and TAWS), and the stress of maneuvering in a busy visual circuit. This led to a fixation on completing the landing despite the unstable approach parameters. The investigation found no technical defects with the aircraft. A secondary factor was the delay in fire service access; the airport fire appliances were blocked by a locked gate leading to the car auction site, and the key was located in a third vehicle that arrived one minute later. However, the AAIB noted the fire's intensity was such that the delay likely did not change the outcome for the occupants. The final report was published in December 2016.
Video Analysis
The Plane Crash That Killed The Bin Laden Family — A detailed look at the 2015 Blackbushe Phenom 300 crash, examining the high-speed approach and the human factors that led to the runway overrun.
If playback is blocked, the owner has disabled embedding — use the link above.
Airframe & Maintenance
Crew Experience
Captain
Mazen al-Dajah, a 57-year-old Jordanian national; former Airbus A320 pilot.
Systems & Failure Modes
TCAS (Traffic Collision Avoidance System)
Generated multiple Resolution Advisories (RAs) during the circuit, contributing to the pilot's high workload and steep descent profile.
TAWS (Terrain Awareness and Warning System)
Issued six 'pull up' warnings during the final approach due to the excessive rate of descent.
Speed Brake System
The speed brakes remained stowed despite being selected by the pilot because they are automatically inhibited when flaps are extended.
Interesting Facts
- 01The three passengers were members of the bin Laden family: Raja Bashir Hashim (stepmother), Sana Mohammed Bin Laden (sister), and Zuhair Anuar Hashim (brother-in-law).
- 02The pilot had 11,000 total flying hours, with 1,181 hours on the Phenom 300.
- 03The aircraft touched down with only 349 meters of the declared Landing Distance Available (LDA) remaining.
- 04All four occupants survived the impact but died from the effects of the post-crash fire.
- 05The speed brakes were inhibited from deploying because the flaps were selected to position 3.
- 06The airport fire service was delayed by a locked gate for which the first two responding vehicles did not have a key.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Airport Emergency Access
The airport operator ensured that all fire appliances now carry keys for all perimeter gates to prevent delays in reaching off-site accident locations.
Emergency Documentation
Blackbushe Airport made improvements to its emergency documentation and procedures following the response difficulties encountered during this event.
Location
ACCIDENT SITE · Coordinates taken from the official investigation report.