Investigation Summary
Xiamen Airlines Flight 8301 was hijacked shortly after takeoff by a lone male who demanded to be flown to Taiwan. The captain initially complied with the hijacker's demands to head south but eventually attempted to land at Guangzhou as fuel ran low. During the final approach, a physical struggle broke out in the cockpit. The hijacker reportedly grabbed the controls, causing the aircraft to land at an excessive speed and veer into the airport's apron area. The 737 first clipped the cockpit of a China Southwest Airlines Boeing 707 (Flight 4305), which was occupied only by a single pilot who sustained injuries but survived. The 737 then continued across the apron and struck a fully loaded CAAC Boeing 757 (Flight 3523) that was queued for departure to Shanghai. The impact caused the 737 to flip over and catch fire, while the 757 was also destroyed by the collision and subsequent inferno. While the official death toll is 128, some external databases like BAAA report 130, though these figures are not supported by official Chinese records.
Final Conclusions
The disaster was caused by the unlawful interference of a hijacker whose struggle with the pilot during the critical landing phase led to a total loss of control. The decision by Chinese authorities to allow the hijacked aircraft to land at a busy international airport rather than a more isolated location was later criticized. The event remains the deadliest hijacking in aviation history prior to the September 11 attacks.
Video Analysis
Guangzhou-Baiyun Airport Collisions Of 1990 — On 2 October 1990, a hijacked Boeing 737 collided with two other aircraft at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, resulting in 128 fatalities.
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Systems & Failure Modes
Cockpit Security
The lack of reinforced cockpit doors allowed the hijacker easy access to the flight crew.
Air Traffic Management
The decision to allow a hijacked aircraft to land at a busy airport with other aircraft on the apron was a significant factor in the ground collisions.
Interesting Facts
- 01The hijacker was identified as Jiang Xiaofeng, a 21 year old seeking political asylum in Taiwan.
- 02The disaster was the deadliest aircraft hijacking in history until the September 11 attacks in 2001.
- 03The Boeing 737 involved (B-2510) had previously been hijacked to Taiwan in 1988.
- 04The pilot of the China Southwest Airlines Boeing 707 was the sole occupant of that aircraft and survived the collision with injuries.
- 05Official records state 128 fatalities: 82 from the Xiamen 737 and 46 from the CAAC 757.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Hijacking Response Protocols
The accident led to a re-evaluation of how Chinese authorities handle hijacked aircraft, specifically regarding the clearance of runways and aprons at destination airports.
Known Controversies & Unanswered Questions
Management of the Hijacking
There was significant criticism regarding why the airport was not cleared of other aircraft and why the 737 was permitted to land at a major hub while a hijacking was in progress.