[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mtM8R7KWyY&w=420&h=315%5D
A veteran Boeing 727-212 carrying the final Mexican registration of XB-MNP (msn 21348) was intentionally crashed on April 27 into Mexico’s Sonoran Desert at Laguna Salada near Mexicali. The crew members bailed out of the aircraft prior to it crashing into the ground. The airliner was purposely destroyed with crash dummies buckled in their seats according to this report by Channel 4. The deliberate crash was filmed from several angles for an upcoming TV show on airline safety on Channel 4 in the UK and the Discovery Channel in the US. The episode will also be seen in Germany on Pro Sieben. The documentary is being produced by Dragonfly Film and Television Production.
Read the full story from Channel 4: CLICK HERE
The trijet airliner was originally delivered to Singapore Airlines as 9V-SGB on September 26, 1977. The airframe would migrate to VASP (PP-SMK) on June 17, 1980. Alaska Airlines acquired the jetliner on March 8, 1982. It would become N293AS with Alaska in March 1986.
Alaska Airlines Slide Show: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo Below: Bruce Drum. N26729 of Alaska taxies at the Seattle/Tacoma hub.
Express One, AvAtlantic and Sterling One would also briefly operate the aircraft. Finally Champion Air (Minneapolis/St. Paul) would operate the 727 in a passenger configuration for the Las Vegas charter program. N293AS would also operate the very last revenue flight for Champion Air on May 29, 2008 from Las Vegas-Minneapolis/St. Paul, closing down the charter airline.
Champion Air Slide Show: CLICK HERE
Bottom Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Operating for Champion Air, N293AS arrives back at Las Vegas.
