36 fatalities

Aircraft Crash at Tachilek Airport (XY-AEN)

Tachilek, MyanmarLanding (descent or approach)

On August 24, 1998, a Fokker F27 Friendship (registration XY-AEN) operated by Myanma Airways was involved in an aviation accident near Tachilek, Myanmar during landing or approach. 36 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: For unknown reasons, the crew descended below MDA until the aircraft impacted the ground. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 7 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-11Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft crashed into a hill 3 km short of Tachilek Airport runway during final approach, killing all 36 occupants. The official investigation found the crew descended below the minimum descent altitude for unknown reasons.

Incident Overview and Flight Details During a descent to Tachilek Airport, an aircraft that had completed an uneventful flight from Yangon struck the slope of the Payakha hill. The impact occurred 3 kilometers short of the runway, resulting in the total destruction of the aircraft and the deaths of all 36 occupants on board. The captain had previously informed air traffic control that the aircraft had just passed 9,500 feet during the descent phase. ## Official Investigation Findings The official investigation determined that the probable cause of the accident was the crew's descent below the minimum descent altitude (MDA) until the aircraft impacted the ground. The specific reasons for this descent below the MDA were not identified in the official findings.