Accident investigators have concluded that the aircraft crash that killed Osama bin Laden's stepmother and stepsister and another relative last year occurred because it was travelling 40% faster than the recommended speed.
Though, Bin Laden's family– 75 year old stepmother Raja Bashir Hashem, her 53-year-old daughter Sana bin Laden and 56-year-old relative Zouheir Anuar Hashem survived the impact, they died subsequently from the effects of fire that began due to the wing separation from the fuselage according to the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).
The accident occurred on July 31, 2016, when a Phenom 300 jet crashed at the end of the runaway at Blackbushe airport, Camberley, on the border of Hampshire and Surrey. After crashing into an earth bank, the plane became airborne again and then collided with several parked cars.
The AAIB's report into the accident concluded that despite the pilots attempt to deploy the jet's "speedbrakes," they remained retracted as the flaps on the wing were deployed.
"The excessive speed contributed to a touchdown 710m beyond the threshold, with only 438m of paved surfaced remaining. From touchdown… it was no longer possible for the aircraft to stop within the remaining runway length." the AAIB said according to the Guardian.
The report also added that the 58-year old Jordanian pilot– Mazen Salim Alqasim's "mental capacity could have become saturated" after being exposed to 66 audio warnings, instructions and messages during the three minutes and 32 seconds before reaching the start of the runway.
The report stated: "It is possible that in these circumstances the pilot … fixated on his initial strategy – landing – and lacked the mental capacity to recognise that the approach had become unstable and should be discontinued."
AAIB also ruled out bad weather or any technical defects with the aircraft and also confirmed that the pilot was free of any substances that may have reduced his performance.
