Myanmar National Joins Singapore Airlines, Air KBZ, and More Face Harrowing Emergency Landings, Turbulence, and Mechanical Failures – A Sky-High Safety Wake-Up Call!

Published on December 17, 2025

Myanmar’s domestic air service came under fire when an ATR 72‑600 operated by the national carrier was attacked as it descended to Loikaw. The flight, which had departed from the capital, was carrying passengers and crew when gunmen associated with insurgent groups opened fire. Bullets penetrated the fuselage and wounded a passenger. Despite the damage, pilots completed the landing and medical staff treated the injured passenger. The authorities condemned the attack as a war crime and promised to prosecute those responsible. Civil aviation regulators warned that attacks on passenger aircraft violate international law and jeopardise the safety of non‑combatants.

Runway excursion at Yangon – 17 November 2022

Six weeks later another turboprop of the same type overshot a runway in Yangon. The aircraft touched down after a regional flight from Sittwe but veered off the runway in wet conditions before returning to the pavement. All passengers disembarked safely. The Department of Civil Aviation categorised the event as a serious incident and opened an investigation with assistance from French safety experts. The case drew attention to runway conditions and crew response during poor weather.

Military transport skids off runway in India – 23 January 2024

The Myanmar Air Force encountered its own mishap overseas when a Shaanxi Y‑8 transport sent to India to repatriate soldiers overshot the runway at Lengpui Airport in Mizoram. The aircraft slid off the runway and ended up on a grassy area. Local authorities said twelve people aboard were injured, several seriously, and the runway was closed temporarily. India’s aviation regulator began an investigation, while Myanmar’s military later cited an engine failure. The incident highlighted the challenges faced by ageing military transports operating from unfamiliar airfields.

Severe turbulence prompts Singapore Airlines diversion – 21 May 2024

International carriers are also affected by conditions over Myanmar. Singapore Airlines flight SQ321, a Boeing 777‑300ER en route from London to Singapore with more than 200 people on board, encountered extreme turbulence over central Myanmar at cruising altitude. The sudden vertical acceleration threw passengers out of their seats, causing injuries throughout the cabin. The captain declared a medical emergency and diverted to Bangkok, where the flight landed safely. One passenger died of a suspected heart attack and dozens were injured. The airline issued an apology and cooperated with investigators. Airlines subsequently reviewed their procedures for flying through the region’s convective weather systems.

Brake fire aborts take‑off at Mandalay – 6 May 2025

In May 2025, a Myanmar National Airlines Boeing 737‑800 was accelerating for take‑off from Mandalay to Yangon when cockpit warnings prompted the crew to reject the departure. The left main landing‑gear brake overheated, bursting the tyres and causing a fire. Airport firefighters extinguished the flames and all passengers evacuated safely. The carrier later stated that 143 people were on board and that there were no injuries. An internal investigation was launched to determine why the brake overheated. The event underscored the importance of monitoring brake temperatures and maintaining landing‑gear components.

Landing‑gear collapse in Kunming – 14 July 2025

Two months later the same operator faced another emergency when flight UB‑805 from Yangon landed at China’s Kunming Changshui International Airport. After touchdown, the right main landing gear collapsed during the rollout, causing the engine nacelle to strike the runway. Airport authorities activated an emergency plan, closed one runway and evacuated the passengers. A notice issued by Kunming Changshui the next morning reported that all occupants had left the aircraft safely and that the damaged plane had been moved away, allowing operations to resume[1]. The incident prompted closer inspections of the airline’s fleet.

Patterns and implications

From January 2022 through November 2025 Myanmar‑linked aviation experienced six serious incidents. Three involved the national carrier’s commercial flights: a shoot‑up, a runway excursion and two mechanical failures. One involved a foreign airline that encountered severe turbulence over the country, and another involved a military transport abroad. The Loikaw shooting illustrates how conflict can spill into civil aviation and highlights the need for authorities to protect flight paths from armed groups. The Yangon excursion underscores the importance of runway maintenance and training for adverse conditions. The Mizoram overshoot shows that humanitarian missions using older transports are vulnerable to technical failures and require coordination with host countries. The Singapore Airlines diversion demonstrates that unpredictable weather over Myanmar can produce extreme turbulence, stressing the value of forecasting and seat‑belt discipline. Finally, the brake fire and landing‑gear collapse suggest systemic maintenance challenges within the national carrier’s fleet. Addressing these issues will require investment in infrastructure, improved weather services, adherence to maintenance schedules and measures to prevent armed attacks on civilian aircraft.

These cases collectively highlight persistent risks.

Reference list

1. Global New Light of Myanmar – report on insurgent attack during Loikaw approach[2].
2. Global New Light of Myanmar – statement on brake fire at Mandalay[3].
3. Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses for Civil Aviation Safety – summary of Yangon runway excursion[4].
4. Mizoram government and India’s aviation regulator statements on military transport overshoot[5].
5. Singapore Airlines – official account of severe turbulence on flight SQ321[6].
6. Kunming Changshui International Airport – notice on UB‑805 landing‑gear collapse[1].