Date:	Wednesday 15 March 2000
Time:	23:40
Type:	Airbus A330-322
Owner/operator:	Malaysia Airlines
Registration:	9M-MKB
MSN:	068
Year of manufacture:	1995
Engine model:	Pratt & Whitney PW4168
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 266
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed, written off
Category:	Accident
Location:	Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) -   Malaysia
Phase:	Standing
Nature:	Passenger - Scheduled
Departure airport:	Beijing-Capital International Airport (PEK/ZBAA)
Destination airport:	Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL/WMKK)
Confidence Rating:	Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources

Narrative:
After arrival from a flight from Beijing, baggage handlers were unloading 80 canisters weighing 2,000 kg when they were hit by the strong toxic fumes. Five ground handlers became ill while unloading the canisters.
A check by airport fire and rescue personnel revealed the canisters contained a chemical called oxalyl chloride. Several canisters had leaked, causing severe damage to the aircraft fuselage. The aircraft was considered damaged beyond repair.
After a five-year lawsuit a Beijing court ordered Dalian, a Chinese state-run company, to pay USD65 million in compensation, plus interest, for destroying the Airbus A330 with falsely declared cargo with corrosive chemicals. The company had mis-identified the canisters as being a safe powder-type chemical.

Daily Express
Chinese chemical firm ordered to pay insurers $65mln in plane damage case (People's Daily Online, 6-12-2007)

photo (c) Felix Goetting; Hong Kong-Kai Tak International Airport (HKG/VHHH); 01 November 1996

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