The fatal crash of a US-Bangla Airlines jet Monday was preceded by minutes of confused chatter between the control tower and the pilot, as they discussed which direction the pilot should use to land on the airport's single runway. Just before landing, the pilot asked, "Are we cleared to land?" Moments later, the controller came back on the air, his voice clearly anxious, and told the pilot, "I say again, turn!" Seconds after that, the controller ordered firetrucks onto the runway. The plane, which was heading from Dhaka to Kathmandu, was carrying 67 passengers and four crew members. Kathmandu officials and the airline laid the blame for the accident on each other. <br/>
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A Dallas-bound flight made an emergency landing at Albuquerque International, sending panicked passengers leaping from a wing onto the tarmac after crew members screamed at them to get away from the aircraft. Southwest Flight 3562 took off from Phoenix Sunday night and was headed for Dallas Love Field. About an hour later, the crew noticed an unusual smell in the cabin. Passengers were told to brace as the plane landed. "I sent a couple texts out to loved ones that you just don't really want to have to send out," a passenger said. He said it was an 8-foot jump to the tarmac from the wing. Two people were taken to hospitals. Southwest said it worked to get passengers onboard another flight to Dallas, and aircraft will remain in Albuquerque where mechanics will inspect it. <br/>
Low-fare airline Air Belgium has received its operating certificate from Belgium, allowing it to start selling tickets for planned service with one of four Airbus A340-300s between Brussels and Hong Kong in mid-April. Air Belgium plans to provide low-fare direct services between Brussels and several destinations in China as well as other points in Asia. The airline said in January it will base its operations at Brussels South Charleroi Airport, the second-busiest facility in the country. Plans call for the construction of a premium terminal at the current Terminal Sud executive aviation facility, which will allow passengers to clear customs and board their flights within 20 minutes of arrival. <br/>
Japanese LCC Peach Aviation has entered discussions with sister airline Vanilla Air to align operations. ANA owns 67% of Peach's shares and fully owns Vanilla Air. ANA said in February that the LCCs will work closely "to entrench their profitability base." "We are starting talks now on how to integrate operations in a better way, and increase effectiveness and efficiency," said a Peach executive. "It makes no sense to compete head to head." ANA said the two LCCs will move into the medium-haul markets of Asia and Southeast Asia by 2020. Peach currently flies to Bangkok via Okinawa, but aims to operate from its hub in Osaka instead. <br/>