The pilots of the China Airlines jet that crashed in flames at Chek Lap Kok last month landed in crosswinds exceeding company safety guidelines, an official report released last night says.
Initial results of the investigation pointed towards pilot error in the crash of flight CI642 from Bangkok during Typhoon Sam on August 22, experts said.
Three people died and more than 200 were injured.
The report revealed the failure to adequately slow the McDonnell Douglas MD-11's rate of descent, which resulted in a crash-landing on the southern runway.
The jet's right engine smashed on to the runway, erupting in flames and the right wing then broke away, the Civil Aviation Department accident inspector's report said.
The left wing then lifted up, the plane rolled to the right and ended up overturned, facing the wrong way.
The report revealed that crosswinds just before landing were more than two knots above the maximum permitted by China Airlines.