A rare Boeing 747SP plane has suffered severe damage after a collision with another aircraft. The plane was set to undergo maintenance work before the collision occurred in an Arizona hangar, leaving a gaping slice beneath the fuselage’s front-end. Evidence suggests the aircraft has now been damaged beyond repair.
The plane may be written off
The aircraft is a Boeing 747SP, one of just seven in operation worldwide, and is owned by casino conglomerate Las Vegas Sands Corporation. One of two 747SP’s owned by the casino company, the damaged aircraft is believed to be the VQ-BMS. The damage dealt during the collision was so severe that the plane is expected to be a complete loss.
Las Vegas Sands Boeing 747SP (presumably VP-BMS, built 1979) was critically damaged in a hangar collision with another aircraft while undergoing maintenance at Marana Airport, AZ, USA. The acft is likely to be a total loss. @OnAviation https://t.co/Nc5XjjFnKC pic.twitter.com/RGkEwDaBTy
— JACDEC (@JacdecNew) October 28, 2020
Photos show that the plane collided with the wing of another aircraft, tearing a huge laceration in the fuselage below the cockpit. Additionally, the right wing of the 747SP crashed into a pillar inside the hangar, causing the wingtip to snap off.
How did the accident happen?
It is unclear what exactly led to the collision between the two aircraft. The accident occurred during maintenance work on the 747SP at Marana Regional Airport, Arizona. Photos reveal that the aircraft had several fuselage panels and engine covers removed while the collision happened.
The plane was parked in a hangar at Marana Regional Airport, presumably together with other aircraft. It isn’t completely clear which plane was involved in the collision with the 747SP and whether or not that aircraft also suffered extensive damage. According to Planespotters.net, the other plane involved was a Boeing 737-700 BBJ.
A history of the VQ-BMS
The VQ-BMS plane entered into service in 1979 with Pan Am before taking on VIP duties with the Kingdom of Brunei and Bahrain in 1995. Las Vegas Sands Corporation eventually acquired the plane from Bahrain in 2008. The aircraft was subsequently used as a VIP jet to fly in patrons from across the world.
The aircraft appeared in a Forbes article after celebrities Kim Kardashian and Kanye West flew on it in 2018. Since its acquisition by Las Vegas Sands Corporation, the interior of the plane has been remodeled to suit the tastes of VIP clientele.
The rare Boeing 747SP
Las Vegas Sands Corporation presently owns and operates two Boeing 747SP’s – VQ-BMS and VP-BLK. The aircraft are two of just seven in operation globally, with only 45 747SP’s ever manufactured by Boeing. As the smallest plane in the 747 family, the SP was designed for ultra-long-haul journeys, given its ability to make long flights without stopping for fuel.
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Sheldon Adelson, the owner of Las Vegas Sands Corporation, is one of the richest individuals in the world with a net worth of over $32bn. Adelson owns and operates an extensive fleet of private jets, including four Gulfstream G550s and two Boeing 737-300s.