Khmer Air | Fokker F50 | XU-BCJ | 2015-present

Khmer Air was founded in 2011 with the goal of serving the domestic market in Cambodia by 2013, with ambitions to expand to international destinations within 5 years of its launch. Initially the airline was planning to commence operators with 4 used ATR 72s. But, after running into problems with the acquisition of its AOC, the company only launched flights in 2015 with 3 50-seater Fokker 50 aircraft.

Ever since its launch however, the company has faced trouble. Khmer Air purchased an additional 3 Fokkers within its first 18 months, increasing its fleet to 6 aircraft. However, intense competition in the domestic Cambodian market and its rapid expansion lead to losses, forcing the airline to sell back two of the Fokkers in late 2017 in order to streamline operations, in addition to a short 11-day grounding in December 2017. The two aircraft quickly found home with a startup in Belgium.

In addition, maintenance issues plagued an unusual part of their flights, the airline was accused of cutting corners and a lackluster training program, while its Fokker 50 aircraft have been involved in 6 serious incidents. On January 19th, 2020, one of its Fokkers, registered XU-KFF, crashed on approach to Siem Reap in foggy conditions operating as flight 442, leading to the death of all 44 passengers and 4 crew in the deadliest crash in the history of the Fokker, as well as the deadliest crash in Cambodian soil. Following the crash, and based on the airline's sketchy history, the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation of Cambodia decided to revoke Khmer Air's AOC temporarily, pending the investigative report. The airline has stated it plans to relaunch services by the end of March, however there is doubt the airline will ever take off again.

This aircraft, registered XU-BCJ, was built in 1995, and is one of the youngest Fokker 50s in service. It was initially delivered to an Icelandic regional airline, from which it was retired in 2014, when it was bought by Khmer Air. It remained in its original configuration of 50 Economy Class seats. Currently, along with the other 2 remaining Fokkers in Khmer Air's fleet, it's stored in Phnom Penh.