ČSA Flight 540

Československé Státní Aerolinie (ČSA) Flight OK540
An CSA Il-62, similar to the accident aircraft
Accident
Date 20 August 1975
Summary CFIT on approach
Site 17 km NE of Damascus International Airport, Syria
Aircraft
Aircraft type Ilyushin Il-62
Aircraft name Brno Trade Fair
Operator ČSA (Československé Státní Aerolinie)
Registration OK-DBF
Flight origin Praha-Ruzyne International Airport, Czechoslovakia
Stopover Damascus International Airport, Syria
Destination Tehran International Airport, Iran
Passengers 117
Crew 11
Fatalities 126
Injuries 2
Survivors 2

ČSA Flight 540 was a regular international service from Prague to Tehran via Damascus and Baghdad. The flight, operated by Ilyushin Il-62 Brno Trade Fair, was on approach to runway 23R at Damascus International Airport on 20 August 1975, descending in clear weather, when it crashed 17 km (11 mi) from the airport.[1] The aircraft broke up and caught fire on impact; 126 of the 128 passengers and crew on board died in the accident in Syria's worst ever air disaster,[2] also the worst air disaster for the airline.

The cause of the crash was determined to be the flight crew's failure to maintain the minimum flight altitude.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident Ilyushin 62 OK-DBF Damascus International Airport (DAM)". Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  2. ↑ "Eugene Register-Guard - Google News Archive Search". Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  3. ↑ Gero, David (1996). Aviation Disasters Second Edition. Patrick Stephens Limited. p. 135.

Coordinates: 33°31′10″N 36°40′10″E / 33.5194°N 36.6694°E / 33.5194; 36.6694

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