Abu Dhabi-Al Bateen | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

During the takeoff roll on runway 31 at Abu Dhabi Airport, just before V1, the aircraft started to vibrate and longitudinal control was lost. The captain decided to abandon the takeoff procedure and initiate an emergency braking manoeuvre. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran, lost its nose gear and came to a halt few dozen metres further. On impact, the cockpit and both engines were almost destroyed and the left wing broke in two.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the vibration during the takeoff roll was the consequence of a tyre burst.

Crash of a Boeing 707-3B5C in the Andaman Sea: 115 killed

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1987 at 1152 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 707

Operator:

Registration:

HL7406

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Baghdad - Abu Dhabi - Bangkok - Seoul

MSN:

20522

YOM:

1971

Flight number:

KE858

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

104

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

115

Captain / Total flying hours:

11161

Captain / Total hours on type:

5416.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

3882

Copilot / Total hours on type:

134

Aircraft flight hours:

36047

Aircraft flight cycles:

19941

Circumstances:

A Boeing 707-300 passenger plane, registered HL7406, was destroyed in an accident in the Indian Ocean, some 100 km off the coast of Myanmar. All 104 passengers and eleven crew members were killed. Korean Air flight 858 departed Baghdad, Iraq on a scheduled service to Seoul, South Korea. En route stops were planned at Abu Dhabi, UAE and Bangkok, Thailand. At 00:01 UTC Flight 858 departed Abu Dhabi, climbing to a cruising altitude of FL370. Last radio contact was at 05:01 UTC when the crew reported that they estimated reaching the TAVOY waypoint over the Andaman Sea at 05:22. Flight 858 was declared missing when it failed to arrive at the destination. On December 13, 1987 a local schooner found pieces of wreckage floating northwest off Tavoy, Myanmar. Korean Authorities, suspecting sabotage after the aircraft became missing, started checking on passengers who disembarked at Abu Dhabi and traced the suspects Mr.Hachiya Shinichi and Miss Hachiya Mayumi to Bahrain where they were apprehended while going through exit formalities at the airport. It was reported that they were found to be holding false Japanese Passports. While being held for interrogation, both committed suicide by taking poison capsules hidden in the cigarettes and Mr.Hachiya Shinichi died. Miss Hachiya Mayumi who survived the attempt was extradited to South Korea. It was reported that the passengers were found to be named Mr. Kim Sung-il and Miss Kim Hyon-hui of North Korean origin. For her role in the bombing Kim Hyun Hui was sentenced to death in March 1989. However, South Korean president Roh Tae-woo pardoned her in 1998.

Probable cause:

In flight explosion of time bomb planted in the aircraft by the two saboteurs disguised as passengers. Investigation revealed that the bomb consisted of a composition C4 type explosive hidden in a battery operated portable transistor radio which was used as a timing device. The timer was activated while they were awaiting embarkation at Baghdad Airport and set to go off 9 hours later. Together with the transistor radio, a liquor bottle containing liquid explosive (type PLX) was taken on board and placed in the overhead baggage rack above seat row n°7 in the forward cabin section of the economy class compartment where they were seated. These timed explosives were left in that place when they disembarked at Abu Dhabi.

Crash of a Boeing 737-2P6 in Abu Dhabi: 112 killed

Date & Time: Sep 23, 1983 at 1530 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 737-200

Operator:

Registration:

A4O-BK

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Karachi – Abu Dhabi – Doha

MSN:

21734

YOM:

1979

Flight number:

GF771

Location:

Abu Dhabi-Al Bateen

Abu Dhabi (إمارة أبو ظبي‎)

Country:

United Arab Emirates

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

106

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

112

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful flight from Karachi, the aircraft was approaching Abu Dhabi-Al Bateen Airport in good weather conditions. On short final, the aircraft exploded and crashed shot of runway, bursting into flames. There were no survivors among the 112 occupants. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the accident was the consequence of a bomb that exploded in the cargo compartment. Nevertheless, an ATC controller who was working at Abu Dhabi-Al Bateen Airport at the time of the accident later reported the aircraft had been mistakenly shot down by a surface-to-air missile after UAE soldiers were performing exercises in the vicinity of Al Bateen International Airport.

Crash of a Short SC.7 Skyvan 3 Variant 200 off Das Island

Date & Time: Nov 22, 1976

Type of aircraft:

Short SC.7 Skyvan Variant

Operator:

Registration:

A4O-SI

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Bahrain - Abu Dhabi

MSN:

1865

YOM:

1969

Location:

Das Island

Abu Dhabi (إمارة أبو ظبي‎)

Country:

United Arab Emirates

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While cruising over the Persian Gulf on a cargo flight from Bahrain to Abu Dhabi-Al Bateen Airport, the airplane suffered an engine failure. The crew reduced his altitude and ditched the aircraft off Das Island, about 160 km northwest of Abu Dhabi. Both occupants were rescued while the airplane sank and was lost.

Probable cause:

Engine failure for undetermined reasons.