Crash of an Antonov AN-24B into the Mediterranean Sea: 40 killed

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1968 at 1221 LT
Type of aircraft:
Antonov AN-24
Operator:
Registration:
SU-AOL
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Cairo - Damascus
MSN:
67302806
YOM:
1966
Location:
Mediterranean Sea
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
33
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
40
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude over the Mediterranean Sea on a flight from Cairo to Damascus, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea. SAR operations were conducted and several debris were found about 180 km south of the Cyprus coast. None of 40 occupants was found alive and the main wreckage was not recovered.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, the exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-40-DK in Aleppo: 8 killed

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1967
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
YK-ACB
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Damascus - Aleppo
MSN:
16811/33559
YOM:
1945
Location:
Aleppo
Aleppo Governorate (محافظة حلب‎)
Country:
Syria
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
On final approach to Aleppo-Nejrab Airport, the crew encountered marginal weather. In limited visibility, the aircraft was too low when it struck a building, stalled and crashed few hundred yards short of runway threshold. Eight occupants were killed while 11 others were injured. It was reported that the crew was completing the approaching below the glide.

Crash of a Handley Page HPR.7 Dart Herald 207 near Damascus: 54 killed

Date & Time: Apr 10, 1965 at 2320 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page HPR-7 Dart Herald
Operator:
Registration:
JY-ACQ
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Beirut – Amman
MSN:
170
YOM:
1963
Location:
Damascus
Damascus Governorate (مُحافظة دمشق‎)
Country:
Syria
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
50
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
54
Captain / Total flying hours:
7453
Captain / Total hours on type:
1053.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2021
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1161
Circumstances:
The aircraft took off from Beirut International Airport, Lebanon, at 1955 hours GMT on a non-scheduled international flight to Amman, Jordan. The aircraft was cleared to climb to and maintain FL 135 according to the flight plan submitted. At 2014 hours the aircraft reported to Damascus Centre over Dakweh at FL 120 climbing to FL 135 and estimating Damascus beacon at 2019 hours. The aircraft having not reported over that beacon by 2020 hours, the Damascus Centre controller initiated a series of calls which were not answered by the aircraft. At 2035 hours, a telephone call indicated that an aircraft flying west to east was seen on fire and had crashed half-way between the Syrian border and Damascus. It was subsequently found that this was the subject aircraft, and that it had crashed at approximately 2016 hours on a 45° slope of a mountain at a height of 4 200 ft AMSL on a heading of 340°. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 54 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
The cause of the accident was structural failure of the fuselage in flight. The structural failure of the fuselage occurred before any fire broke out. Although witnesses stated that they saw the aircraft on fire in the air, no positive evidence of fire in flight could be found in the wreckage. If such evidence did exist, it must have been destroyed by the ground fire. There was no evidence of any explosive object or materials having been placed in the aircraft.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-DO Skymaster in Damascus

Date & Time: Oct 2, 1964
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
YK-ADA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
3101
YOM:
1943
Location:
Damascus
Damascus Governorate (مُحافظة دمشق‎)
Country:
Syria
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Damascus Airport, the four engine aircraft encountered difficulties to stop within the remaining distance, overran and lost its nose gear before coming to rest. There were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6B in Hamāh: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 7, 1963
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-6
Operator:
Registration:
YK-AEB
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Aleppo – Hamāh – Damascus
MSN:
43749
YOM:
1953
Location:
Hama
Hama Governorate (مُحافظة حماه‎)
Country:
Syria
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
26
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While taking off from Hamāh Airport, the four engine airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest in flames. A passenger died while 29 other occupants were evacuated. The aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-14 into the Mediterranean Sea: 16 killed

Date & Time: Oct 29, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Ilyushin II-14
Operator:
Registration:
1101
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Damascus – Cairo
Location:
Mediterranean Sea
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
The Ilyushin was returning to Cairo on a flight from Damascus, carrying several members of the Egyptian Air Force and Air Defence Command. While cruising at an altitude of 10,000 feet, the aircraft was intercepted by a Gloster Meteor NF.13 belonging to the Israel Air Force. The Israel Secret Services have been informed about the presence on board of the Egyptian General Abed al-Hakim Amar and order was given to shot down the aircraft. The crew of the Meteor (one pilot and one navigator) attacked the Ilyushin several times and the aircraft went out of control and eventually crashed into the Mediterranean Sea, killing all on board. It was later confirmed by the Egyptian Authorities that the General Amar was not on board.
Probable cause:
Shut down by an Israeli fighter.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-10-DK near Aleppo: 19 killed

Date & Time: Feb 24, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
YK-AAE
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Aleppo – Damascus
MSN:
14917/26362
YOM:
1944
Location:
Aleppo
Aleppo Governorate (محافظة حلب‎)
Country:
Syria
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Aleppo Airport, while climbing, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity. It is believed that both engines failed and that control was lost. The airplane dove into the ground and crashed 25 km from the airport, killing all 19 occupants.

Crash of a SNCASE SE.161 Languedoc in Damascus

Date & Time: Apr 24, 1954
Type of aircraft:
SNCASE SE.161 Languedoc
Operator:
Registration:
SU-AHZ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Cairo – Damascus
MSN:
19
YOM:
1945
Location:
Damascus
Damascus Governorate (مُحافظة دمشق‎)
Country:
Syria
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Damascus Airport, while completing the check-list, the crew noted that the three green lights related to the undercarriage were not green. The captain requested confirmation to the controller based in the tower who confirmed that all three landing gear were down. On touchdown, the rain main gear collapsed and the airplane slid for several yards before coming to rest. There were no injuries among the 22 occupants but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right main gear on landing. It appears it was down but not locked for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 in Dahr el-Kadib: 9 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
YK-AAF
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Damascus – Aleppo
Location:
Dahr el-Kadib
Mount Lebanon Governorate (Jabal Lubnan)
Country:
Lebanon
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
Before departure from Damascus on a regular schedule flight to Aleppo, the crew was informed about the recent disappearance of a Netherlands Navy Catalina over Lebanon. Thus, it was requested to the crew to make a detour over Lebanon to see if it was possible to locate the wreckage. While cruising in poor weather conditions, the Dakota hit the slope of a mountain located in Dahr el-Kadib. Nine occupants were killed while six others were injured.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Syria

Date & Time: Jun 25, 1948
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGOP
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
Haifa – Damascus
MSN:
6873
YOM:
1945
Location:
Syria
All Syria
Country:
Syria
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route to Damascus, the pilot was forced to make an emergency landing in a desert area located in the southeast of Syria. Both occupants were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
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