Scheduled Revenue Flight

The airplane departed Shanghai-Hongqiao Airport at 1357LT on a flight to Tokyo, carrying 113 passengers and a crew of 11. Nine minutes after takeoff, the crew heard a strange noise coming from the lower middle part of the aircraft. This was immediately followed by a hydraulic low level warning, a hydraulic reservoir air low pressure warning, a complete loss of hydraulic system pressure, abnormal flap position indications, and a complete loss of air brake pressure. The crew elected to return to Shanghai for a emergency landing. The DC-8 touched down fast on runway 36, overran and came to rest in a drainage ditch. All 124 occupants were evacuated, 23 of them were injured.

While cruising in bad weather conditions on a flight from Zumba to Loja, the crew got disoriented when the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located in the region of Valladolid. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 44 occupants were killed.

During the takeoff roll, control was lost after an undercarriage collapsed. There were no casualties.

The airplane departed Naha Airport at 1309LT on a schedule service (NU611) to Ishigaki Island, carrying 133 passengers and a crew of five. Following an uneventful flight at an altitude of 24,000 feet, the crew was cleared to descend to 8,000 then 3,000 feet on approach. Runway 22 was in use at Ishigaki Airport with wind from 300° at 12 knots and an OAT of 32° C. Landing was completed with crosswinds at a speed of 6 knots above Vref. The aircraft bounced and landed a second time. After touchdown, as the spoilers and reversers seems to be inoperative, the crew decided to shut down both engines, making it impossible to use the anti-skid system. The inner tires on both main gears burst almost simultaneously while at a distance of 125 meters from the runway end. The aircraft skidded to the left, overran and came to rest 145 meters further. All 138 occupants evacuated quickly, among them 49 were injured. Twelve minutes later, one of the engine exploded and caught fire. The airplane was partially destroyed by fire.

Crashed in unknown circumstances.

During the takeoff roll at Mekele-Alula Aba Nega Airport, a tire burst. The aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. There were no casualties.

The twin engine airplane departed Kingstown-Arnos Vale Airport on a short flight to Hewanorra Airport, St Lucia Island. En route, while cruising in bad weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of the Soufriere volcano located in the center of the St Vincent Island. All 10 occupants were killed.

Crashed in unknown circumstances while flying at an unsafe altitude in below minima weather conditions. There were no casualties.

At 1808LT, the crew was cleared for takeoff from Sukhumi-Babushara runway 02. During the takeoff run, 26 seconds after it started to roll, at a speed of 195 km/h, the crew sighted a Let L-410M entering the runway. Registered CCCP-67191, the Let L-410 was engaged in a scheduled service (flight SU73G) to Kutaisi with two pilots and nine passengers on board. The captain of the Tupolev decided to abandon the takeoff maneuver and initiated an emergency braking procedure. Spoilers were deployed and revers systems were activated. He elected to turn to the left to reach an exit taxiway. In the same time, the crew of the Let saw the Tupolev coming from their right and increased engine power to move forward. Seven seconds after the crew of the Tupolev rejected takeoff, at a speed of 216 km/h, the right wing of the Tupolev struck the Let that was destroyed upon impact. The Tupolev rolled for about 514 meters then veered off runway to the left and came to rest 48 meters to the left of its centerline. All 82 people on board the TU-134 escaped uninjured while all 11 people on board the Let were killed.