Country
Western Sahara
code
Laâyoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra

Crash of a Lockheed C-130H Hercules in Gueltat Zemmour: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 12, 1981
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
CNA-OH
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Desert
MSN:
4717
YOM:
1977
Location:
Gueltat Zemmour
Laâyoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra
Country:
Western Sahara
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engaged in a reconnaissance mission and taking part to the Battle of Gueltat Zemmour (13 to 29 October 1981), carrying five crew members. En route, the airplane was shot down by a surface-to-air missile and crashed near Gueltat Zemmour, bursting into flames. All five crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the airplane was shot down by a surface-to-air missile fired by soldiers from the Front Polisario.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-21 Islander in Mauritania

Date & Time: Jul 21, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Britten-Norman Islander
Operator:
Registration:
5T-MAT
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Desert
MSN:
765
YOM:
1976
Location:
Laâyoune
Laâyoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra
Country:
Western Sahara
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Western Sahara, mayb in the region of Laayoune, while taking part to a military operation against Polisario Front rebels. It is believed the aircraft was shot down by ground fire and crashed. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Lockheed C-130H Hercules in Laayoune

Date & Time: Dec 4, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
CNA-OB
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4537
YOM:
1974
Location:
Laâyoune
Laâyoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra
Country:
Western Sahara
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Laayoune Airport, the airplane went out of control and crashed. The occupant's fate remains unknown. It is reported the aircraft has been shot down by rebels from the Polisario Front.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m off Tarfaya: 10 killed

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.52
Operator:
Registration:
22-94
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Tan-Tan – Tarfaya
Location:
Tarfaya
Laâyoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra
Country:
Western Sahara
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
While approaching Tarfaya Airport, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions and was unable to locate the airfield. Control was lost and the airplane crashed into the ocean off Cape Juby. A crew member was rescued while 10 other occupants were killed.

Crash of a Latécoère 28-0 near the Cape Bojador: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1934
Type of aircraft:
Latécoère 28
Operator:
Registration:
F-AJPA
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Paris – Casablanca – Dakar – Buenos Aires
MSN:
925
YOM:
1930
Location:
Cape Bojador
Laâyoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra
Country:
Western Sahara
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane departed Paris on an international schedule service to Buenos Aires with five passengers and two crew members on board. On the leg from Casablanca to Dakar, while cruising at night at an altitude of 3,000 metres, the engine caught fire. The pilot reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crash landed in rough terrain located about 50 km from the Cape Bojador, bursting into flames. Six occupants were injured while the flight engineer Jean Reig was killed.
Crew:
Marcel Goret, pilot,
Frédéric Marret, radio operator,
Jean Reig, flight engineer. †
Probable cause:
Engine fire in flight.

Crash of a Latécoère 26.6 near Tarfaya

Date & Time: Dec 27, 1930
Type of aircraft:
Latécoère 26
Operator:
Registration:
F-AJKH
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Dakar – Casablanca – Alicante – Barcelona – Perpignan – Toulouse
MSN:
735
YOM:
1929
Location:
Tarfaya
Laâyoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra
Country:
Western Sahara
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Dakar to Casablanca, the crew lost his orientation and attempted to make an emergency landing. No distress call was received at the company base in Casablanca. SAR operations were initiated and the crew of another aircraft spotted the wreckage three days later in an uninhabited area located south of Tarfaya, near Cape Juby. All three occupants were rescued .
Crew:
Albert Pinot, pilot,
Mr. Neri, mechanic.
Passenger:
Mr. Ibrapa.

Crash of a Latécoère 26.2R in Tarfaya

Date & Time: Jun 29, 1928
Type of aircraft:
Latécoère 26
Operator:
Registration:
F-AINF
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Toulouse – Perpignan – Alicante – Casablanca – Dakar
MSN:
680
YOM:
1928
Location:
Tarfaya
Laâyoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra
Country:
Western Sahara
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, visibility became low due to foggy conditions. The crew reduced his altitude to maintain a visual contact with the ground when the aircraft hit a sand dune and crashed. Both crew were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Breguet 14 Torpedo in Cape Bojador: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 11, 1926 at 0800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Breguet 14
Operator:
Registration:
F-AFAX
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Casablanca – Dakar
MSN:
198
YOM:
1923
Location:
Cape Bojador
Laâyoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra
Country:
Western Sahara
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
En route from CAsablanca to Dakar, while cruising along the shore, the engine failed. The crew made an emergency landing on a beach near Cape Bojador. After landing, the crew was attacked by Maures tribesmen and killed while the aircraft was set on fire and destroyed.
Crew:
Léopolds Gourp, pilot,
Henri Erable, copilot,
Mr. Pintado, mechanic.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.
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