ČSA Flight 548

ČSA Czechoslovak Airlines

Industry	Aviation
Founded	1923
Headquarters	Prague , Czechoslovakia
Products	Air transport services

On 24 November 1956, the ČSA Czechoslovak Airlines operated an international scheduled passenger service using an Ilyushin Il-12B bearing the registration "OK-DBP" from Zürich to Prague. Shortly after departing from Zurich-Kloten Airport, the aircraft crashed approximately 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) north of the airport, impacting a field near the Swiss localities of Eglisau and Wasterkingen. All 23 individuals on board lost their lives.

This incident occurred on the same day as another international passenger flight accident, the 1956 Paris DC-6 crash.

The event is recognized as one of Switzerland's most significant aviation disasters.

Flight details and accident

The aircraft involved was an Ilyushin Il-12 registered as "OK-DBP" and operated by ČSA Czechoslovak Airlines. The plane was seven years old, having first flown in 1949. Earlier on the same date, this aircraft had completed a round trip between Prague and Zürich, during which engine difficulties had already been reported.

Later that evening, the plane took off again from Zurich-Kloten Airport en route to Prague for an international passenger flight. Shortly after departure, one engine failed. While attempting to return to Zurich, control was lost, and at approximately 18:20 local time, the aircraft crashed nose-first into a field near Wasterkingen, close to the German border, roughly 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) north of the airport. The impact caused an explosion, killing all 23 passengers and crew aboard. The crash site featured a crater measuring about 10 meters in diameter and 3 meters deep.

Following the accident, aviation investigators from Czechoslovakia initiated an inquiry into the cause of the crash.

Victims

Victims by Nationality

Nationality	Crew	Passengers
China	—	10
Czechoslovakia	—	6
Bolivia	—	2
Total	5	18

Memorial dedicated to the Chinese victims at Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery, Beijing

The aircraft carried a total of 23 individuals, comprising 18 passengers and 5 crew members, all of whom perished in the accident. Among the passengers were ten Chinese nationals, six from Czechoslovakia, and two Bolivians. The flight's captain was Josef Plechatý.

Included in the passenger list were five athletes from the Czechoslovak ice hockey club TJ Baník Chomutov ZJF (currently known as Piráti Chomutov) along with a journalist. The team competed in the top-tier national competition, the Czechoslovak Extraliga. They were returning from international fixtures held in Switzerland. Initially, the team had reserved seats on an earlier flight, but were requested to relinquish some of those seats. Consequently, six members switched to this particular flight; these included the club’s founders, Stanislav Vaisochr, chairman of the physical education department Jan Výborný, goalkeeper Miroslav Pašek, forwards Zdeněk Nový and Ondřej Borovička, as well as a reporter. Among these players, two also represented the Czechoslovakia men's national ice hockey team: 34-year-old goalkeeper Miroslav Pašek and 25-year-old defenseman Zdeněk Nový.

The group of ten Chinese passengers belonged to the China National Opera based in Beijing. They were returning home after completing an opera tour across Latin America and Western Europe.

See also

• List of accidents involving sports teams

External links

• Photograph of the accident location