1969 Aswan Ilyushin Il-18 crash

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On 20 March 1969, a United Arab Airlines Ilyushin Il-18 crashed during an attempted landing at Aswan International Airport, resulting in the deaths of 100 out of the 105 people on board.

The crash

This flight operated as a non-scheduled international passenger service from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, destined for Aswan, Egypt. The passengers were Muslim pilgrims returning home after winning a pilgrimage lottery. The landing attempt occurred during early morning darkness with blowing sand reducing visibility to approximately 2–3 kilometers. Following two failed landing attempts, the aircraft made a third approach when it banked sharply to the right and collided with the left edge of the runway. The impact caused the starboard wing to detach, leading to fuel leakage and subsequently igniting a fire that engulfed the aircraft.

Cause

The investigation concluded that the primary cause was the pilot descending below the minimum safe altitude without having a clear visual of the runway lights. Additionally, pilot fatigue due to prolonged duty hours without adequate rest was identified as a contributing factor.

External links

• 1969 Aswan Ilyushin Il-18 accident at AirDisaster.com (Archived version)
• "1969 Fatal Accidents in Public Transport Operations". Flight International: 84. 15 January 1970.