1971 Merpati Nusantara Airlines Vickers Viscount crash
| Industry | Airline |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Indonesia |
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On 10 November 1971, a Merpati Nusantara Airlines Vickers Viscount bearing the registration PK-MVS crashed into the Indian Ocean near Padang, West Sumatra, Indonesia. Prior to the accident, the crew informed air traffic control that adverse weather conditions prevented them from reaching their destination. Tragically, all 69 individuals on board lost their lives. This event ranks as the third deadliest accident involving a Vickers Viscount.
Accident
The flight was operating between Kemayoran Airport in Jakarta and Tabing Airport, which served Padang at that time. Approximately five minutes before its expected arrival at Tabing, radio contact with the aircraft was lost by air traffic controllers. Controllers at Talang Betutu Airport, located in Palembang, South Sumatra, received a distress call from the flight crew. The pilots reported that poor weather and limited visibility prevented them from landing at Padang. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft crashed into the Indian Ocean, resulting in the deaths of all seven crew members and 62 passengers aboard.
Passengers and crew
Among those on board were mostly Indonesian nationals, with exceptions including a West German physician and his spouse, as well as a British helicopter pilot employed in Indonesia. The passenger list also included eight children. One of the victims was Huriah Adam, a well-known Indonesian choreographer of Minangkabau heritage.
| Nationality | Fatalities | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passengers | Crew | ||
| Indonesia | 59 | 7 | 66 |
| West Germany | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Great Britain | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 62 | 7 | 69 |
Aftermath
Wreckage fragments were discovered drifting approximately 75 miles from the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, three days following the incident. Local fishermen located aircraft seats in the waters between the Beringin and Katang-Katang islands. Additionally, an Indonesian Navy vessel retrieved clothing items and deflated life rafts from the sea.
See also
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- List of accidents and incidents involving the Vickers Viscount
- List of accidents and incidents involving commercial aircraft
- 1971 in aviation
References
External links
Template:Aviation accidents and incidents in 1971 Template:Aviation accidents and incidents in Indonesia before 2000