1974 EgyptAir Tupolev Tu-154 crash

EgyptAir

Industry	Aviation
Headquarters	Cairo , Egypt

The 1974 EgyptAir Tupolev Tu-154 accident took place on 10 July 1974 when an Egyptair Tupolev Tu-154 crashed during a training session close to Cairo International Airport. The crash resulted in the loss of all six crew members aboard.

Aircraft

This airplane was a Tupolev Tu-154 manufactured at the Aviakor aviation facility. It was the inaugural Tupolev Tu-154 delivered to EgyptAir on 1 December 1973 and bore the name Nefertiti, honoring the wife of the Egyptian pharaoh Akhenaten.

Accident

During a training operation at Cairo International Airport, the aircraft carried six crew members: two pilots from EgyptAir and four instructors from the Soviet Union. After flying for three hours and fourteen minutes, it attempted a touch-and-go landing on Runway 23. During this procedure, the plane pitched upward and subsequently stalled, leading to a crash at approximately 17:30 local time. Tragically, all six crew on board perished in the accident.

Investigation

The inquiry revealed that the pilot operating the aircraft had excessively increased the pitch angle and had miscalculated the center of gravity. Additionally, the movement of ballast during the flight played a role in the incident.

Aftermath

In 1975, EgyptAir withdrew its remaining Tupolev Tu-154 aircraft from service and returned them to the Soviet Union. That same year, improvements were introduced during the manufacturing of the Tu-154B model, including the addition of flap resynchronization mechanisms and modifications to stabilizer arrangements to prevent recurrence of similar accidents.