1977 Libyan Arab Airlines Tu-154 crash

Libyan Arab Airlines

Industry	Airline
Headquarters	Benghazi , Libya

Template:Infobox aircraft occurrence

On 2 December 1977, a passenger Tupolev Tu-154 experienced fuel depletion and was compelled to execute an emergency landing close to Benghazi, Libya. This crash resulted in the deaths of 59 individuals aboard.</ref>

Aircraft

The aircraft involved was a Tu-154A bearing the registration LZ-BTN, which first flew in 1974. It was among six Tu-154s leased by Libyan Arab Airlines from Balkan Bulgarian Airlines specifically for transporting pilgrims during that year's Hajj season.

Accident

Departing from Jiddah International Airport in Saudi Arabia, the flight was bound for Benina International Airport in Benghazi, Libya. Onboard were six crew members and 159 passengers returning from the Hajj pilgrimage. Due to the closure of Egyptian airspace to Libyan flights at that time, the aircraft had to follow a longer route circumventing Egypt rather than a direct path. The flight crew reportedly failed to account for this extended journey in their fuel calculations, leading to insufficient fuel reserves. Upon approaching Benghazi, dense fog enveloped the airport, preventing a safe landing by the pilots. After unsuccessfully attempting to reach an alternate airport and exhausting its fuel supply, the plane was forced to land under emergency conditions, resulting in 59 fatalities among the 165 occupants.

See also

• Avianca Flight 052