1993 Sukhumi airliner attacks

1993 Sukhumi Airliner Attacks

Between 20 and 23 September 1993, amid the Sukhumi massacre, separatist forces in Sukhumi, Abkhazia obstructed the land-based supply lines used by Georgian military units during the Abkhaz conflict. In reaction, the Georgian authorities utilized Sukhumi Babushara Airport to airlift provisions to their troops stationed in Sukhumi. The Abkhaz combatants launched assaults on the airport aiming to disrupt these aerial supply routes.

Throughout the airport siege, five civilian aircraft operated by Transair Georgia and Orbi Georgian Airways were struck by missiles reportedly launched by separatist fighters in Sukhumi. These attacks resulted in the deaths of more than 130 individuals.

20 September

Two Tupolev Tu-134A aircraft (serial numbers 65808 and 65809) operated by Orbi Georgian Airways were destroyed by either small arms fire or missile strikes from Abkhaz forces, with no reported fatalities.

21 September

A Transair Tu-134A-3, manufactured in 1975 and registered as 65893 with factory number 5340120, was en route from Sochi International Airport to Sukhumi. The flight crew included Captain Geras Georgievich Tabuev, First Officer Otar Grigorievich Shengelia, Navigator Sergey Alexandrovich Shah, Flight Engineer Vladimir Vasilievich Nazarko, along with two flight attendants, Ketevan Shalvovna Kvaratsheliya and Olga Mikhailovna Morgunova. Onboard were 22 passengers, predominantly journalists. At approximately 16:25, while descending to Sukhumi-Babusheri Airport at an altitude of about 980 feet, the aircraft was struck by a Strela-2 surface-to-air missile launched from an Abkhaz patrol boat under the command of Toriy Achba. The plane crashed into the Black Sea, resulting in the deaths of all five crew members and the passengers. Some reports indicate a total of 28 individuals aboard, including six crew members and 22 passengers.

22 September

An Orbi Georgian Airways Tupolev Tu-154B (built in 1976, registration 85163, factory number 76А163) was flying from Tbilisi to Sukhumi-Babusheri Airport carrying both civilians and internal security personnel. During its approach, the aircraft was targeted by a surface-to-air missile fired from an Abkhaz patrol vessel commanded by soldier Bulat Amayev. The plane crash-landed on the runway but caught fire, which resulted in the deaths of 108 out of the 132 people on board. This tragedy stands as the deadliest aviation accident recorded in Georgia. Although Georgian media suggested that refugees were among those on board, there is no verified evidence supporting this claim.

Later that evening, another Tu-154 was subjected to an attack but managed to land without incident.

23 September

While passengers were boarding a Transair Tupolev Tu-134A (manufactured in 1975, bearing the registration CCCP-65001 and factory number 42235) at Sukhumi, the aircraft was struck by rockets launched from an Abkhazian BM-21 Grad system. The impact caused a fire that consumed the plane, resulting in the death of one crew member. This aircraft was scheduled to fly the route between Sukhumi and Tbilisi.

Additionally, on the same date, an ORBI Tu-154 with registration 85359 was reportedly destroyed by either mortar or artillery fire.