LOT Polish Airlines Flight 703
| Industry | Aviation |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1929 |
| Headquarters | Warsaw , Poland |
| Products | Air transport services |
Template:Infobox Aircraft accident
LOT Polish Airlines Flight 703 experienced a forced landing approximately 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) north of the Rogóżno railway station on 2 November 1988. The crash resulted in one fatality and multiple serious injuries.
As of March 2024, this event remains the most recent fatal accident involving LOT Polish Airlines.
Aircraft
The aircraft involved was an Antonov An-24B with the registration SP-LTD and named Dunajec, acquired in April 1966.[1] This Soviet-designed twin-engine turboprop first entered commercial operations in 1963. The specific plane had a seating capacity for up to 48 passengers, though it can accommodate as many as 50 in general.[2]
Passengers and crew
The aircraft carried 25 passengers along with 4 crew members, including the radio journalist Tomasz Beksiński. Among the travelers, four were foreign nationals: one British citizen, one American, and two Dutch individuals. Additionally, two passengers were covert officers from the Milicja Obywatelska, serving as sky marshals to ensure flight security.
The flight team was led by Captain Kazimierz Rożek, who brought three decades of aviation experience to the role, supported by First Officer Waldemar Wolski.
Accident
The plane departed from Warsaw Chopin Airport destined for Rzeszów–Jasionka Airport. Just before reaching Jasionka, both engines failed and attempts to restart them were unsuccessful. As the aircraft began descending, passengers were instructed to remain seated and hold on firmly. With no ability to maneuver and an emergency landing as the only option, the captain chose a "long and relatively flat field" for touchdown. Together with the first officer, he executed a gear-up landing on this field. The aircraft came down short of its intended airport.
Initial reports from the Polish Press Agency (PAP) incorrectly stated that 16 lives had been lost. This was later corrected when a local police officer informed The Associated Press that only one fatality occurred. Officials from LOT Polish Airlines suggested that confusion arose because several passengers left the crash scene, proceeded to a nearby road, and accepted rides from passing motorists—causing authorities to mistakenly believe they were deceased. Five individuals required hospitalization while another ten received treatment for minor injuries before being discharged. A hospital in Łańcut cared for 13 patients, admitting three of them.
This incident marked the airline's first crash since the LOT Polish Airlines Flight 5055 disaster on 9 May 1987 and remains the last major accident involving the carrier as of March 2024.
Investigation
The PAP reported that the aircraft experienced engine failure while approaching the vicinity of Rzeszów. According to the Associated Press, the incident was attributed to a mechanical failure. A spokesperson for LOT Polish Airlines, Jerzy Wojdylo, mentioned that weather conditions were favorable and that witnesses observed an eagle striking the plane.
References
External links
Template:Aviation accidents and incidents in Poland Template:Aviation incidents and accidents in 1988
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- 1988 in Poland
- LOT Polish Airlines accidents and incidents
- Aviation accidents and incidents in Poland
- Aviation accidents and incidents in 1988
- November 1988 in Europe
- Accidents and incidents involving the Antonov An-24
- Airliner accidents and incidents caused by engine failure
- 1988 disasters in Poland