Pakistan International Airlines Flight 740

Pakistan International Airlines Flight 740 was a Hajj pilgrimage flight of Pakistan International Airlines from Kano, Nigeria to Karachi, Pakistan with a stop in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. On 26 November 1979, the Boeing 707-340C serving the route crashed shortly after takeoff from Jeddah International Airport. All 156 people on board died. Before the crash, the pilot radioed a request to return to Jeddah because smoke was coming into the cabin and cockpit. 15 minutes later, Jeddah control tower heard the pilot shout "Mayday! Mayday!" before the radio went silent.[1] The cause of the crash was a fire.

Pakistan International Airlines Flight 740
The aircraft involved in the accident seen on 1 March 1972, while still leased to British Caledonian Airways.
Accident summary
Date26 November 1979 (1979-11-26)
SummaryIn-flight fire (source of fire's ignition undetermined)
PlaceNear Taif, Mecca Province, Saudi Arabia
Passengers145
Crew11
Fatalities156
Survivors0
Aircraft typeBoeing 707-340C
Airline/userPakistan International Airlines
RegistrationAP-AWZ
Flew fromMallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, Nigeria
StopoverKing Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Flying toJinnah International Airport, Karachi, Pakistan

The crash is the third worst plane crash in Saudi Arabia and also the third worst crash of a Boeing 707.[2]

Other articles

Other aircraft crashes caused by in-flight fires

References

  1. NO SURVIVORS FOUND IN PAKISTANI PLANE: Most Victims in Saudi Air Disaster Were Returning from Mecca. A11, Page 11, Column 1: The New York Times. November 27, 1979. https://www.nytimes.com/1979/11/27/archives/no-survivors-found-in-pakistani-plane-most-victims-in-saudi-air.html. Retrieved 2 June 2016. 
  2. "ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 707-340C AP-AWZ Taif". Aviation Safety Network. ASN. Retrieved 2 June 2016.