Incident Overview

Date: Monday 27 November 1989
Aircraft Type: Boeing 727-21
Owner/operator: Avianca
Registration Number: HK-1803
Location: 16 km SW of Bogot -Eldorado Airport (BOG) – ÿ Colombia
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 107 / Occupants: 107
Component Affected: Center fuel tank.Center fuel tank.
Avianca flight AV203, a Boeing 727, crashed near Bogot , Colombia, resulting in the deaths of all 107 occupants. The incident occurred during a climb through FL130 when an improvised explosive device detonated in area under seat number 14F, compromising the empty center fuel tank and triggering a fuel vapor ignition, leading to the aircraft’s catastrophic breakdown.Avianca flight AV203, a Boeing 727, crashed near Bogot , Colombia, resulting in the deaths of all 107 occupants. The incident occurred during a climb through FL130 when an improvised explosive device detonated in area under seat number 14F, compromising the empty center fuel tank and triggering a fuel vapor ignition, leading to the aircraft’s catastrophic breakdown.

Description

Avianca flight AV203, a Boeing 727, crashed near Bogot , Colombia, following the in-flight detonation of an explosive device, killing all 107 occupants. Flight AV203 departed Bogot  at 07:11 for a flight to Cali, Colombia. While climbing through FL130, a improvised explosive device detonated in area under seat number 14F. The empty center fuel tank was then compromised and an ignition of fuel vapours inside the tank then set off a further break up of the aircraft. In 1994, an assassin of the Medellin drug cartel, Dandeny Munoz-Mosquera, was convicted in connection with the crash. He allegedly had arranged to place the bomb aboard the aircraft because he believed that two informers who were cooperating with Colombian authorities were on board.

Source of Information

https://oig.justice.gov/special/9704a/06avianc.htm, https://www.nytimes.com/1994/12/20/nyregion/drug-trafficker-convicted-of-blowing-up-jetliner.htmlhttps://oig.justice.gov/special/9704a/06avianc.htm, https://www.nytimes.com/1994/12/20/nyregion/drug-trafficker-convicted-of-blowing-up-jetliner.html

Primary Cause

Improvised explosive device detonation during in-flight operation.Improvised explosive device detonation during in-flight operation.

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