Incident Overview
Date: Thursday 26 April 1979
Aircraft Type: Boeing 737-2A8
Owner/operator: Indian Airlines
Registration Number: VT-ECR
Location: Madras Airport (MAA) –
ÿ India
Phase of Flight: Landing
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 67
Component Affected: Forward lavatory of the aircraftForward lavatory of the aircraft
Category: Unlawful Interference
An explosion in the forward lavatory of a Boeing aircraft during descent from Trivandrum to Madras resulted in a complete instrument and electrical failure, necessitating a flapless landing at Madras (now Chennai). The aircraft overshot the runway, leading to damage and fire on the right side.An explosion in the forward lavatory of a Boeing aircraft during descent from Trivandrum to Madras resulted in a complete instrument and electrical failure, necessitating a flapless landing at Madras (now Chennai). The aircraft overshot the runway, leading to damage and fire on the right side.
Description
On its way from Trivandrum to Madras, the aircraft was cleared to descent from FL270. Shortly afterwards an explosion took place in the forward lavatory, causing a complete instrument and electrical failure. The Boeing had to make a flapless landing at Madras (now Chennai). The aircraft touched down 2500 feet past the runway 25 threshold and overran. The right side of the plane caught fire. PROBABLE CAUSE: “Detonation of an explosive device in the forward lavatory of the aircraft. The aircraft overshot the runway due to high speed of touchdown, non-availability of reverse thrust and anti-skid system due to systems failure consequent on explosion.”
Primary Cause
Detonation of an explosive device in the forward lavatory of the aircraft.Detonation of an explosive device in the forward lavatory of the aircraft.Share on:
