Incident Overview
Date: Wednesday 6 October 1976
Aircraft Type: Douglas DC-8-43
Owner/operator: Cubana de Aviaci¢n
Registration Number: CU-T1201
Location: 8 km W off Bridgetown International Airport (BGI) –
ÿ Barbados
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 73 / Occupants: 73
Component Affected: CabinCabin
Category: Unlawful Interference
A DC-8 aircraft, en route from Bridgetown to Kingston, experienced a sudden and catastrophic loss of altitude after a rear explosion. The explosion resulted in rapid descent and a crash into the sea, causing significant damage.A DC-8 aircraft, en route from Bridgetown to Kingston, experienced a sudden and catastrophic loss of altitude after a rear explosion. The explosion resulted in rapid descent and a crash into the sea, causing significant damage.
Description
At 17:15 Flight 455 took off from Bridgetown runway 09, heading for Kingston. Nine minutes later, the crew tried to turn back to Barbados due to an explosion. The DC-8 lost height rapidly and crashed in a nose down, right wing low attitude into the sea, 5 miles offshore. PROBABLE CAUSE: “The detonation of an explosive device at the rear of the cabin which initiated an uncontrollable fire producing toxic gases resulting in eventual incapacitation of the pilots.”
Primary Cause
Detonation of an explosive device at the rear of the cabin, initiating an uncontrollable fire producing toxic gases, leading to pilot incapacitation.Detonation of an explosive device at the rear of the cabin, initiating an uncontrollable fire producing toxic gases, leading to pilot incapacitation.Share on:
