Incident Overview
Date: Friday 26 June 1970
Aircraft Type: Douglas DC-8-43
Owner/operator: Alitalia
Registration Number: I-DIWL
Location: 6,5 km E of Damascus –
ÿ Syria
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Substantial, repaired
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 94
Component Affected: Left wing of the Alitalia DC-8 aircraft.Left wing of the Alitalia DC-8 aircraft.
Category: Other
Alitalia DC-8 Flight 713 encountered airspace closure in Syria following a request from the crew to fly to Damascus. The aircraft was targeted by an air-to-air missile, resulting in a direct hit to the left wing, dropping it 3250 feet and forcing the pilot to shut down the number one engine. Due to Damascus Airport being closed, an emergency landing was conducted at Beirut.Alitalia DC-8 Flight 713 encountered airspace closure in Syria following a request from the crew to fly to Damascus. The aircraft was targeted by an air-to-air missile, resulting in a direct hit to the left wing, dropping it 3250 feet and forcing the pilot to shut down the number one engine. Due to Damascus Airport being closed, an emergency landing was conducted at Beirut.
Description
Alitalia DC-8 Flight 713 was approaching Syrian airspace 70 minutes after takeoff when the crew was told that Syrian airspace was closed. He requested vectors to Beirut and was told to fly to Damascus and turn direct to Beirut. While flying at FL295 the left wing to a direct hit from an air-to-air missile. The flight dropped 3250 feet and the pilot had to shut down the no. 1 engine. Since Damascus Airport was closed, an emergency landing was carried out at Beirut. At the time flight 713 was hit, a battle was going on between Egypt Air Force MiG-21 fighters and Israeli Mirage IIICJ fighters. Reportedly Syrian MiG-17 were involved as well.
Primary Cause
Air-to-air missile attack by an unidentified aircraft.Air-to-air missile attack by an unidentified aircraft.Share on:
