Incident Overview

Date: Friday 27 June 1980
Aircraft Type: Douglas DC-9-15
Owner/operator: Aerolinee Itavia
Registration Number: I-TIGI
Location: 25 km NE off Ustica, Italy [Tyrrhenian Sea] – ÿ Mediterranean Sea
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 81 / Occupants: 81
Component Affected: DC-9 aircraftDC-9 aircraft
Category: Unlawful Interference
Narrative
A DC-9 aircraft experienced a catastrophic explosion during a domestic flight from Bologna to Palermo. The aircraft broke apart due to extensive structural damage, resulting in significant wreckage sinking to a depth of approximately 3500 meters in the Tyrrhenian Sea. The cause of the accident remains undetermined, with several theories circulating, including a potential NATO-related shooting down by fighter jets, an explosive device detonated in the rear, or a dog fight involving Libyan, U.S., French and Italian Air Force fighters.A DC-9 aircraft experienced a catastrophic explosion during a domestic flight from Bologna to Palermo. The aircraft broke apart due to extensive structural damage, resulting in significant wreckage sinking to a depth of approximately 3500 meters in the Tyrrhenian Sea. The cause of the accident remains undetermined, with several theories circulating, including a potential NATO-related shooting down by fighter jets, an explosive device detonated in the rear, or a dog fight involving Libyan, U.S., French and Italian Air Force fighters.

Description

Itavia flight 870 departed Bologna (BLQ) at 20:08 on a domestic flight to Palermo (PMO). The DC-9 was en route over the Tyrrhenian Sea at an altitude of about 24000 feet when an explosion occurred. Extensive structural damage caused the plane to break up. Most of the wreckage sank to a depth of some 3500 metres. The cause of the accident has never been officially established. In the years following the accident many theories were suggested. Some theories cantered around the fact that the DC-9 may have accidentally been shot down by NATO fighters. Either during an exercise involving Italian, U.S., and French jet fighters, or during a dog fight involving Libyan, U.S., French and Italian Air Force fighters in the area. It has also been suggested that explosive device detonated in the rear (starboard) toilet.

Source of Information

https://asn.flightsafety.org/data/isasdc9.doc, https://asn.flightsafety.org/data/Gunnvall_paper_Ustica.pdf, https://asn.flightsafety.org/data/Taylor_paper_Ustica_illustrated.pdfhttps://asn.flightsafety.org/data/isasdc9.doc, https://asn.flightsafety.org/data/Gunnvall_paper_Ustica.pdf, https://asn.flightsafety.org/data/Taylor_paper_Ustica_illustrated.pdf

Primary Cause

Explosive device detonated in the rear (starboard) toilet.Explosive device detonated in the rear (starboard) toilet.

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