Incident Overview
Date: Monday 22 July 1974
Aircraft Type: Nord 2501D Noratlas
Owner/operator: Elleniki Polemik¡ Aeropor¡a
Registration Number: 52-143
Location: Nicosia Airport (NIC) –
ÿ Cyprus
Phase of Flight: Standing
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0
Component Affected: Noratlas and C-47 Dakota aircraftNoratlas and C-47 Dakota aircraft
Category: Accident
On July 21, 1974, a clandestine air-lift operation was initiated by the Hellenic Air Force to transport a battalion of commandos from Crete to Cyprus. However, the operation was derailed by Greek Cypriot anti-aircraft gunfire at Nicosia International Airport, resulting in the destruction of twenty Noratlas and ten C-47 Dakota aircraft.On July 21, 1974, a clandestine air-lift operation was initiated by the Hellenic Air Force to transport a battalion of commandos from Crete to Cyprus. However, the operation was derailed by Greek Cypriot anti-aircraft gunfire at Nicosia International Airport, resulting in the destruction of twenty Noratlas and ten C-47 Dakota aircraft.
Description
Turkey invaded Cyprus on 20 July 1974, after the Cypriot Government had been overthrown by sections of the Cypriot National Guard, led by its Greek officers five days earlier. On the evening of July 21, 1974 the Hellenic Air Force commenced a clandestine air-lift operation (Operation “Niki”) using twenty Noratlas and ten C-47 Dakota aircraft in an effort to transport a battalion of commandos from Crete to Cyprus. However, the aircraft were erroneously engaged by Greek Cypriot anti-aircraft guns at Nicosia International Airport. The first three aircraft managed to land. The aircraft 52-143 ran out of fuel at or near Nicosia Airport. It was later destroyed on the ground.
Primary Cause
Greek Cypriot anti-aircraft gun fire.Greek Cypriot anti-aircraft gun fire.Share on:
