Status:	Final
Date:	27 JUL 1955
Type:	Lockheed L-149 Constellation
Operator:	El Al Israel Airlines
Registration:	4X-AKC
C/n / msn:	1968
First flight:	1945
Crew:	Fatalities: 7 / Occupants: 7
Passengers:	Fatalities: 51 / Occupants: 51
Total:	Fatalities: 58 / Occupants: 58
Airplane damage:	Written off
Airplane fate:	Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:	N of Petrich (Bulgaria)
Phase:	En route (ENR)
Nature:	International Scheduled Passenger
Departure airport:	Wien-Schwechat International Airport (VIE/LOWW), Austria
Destination airport:	Tel Aviv-Lod International Airport (TLV/LLBG), Israel
Flightnumber:	402/26

Narrative:
The Constellation had taken off from Vienna at 02:53 for a flight to Tel Aviv. After the aircraft crossed the Yugoslav/Bulgarian border at FL180 it was attacked by 2 Bulgarian fighter aircraft. The plane descended until it broke up at 2000 feet, crashing in flames.
The Constellation had strayed off course because of an incorrect radio compass indication due to the effects of thunderstorm activity in the area. Believing to be over the Skopje beacon, the crew changed the heading to 142 degrees. At 40 miles east off airways Amber 10, the aircraft entered Bulgarian airspace and was intercepted by the Bulgarian fighters.

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The aircraft sustained a hit or hits which caused loss of pressurization and a fire in the heater compartment. The aircraft broke up in mid-air due to explosion caused by bullets hitting the right wing and probably the left wing together with a projectile or projectiles of large calibre in the rear end of the fuselage."

Events:

Sources:
» ICAO Accident Digest Circular 50-AN/45 (146-159)