Narrative:
On February 18, 1978 two terrorists entered the Nicosia Hilton Hotel and shot and killed the editor of Egypt's leading newspaper. They forced hostages to go with them to the airport at Larnaca for a getaway flight out of the country. They were given a DC-8 with four crew members.
At the same time an Egyptian Air Force C-130 was flown in, carrying 74 commandos. The airplane landed at 18:30. When there seemed to be no progress in the release of the 11 Arab hostages. The Egyptian forces then stormed the DC-8. Cypriot forces returned fire, killing several Egyptian troops. Anti tank missiles were fired, hitting the C-130. Explosions wrecked the Hercules plane, killing three crew members inside.
Damaged on the ground
| Status: | |
| Date: | Sunday 19 February 1978 |
| Time: | 20:00 |
| Type: |  Lockheed C-130H Hercules |
| Operator: | Egyptian Air Force |
| Registration: | SU-BAA/1270 |
| MSN: | 4707 |
| First flight: | 1976 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: |
| Total: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | Larnaca Airport (LCA) ( Cyprus)
|
| Phase: | Standing (STD) |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | - |
| - |
On February 18, 1978 two terrorists entered the Nicosia Hilton Hotel and shot and killed the editor of Egypt's leading newspaper. They forced hostages to go with them to the airport at Larnaca for a getaway flight out of the country. They were given a DC-8 with four crew members.
At the same time an Egyptian Air Force C-130 was flown in, carrying 74 commandos. The airplane landed at 18:30. When there seemed to be no progress in the release of the 11 Arab hostages. The Egyptian forces then stormed the DC-8. Cypriot forces returned fire, killing several Egyptian troops. Anti tank missiles were fired, hitting the C-130. Explosions wrecked the Hercules plane, killing three crew members inside.
Classification:
Destroyed on groundDamaged on the ground
Photos
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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