Statuts:
Date:	15 SEP 1988
Heure:	13:05
Type/Sous-type:	Boeing 737-260
Compagnie:	Ethiopian Airlines
Immatriculation:	ET-AJA
Numéro de série:	23914/1456
Année de Fabrication:	1987-10-02 (12 months)
Heures de vol:	1377
Cycles:	1870
Moteurs:	2 Pratt & Whitney JT8D-17A
Equipage:	victimes: 0 / à bord: 6
Passagers:	victimes: 35 / à bord: 98
Total:	victimes: 35 / à bord: 104
Dégats de l'appareil:	Perte Totale
Conséquences:	Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Lieu de l'accident:	10 km (6.3 milles) SW of Bahar Dar Airport (BJR) (Ethiopie)
Phase de vol:	En approche (APR)
Nature:	Transport de Passagers Nat.
Aéroport de départ:	Bahar Dar Airport (BJR/HABD), Ethiopie
Aéroport de destination:	Asmara International Airport (ASM/HAAY), Erythrée
Numéro de vol:	604

Détails:
During take-off, just past VR, at a speed of 146 knots, the 737 collided with a flock of pigeons (Columba Guinea). Both engines ingested a number of birds, which resulted in a rise in engine temperature on climbout and the engines backfiring at 100-200 feet. The crew made a right turn to return to airport with the EGT readings at the top extreme. On base leg at 7100 feet amsl with 190 knots, both Pratt & Whitney JT8D-17A engines backfired & flamed out.
A wheels-up crash-landing was made. The aircraft caught fire.

PROBABLE CAUSE: " The accident occurred because the airplane could not be safely returned to the runway after the internal destruction and subsequent failure of both engines to operate arising from multiple bird ingestion by both engines during take-off."

Sources:
» Focus on commercial aviation safety - issue 19 (summer 1995)
» ICAO Circular 260-AN154 (52-87)