Narrative:
Four hijackers armed with knives demanded to go to Austria, however, the pilot tricked them into believing the plane was landing in Austria by flying over the Black Sea in circles and landing at the partially darkened Varna Airport, Bulgaria after sunset. One of the hijackers was reportedly killed by on board security personnel when he threatened a stewardess with a knife.
The other three hijackers were arrested by the security personnel.
| Status: | |
| Date: | Monday 7 March 1983 |
| Type: |  Antonov An-24V |
| Operator: | Balkan Bulgarian Airlines |
| Registration: | LZ-AND |
| MSN: | 77303301 |
| First flight: | 1967 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: |
| Total: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: |
| Aircraft damage: | None |
| Location: | Varna Airport (VAR) ( Bulgaria)
|
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Sofia-Vrazhdebna Airport (SOF/LBSF), Bulgaria |
| Varna Airport (VAR/LBWN), Bulgaria |
Four hijackers armed with knives demanded to go to Austria, however, the pilot tricked them into believing the plane was landing in Austria by flying over the Black Sea in circles and landing at the partially darkened Varna Airport, Bulgaria after sunset. One of the hijackers was reportedly killed by on board security personnel when he threatened a stewardess with a knife.
The other three hijackers were arrested by the security personnel.
Classification:
HijackPhotos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Sofia-Vrazhdebna Airport to Varna Airport as the crow flies is 362 km (226 miles).
Distance from Sofia-Vrazhdebna Airport to Varna Airport as the crow flies is 362 km (226 miles).
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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