Narrative:
An attacker fired a rocket at a Royal Jordanian Airlines Boeing 727 aircraft in Athens, Greece. The attack occurred while the aircraft, with 62 passengers and a crew of 13 aboard, was preparing to take off for Amman, Jordan. The rocket struck the aircraft approximately 30 feet aft of the forward entry door, but failed to explode. The attacker, who fired at the plane from near the runway, dropped the rocket launcher and ran to a waiting car. After returning to the terminal, an examination of the aircraft
revealed a gash eight inches long and one half inch deep where the rocket struck the aircraft. There were no injuries reported.
The attack was made from the east side of the airport perimeter where workers were laying pipe. The Palestinian organization, Black September, has claimed responsibility for the attack.
| Status: | |
| Date: | Thursday 4 April 1985 |
| Type: |  Boeing 727-2D3 Advanced |
| Operator: | Royal Jordanian Airlines |
| Registration: | registration unknown |
| MSN: | |
| First flight: | |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 13 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 62 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 75 |
| Aircraft damage: | Minor |
| Aircraft fate: | Repaired |
| Location: | Athens-Ellinikon International Airport (ATH) ( Greece)
|
| Phase: | Taxi (TXI) |
| Nature: | International Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Athens-Ellinikon International Airport (ATH/LGAT), Greece |
| Amman-Queen Alia International Airport (AMM/OJAI), Jordan |
An attacker fired a rocket at a Royal Jordanian Airlines Boeing 727 aircraft in Athens, Greece. The attack occurred while the aircraft, with 62 passengers and a crew of 13 aboard, was preparing to take off for Amman, Jordan. The rocket struck the aircraft approximately 30 feet aft of the forward entry door, but failed to explode. The attacker, who fired at the plane from near the runway, dropped the rocket launcher and ran to a waiting car. After returning to the terminal, an examination of the aircraft
revealed a gash eight inches long and one half inch deep where the rocket struck the aircraft. There were no injuries reported.
The attack was made from the east side of the airport perimeter where workers were laying pipe. The Palestinian organization, Black September, has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Sources:
» Worldwide Significant Criminal Acts Involving Civil Aviation 1985 / FAAPhotos
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 Athens-Ellinikon International Airport to Amman-Queen Alia International Airport as the crow flies is 1303 km (814 miles).
Distance from Athens-Ellinikon International Airport to Amman-Queen Alia International Airport as the crow flies is 1303 km (814 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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