Biak – Manila – Calcutta – Karachi – Bahrain – Cairo – Rome – Amsterdam

On July 16, 1957 at 03:36 AM, Biak – Manila – Calcutta – Karachi – Bahrain – Cairo – Rome – Amsterdam experienced a crash involving Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation, operated by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines - Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij, with the event recorded near Biak Special Region of Papua.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a lake, sea, ocean, river crash site.

68 people were known to be on board, 58 fatalities were recorded, 10 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 85.3%.

Crew on board: 9, crew fatalities: 9, passengers on board: 59, passenger fatalities: 49, other fatalities: 0.

On 16 July at 0332 hours local time (15 July - 1802 hours GMT) the aircraft took off from Mokmer aerodrome on the Island of Biak, on a scheduled transport flight to Manila. It carried nine crew members and fifty-nine passengers. A few minutes after take-off the pilot asked the operator in the control tower to keep the runway lights on. Shortly thereafter he requested permission to make a "low run" over the aerodrome. Both requests were granted, In the meantime, the aircraft had made a turn to the right and a turn to the left and was flying in a westerly direction back towards the aerodrome. During this approach the aircraft lost altitude gradually and at 0336 local time it crashed into the sea one kilometer from the shore. It burst into flames, broke apart and sank immediately. Eleven passengers and one stewardess were rescued.The stewardess and one of the surviving passengers died later in hospital.

Aircraft reference details include registration PH-LKT, MSN 4504, year of manufacture 1953.