Hong Kong – Bangkok – New Delhi – Tehran – Copenhagen

On March 15, 1974 at 08:09 AM, Hong Kong – Bangkok – New Delhi – Tehran – Copenhagen experienced a crash involving Sud-Aviation SE-210 Caravelle, operated by Sterling Airways, with the event recorded near Tehran-Mehrabad Tehran City District.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was taxiing at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

96 people were known to be on board, 15 fatalities were recorded, 81 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 15.6%.

Crew on board: 4, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 92, passenger fatalities: 15, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. Preparing for takeoff on its flight back to Denmark, the crew completed a backtrack on runway 29L when he was instructed by ATC to expedite the procedure and to vacate due to traffic on approach. When the airplane reached the end of the runway, the crew initiated a turn to the left when the right main gear collapsed and punctured the right wing and the fuel tank. A fire ensued and the aircraft came to rest in flames. 15 passengers (7 Danish and 8 Swedish citizens) were killed while 81 other occupants escaped, some of them were seriously injured. The aircraft was partially destroyed by fire.

Aircraft reference details include registration OY-STK, MSN 266, year of manufacture 1970.