Chania - Nicosia

Greek troops were deployed in Cyprus following the Turkish invasion. While on a night approach to Nicosia Airport under callsign 'Niki 4', the airplane was mistakenly shot down by Greek soldiers based by the airport and crashed in flames 3 km short of runway. A passenger was injured while 31 other occupants were killed.

Flight / Schedule

Chania - Nicosia

Registration

52-133

MSN

35

Year of Manufacture

1954

Date

July 22, 1974 at 02:00 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Military

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Crash Location

Nicosia Nicosia

Region

Europe • Cyprus

Coordinates

35.1254°, 33.1912°

Crash Cause

Terrorism act, Hijacking, Sabotage

Narrative Report

On July 22, 1974 at 02:00 AM, Chania - Nicosia experienced a crash involving Nord 2501 Noratlas, operated by Hellenic Air Force - Elleniki Polemiki Aeroporia, with the event recorded near Nicosia Nicosia.

The flight was categorized as military and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

32 people were known to be on board, 31 fatalities were recorded, 1 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 96.9%.

Crew on board: 4, crew fatalities: 4, passengers on board: 28, passenger fatalities: 27, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is terrorism act, hijacking, sabotage. Greek troops were deployed in Cyprus following the Turkish invasion. While on a night approach to Nicosia Airport under callsign 'Niki 4', the airplane was mistakenly shot down by Greek soldiers based by the airport and crashed in flames 3 km short of runway. A passenger was injured while 31 other occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration 52-133, MSN 35, year of manufacture 1954.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 35.1254°, 33.1912°.

Fatalities

Total

31

Crew

4

Passengers

27

Other

0

Crash Summary

Greek troops were deployed in Cyprus following the Turkish invasion. While on a night approach to Nicosia Airport under callsign 'Niki 4', the airplane was mistakenly shot down by Greek soldiers based by the airport and crashed in flames 3 km short of runway. A passenger was injured while 31 other occupants were killed.

Cause: Terrorism act, Hijacking, Sabotage

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

4

Passengers On Board

28

Estimated Survivors

1

Fatality Rate

96.9%

Known people on board: 32

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Chania - Nicosia

Flight Type

Military

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Region / Country

Europe • Cyprus

Aircraft Details

Registration

52-133

MSN

35

Year of Manufacture

1954

Similar Plane Crashes

April 27, 1930 at 12:00 AM2 Fatalities

Hellenic Air Force - Elleniki Polemiki Aeroporia

Breguet 19

Crashed in unknown circumstances, killing both crew members among them Stefanos Tzagias, pilot.

August 1, 1943 at 12:00 AM

United States Army Air Forces - USAAF

Consolidated B-24 Liberator

The aircraft christened 'Hail Colombia/Little-Chief Big-Dog' was engaged in the 'Tidal Wave' operation consisting on an air raid over the oil refineries of Ploie<U+0219>ti. En route, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to divert to Cyprus for an emergency landing. All 10 crew members evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. Crew from the 344th BS.

April 10, 1946 at 12:00 AM8 Fatalities

Hellenic Air Force - Elleniki Polemiki Aeroporia

Vickers 466 Wellington XIII

While cruising at a height of some 1,500 feet during a training exercise and performing a turn to the right, the right engine failed. The crew increased power on left engine and elected to make an emergency landing but the aircraft dove into the sea and crashed off Pireas harbor. The aircraft was lost and all eight crew members were killed.

August 7, 1946 at 12:00 AM5 Fatalities

Hellenic Air Force - Elleniki Polemiki Aeroporia

Vickers 466 Wellington XIII

The crew was completing a training mission at Elefsis AFB. On final approach, during the last segment, the captain decided to make a go around and increased power on both engines. For unknown reason, the aircraft failed to gain height, banked left, causing the left wing to hit the ground. Out of control, the aircraft crashed in flames. The copilot survived while five other occupants were killed.

April 6, 1949 at 12:00 AM7 Fatalities

Hellenic Air Force - Elleniki Polemiki Aeroporia

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

The crew was engaged in a supply mission to Greek soldiers based in the Pirsogianni region and taking part to the civil war. While flying at low height, the aircraft was hit by enemy artillery and crashed in a mountainous area, killing all seven crew members.

July 6, 1952 at 12:00 AM7 Fatalities

Nord Aviation

Nord 2501 Noratlas

The aircraft, second prototype of the Noratlas, was taking part to the National Airshow in Lyon-Bron Airport, carrying six crew members and one passenger, the famous French aviator Maryse Bastié. After takeoff, the pilot-in-command completed a circuit around the airport and started the approach at low height with one engine voluntarily inoperative, passed over the runway 34 and made a candle. The airplane climbed to a height of 200 meters then stalled and crashed in flames. All seven occupants were killed. Crew: Georges Penninckx, pilot, Étienne Griès, radio navigator, Albert Tisseur, mechanic, Alcide Le Quien, technician, Pierre Landeau, technician, Jean-Louis Frignac, technician. Passenger: Maryse Bastié.