Bridgetown - Kingston - Havana

The four engine airplane departed Bridgetown-Grantley Adams Airport at 1715LT on a schedule flight to Havana via Kingston, Jamaica. Nine minutes later, the captain declared an emergency and informed ATC about an explosion on board. He was cleared to return for an emergency landing when shortly later, the airplane entered a right turn, lost height and plunged into the sea about 8 km offshore. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all 73 occupants were killed, among them 24 members of the Cuban National Fencing Team.

Flight / Schedule

Bridgetown - Kingston - Havana

Aircraft

Douglas DC-8

Registration

CU-T1201

MSN

45611/127

Year of Manufacture

1960

Date

October 6, 1976 at 05:24 PM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Takeoff (climb)

Crash Site

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Crash Location

Bridgetown-Grantley Adams All Barbados

Region

Central America • Barbados

Crash Cause

Terrorism act, Hijacking, Sabotage

Narrative Report

On October 6, 1976 at 05:24 PM, Bridgetown - Kingston - Havana experienced a crash involving Douglas DC-8, operated by Cubana de Aviación, with the event recorded near Bridgetown-Grantley Adams All Barbados.

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

73 people were known to be on board, 73 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 25, crew fatalities: 25, passengers on board: 48, passenger fatalities: 48, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is terrorism act, hijacking, sabotage. The four engine airplane departed Bridgetown-Grantley Adams Airport at 1715LT on a schedule flight to Havana via Kingston, Jamaica. Nine minutes later, the captain declared an emergency and informed ATC about an explosion on board. He was cleared to return for an emergency landing when shortly later, the airplane entered a right turn, lost height and plunged into the sea about 8 km offshore. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all 73 occupants were killed, among them 24 members of the Cuban National Fencing Team.

Aircraft reference details include registration CU-T1201, MSN 45611/127, year of manufacture 1960.

Fatalities

Total

73

Crew

25

Passengers

48

Other

0

Crash Summary

The four engine airplane departed Bridgetown-Grantley Adams Airport at 1715LT on a schedule flight to Havana via Kingston, Jamaica. Nine minutes later, the captain declared an emergency and informed ATC about an explosion on board. He was cleared to return for an emergency landing when shortly later, the airplane entered a right turn, lost height and plunged into the sea about 8 km offshore. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all 73 occupants were killed, among them 24 members of the Cuban National Fencing Team.

Cause: Terrorism act, Hijacking, Sabotage

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

25

Passengers On Board

48

Estimated Survivors

0

Fatality Rate

100.0%

Known people on board: 73

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Bridgetown - Kingston - Havana

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Takeoff (climb)

Crash Site

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Region / Country

Central America • Barbados

Aircraft Details

Aircraft

Douglas DC-8

Registration

CU-T1201

MSN

45611/127

Year of Manufacture

1960

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