Zurich – Geneva – Athens – Bombay – Beijing

On October 7, 1979 at 09:16 PM, Zurich – Geneva – Athens – Bombay – Beijing experienced a crash involving Douglas DC-8, operated by Swissair, with the event recorded near Athens-Ellinikon Attica / <U+0391>tt<U+03B9><U+03BA><U+03AE>.

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

154 people were known to be on board, 14 fatalities were recorded, 140 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 9.1%.

Crew on board: 10, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 144, passenger fatalities: 14, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The approach to runway 15L was unstable. At an excessive speed of 150 knots, the four engine airplane landed about 800-900 meters down the runway 15L, on a wet surface. The crew failed to use all available braking systems and unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran at a speed of 40 knots, went through a perimeter fence and descended a ravine before coming to rest in flames. 20 passengers were injured while 120 other occupants escaped uninjured. Unfortunately, 14 passengers were killed. The aircraft was totally destroyed by a post crash fire.

Aircraft reference details include registration HB-IDE, MSN 45919/312, year of manufacture 1967.