Kano - Jeddah - Karachi

On November 26, 1979 at 02:04 AM, Kano - Jeddah - Karachi experienced a crash involving Boeing 707, operated by Pakistan International Airlines - PIA, with the event recorded near At Ta'if Makkah l-Mukarramah (<U+0645><U+0643><U+0629> <U+0627><U+0644><U+0645><U+0643><U+0631><U+0645><U+0629>).

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was flight at a desert crash site.

156 people were known to be on board, 156 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 11, crew fatalities: 11, passengers on board: 145, passenger fatalities: 145, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is other causes. The airplane was completing a schedule service from Kano to Karachi with an intermediate stop at Jeddah, carrying 145 passengers and a crew of 11. It departed Jeddah-King Abdulaziz Airport at 0129LT and continued to climb by night and good weather conditions. While cruising at an altitude of 37,000 feet, the captain informed ATC about an in-flight fire and was cleared to descent to 30,000 feet then 4,000 feet at his discretion. Seventeen minutes later, the situation on board became very critical with heavy smoke spreading in the cabin and the crew declared an emergency. While attempting an emergency landing in a desert area, the airplane struck the ground and disintegrated on impact. The wreckage was found about 48 km north of At Ta'if, in a rocky area. None of the 156 occupants survived the crash.

Aircraft reference details include registration AP-AWZ, MSN 20275/844, year of manufacture 1970.