Tbilisi - Batumi - Kiev - Leningrad

On November 18, 1983 at 12:00 AM, Tbilisi - Batumi - Kiev - Leningrad experienced a crash involving Tupolev TU-134, operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines, with the event recorded near Tbilisi-Shota-Rustaveli (ex Novo Alekseyevka) Tbilisi City District.

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.

66 people were known to be on board, 7 fatalities were recorded, 59 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 10.6%.

Crew on board: 7, crew fatalities: 3, passengers on board: 59, passenger fatalities: 4, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is terrorism act, hijacking, sabotage. En route from Tbilisi to Batumi, while in cruising altitude, seven hijackers (young Georgian people) elected to divert the aircraft to Turkey. Hijackers opened fire in the cabin and cockpit but the copilot was able to make sharp maneuvers, forcing the hijacker to leave the cockpit. The crew was able to return to Tbilisi Airport where security forces stormed the aircraft. Seven occupants, three crew members and four passengers (among them three hijackers) were killed. At least 63 bullets holes were found in the fuselage and the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair due to serious deformation of the structure caused by excessive g loads during an emergency descent.

Aircraft reference details include registration CCCP-65807, MSN 3352108, year of manufacture 1973.