Budapest - Thessaloniki

On July 4, 2000 at 04:57 PM, Budapest - Thessaloniki experienced a crash involving Tupolev TU-154, operated by Malév Hungarian Airlines - Magyar Légiközlekedési Vallalat, with the event recorded near Thessaloniki Thessaly / Tessa<U+03BB><U+03AF>a.

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.

94 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 94 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

Crew on board: 8, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 86, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. Originally, flight MA262 from Budapest to Thessaloniki should be performed by a Boeing 737-300 HA-LES but due to technical problems, a Tupolev TU-154B-2 was dispatched. Following an uneventful flight, the crew was cleared for a VOR/DME approach to runway 34 followed by a visual circle to land on runway 28 as the runway 34 was closed to traffic due to construction works. Because a Boeing 757 slowed to vacate the runway after landing, ATC instructed the crew to extend the downwind leg for runway 28. For unknown reasons, the crew failed to comply with this instructions and performed 'S'. On final approach, the tower controller informed the crew that he forgot to lower the undercarriage. The captain increased engine power and initiated a go-around procedure but this decision was too late. The aircraft continued to descend and struck the runway surface in a gear-up configuration at 1657LT. The aircraft suffered substantial damages but the crew managed to go-around and to follow a holding pattern. A safe landing was completed at 1715LT. All 94 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Aircraft reference details include registration HA-LCR, MSN 82A543, year of manufacture 1982.