Narrative:Flight TW841 (Tel Aviv-Athens-Rome-New York) left Athens at 09:12 GMT for a 1 hour and 48 minute flight to Rome. The flight was cruising at FL280 when to suddenly enter a steep climb attitude. The captain of PanAm flight 110 who witnessed the event, said the aircraft then rolled to the left into a steep descent. The Boeing 707 disintegrated and crashed into the sea. It was determined that the detonation of an explosive device in the aft cargo compartment buckled and damaged the cabin floor in such a manner that one or more of the elevator and rudder system control cables was stretched and, perhaps, broken. The resultant displacement of control surfaces caused a violent pitch up and yaw and made the aircraft uncontrollable.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The detonation of an explosive device within the aft cargo compartment of the aircraft which rendered the aircraft uncontrollable".
Accident investigation:
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Investigating agency: | NTSB |
Status: | Investigation completed |
Duration: | 199 days (7 months) | Accident number: | NTSB/AAR-75-07 | Download report: | Final report
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Classification:
Sabotage
Loss of control
Sources:
» Aircraft hijackings and other criminal acts against civil aviation : statistics and narrative reports / FAA
» NTSB-AAR-75-7
Follow-up / safety actions
NTSB issued 4 Safety Recommendations
Issued: 10-JAN-1975 | To: | A-75-2 |
REEMPHASIZE TO THE NATIONS SERVED BY AMERICAN FLAG CARRIERS THE IMPORTANCE OF PARTICIPATING IN THE AVIATION SECURITY TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. (Closed - Acceptable Action) |
Issued: 10-JAN-1975 | To: | A-75-3 |
ESTABLISH AN AVIATION SECURITY OFFICE IN THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION\'S EUROPE, AFRICA AND MIDDLE EAST REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS IN BRUSSELS, BELGIUM. (Closed - Acceptable Alternate Action) |
Issued: 10-JAN-1975 | To: | A-75-4 |
EXPEDITE THE DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF SUITABLE EXPLOSIVES DETECTION EQUIPMENT TO PRECLUDE THE INTRODUCTION OF EXPLOSIVE DEVICES ON BOARD AN AIRCRAFT. (Closed - Acceptable Action) |
Issued: 10-JAN-1975 | To: | A-75-5 |
ENSURE THAT THE AIRCRAFT SECURITY PROGRAMS OF U.S. AIR CARRIERS, AS PRESCRIBED BY 14 CFR 121.538, CONTAIN PROVISIONS THAT ARE MORE RESPONSIVE TO HIGH RISK SITUATIONS IN INTERNATIONAL AS WELL AS DOMESTIC OPERATIONS. (Closed - Acceptable Action) |
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Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does
not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Athens-Ellinikon International Airport to Roma-Fiumicino Airport as the crow flies is 1063 km (665 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.