Narrative:A Sud Aviation SE-210 Caravelle VIR passenger plane was destroyed when it crashed shortly after takeoff from Riohacha. Colombia. All 70 on board were killed.
The aircraft was on its first scheduled flight after 17 months of maintenance work. It operated on a domestic service from Bogotá, Colombia, to Barranquilla, Valledupar, Riohacha, Medellín and back to Bogotá. On board were 63 passengers, seven crew members and a cargo of fireworks.
At 14:18 the Caravelle took off from Riohacha for the leg to Medellín. Five minutes after takeoff an explosion occurred and there appeared to be a fire in the right-hand aft portion of the aircraft. The Caravelle went out of control and crashed. It's not known for sure whether the explosion was caused by a bomb or not.
Classification:
Loss of control
Sources:
»
El Tiempo - 22 Dec 1980
Photos
accident date:
21-12-1980type: Sud Aviation SE-210 Caravelle VIR
registration: EC-ATX
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 Riohacha-Almirante Padilla Airport to Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport as the crow flies is 655 km (409 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.