 YA-FAU, a sister ship of the accident aircraft, photographed in 1998. A similar aircraft crashed in 1998 | |
| Occurrence | |
|---|---|
| Date | 5 January 1969 |
| Summary | Controlled flight into terrain in low visibility |
| Site | Fernhill Lane, Fernhill, near London Gatwick Airport, Horley, Surrey, England 51°09′17″N 0°08′32″W / 51.1548°N 0.1422°W |
| Total fatalities | 50 (2 on ground) |
| Total injuries | 15 (1 on ground) |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Boeing 727-113C |
| Operator | Ariana Afghan Airlines |
| Registration | YA-FAR |
| Flight origin | Kabul International Airport, Afghanistan |
| 1st stopover | Kandahar International Airport, Afghanistan |
| 2nd stopover | Istanbul Atatürk Airport, Turkey |
| Last stopover | Frankfurt Airport, West Germany |
| Destination | London Gatwick Airport, England |
| Passengers | 54 |
| Crew | 8 |
| Fatalities | 48 |
| Injuries | 14 |
| Survivors | 14 |
| Ground casualties | |
| Ground fatalities | 2 |
| Ground injuries | 1 |
Ariana Afghan Airlines Flight 701 was involved in aviation accident on January 5, 1969. The incident involved a Boeing 727 aircraft, carrying 62 individuals,[1] which tragically crashed into a residential property during its approach to London Gatwick Airport amidst heavy fog. The accident was primarily attributed to pilot error, specifically the failure to extend the flaps to maintain flight at the final approach speed.
The accident occurred at 01:35[note 1] on a Sunday morning, a time when the Gatwick area was enveloped in patches of dense, freezing fog. The Boeing 727, registered as YA-FAR (the sole aircraft of this model in the airline's fleet), descended below its correct glide slope as it approached the airport from the east. As the aircraft traversed over the small hamlet of Fernhill, located on the Surrey/Sussex border, it struck trees and rooftops, initiating a roll and subsequently crashing into a field south of Fernhill Lane. This location was approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) short of the runway. Following the initial impact, the aircraft collided with a large detached house, resulting in its complete demolition and the ignition of a fire.[5]
The tragic incident resulted in the death of 48 passengers and crew members. Additionally, two adult residents of the demolished house lost their lives due to the impact. An infant present in the house survived the incident with only minor injuries. The flight's captain, first officer, flight engineer, and eleven passengers also survived the crash.
- ^ Kelly 1970, §1.14.
- ^ Kelly 1970, Introduction.
- ^ "Aircraft Accident, Gatwick". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 776. House of Commons. 20 January 1969. col. 440–444.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
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