Lao Aviation Flight 703

{{Old news|date=April 2025}}

{{short description|2000 aviation accident in Laos}}

{{Infobox aircraft occurrence

| name = Lao Aviation Flight 703

| image = Lao Aviation Harbin Y-12 Sibille-1.jpg

| image_upright = 1.1

| alt =

| caption = A Lao Aviation Harbin Y-12 similar to the aircraft involved

| occurrence_type = Accident

| date = {{Start date|2000|10|19|df=y}}

| summary = Controlled flight into terrain due to pilot error

| site = 12 km from Nathong Airport, Laos

| coordinates =

| aircraft_type = Harbin Y-12

| aircraft_name =

| operator = Lao Airlines

| IATA = QV703

| ICAO = LAO703

| callsign = LAO 703

| tail_number = RDPL-34130

| destination = Nathong Airport, Xam Neua, Houaphan Province, Laos

| stopover =

| stopover0 =

| last_stopover =

| origin = Wattay International Airport, Vientiane, Laos

| occupants = 17

| passengers = 15

| crew = 2

| fatalities = 8

| injuries = 9

| missing =

| survivors = 9

}}

Lao Aviation Flight 703 was a scheduled domestic passenger flight from Vientiane to Xam Neua, Laos. On 19 October 2000, the Harbin Y-12 II crashed into a mountain {{convert|12|km}} from the airport due to pilot error. At least eight passengers died, including citizens from Germany, Singapore, and South Africa, while seven passengers and two crew members survived but were injured.{{Cite web|url=https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/South-African-among-eight-killed-in-Laos-plane-crash-20001020|title=South African among eight killed in Laos plane crash|date=2000-10-20|website=News24|language=en|access-date=2019-04-29}}{{Cite web|url=https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20001019-0|title=ASN Aircraft accident Harbin Yunshuji Y-12 II RDPL-34130 Sam Neua|last=Ranter|first=Harro|website=aviation-safety.net|access-date=2019-04-29}}{{cite web | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/981769.stm | title = Laos plane crash kills 8 | website = BBC News | date = 20 October 2000 | accessdate = 29 April 2019}}/{{cite web | url=https://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/2000/11/13/stories/03130008.htm | title = Their dreams crashed along with the plane | last = Baruah | first = Amit | date = 13 November 2000 | website=The Hindu | accessdate = 29 April 2019 }}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} The crash was the fourth fatal crash involving the airline in the previous ten years, and the second in four months.{{cite web | url = https://www.news24.com/xArchive/Archive/Mounting-criticism-after-4th-fatal-crash-20001024 | title = Mounting criticism after 4th fatal crash | date = 24 October 2000 | accessdate = 29 April 2019 | website = News24.com}}{{cite web| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/981223.stm | title = 8 die in Laos plane crash | publisher = BBC News | date = 20 October 2000 | accessdate = 29 April 2019}}

The search for the crash site was made difficult by low cloud cover and dense smoke in the area. One group of survivors walked from the crash site to a village nearby.{{cite web| url = https://www.iol.co.za/mercury/world/south-african-killed-in-laos-plane-crash-49202 | title = South African killed in Laos plane crash | website = The Mercury | date= 20 October 2000| accessdate= 29 April 2019}}