Middle East Airlines Flight 444
{{short description|1964 aviation accident}}
{{Infobox aircraft occurrence
| name = Middle East Airlines Flight 444
| image = Sud Aviation SE 210 Caravelle VIN, Middle East Airlines (MEA) JP6839306.jpg
| alt =
| caption = A Middle East Airlines Sud Aviation Caravelle VIN, the accident aircraft was a III variant
| image_size = 300
| occurrence_type = Accident
| date = {{start date|1964|04|17|df=y}}
| summary = Crashed during approach
| site = Persian Gulf, Saudi Arabia
| coordinates = {{coord|26.099|N|50.227|E}}
| occupants = 49
| passengers = 42
| crew = 7
| injuries =
| fatalities = 49
| missing =
| survivors = 0
| aircraft_type = Sud Aviation Caravelle III
| aircraft_name =
| Operator = Middle East Airlines
| tail_number = OD-AEM
| Origin = Beirut International Airport, Lebanon
| Destination = Dhahran International Airport, Saudi Arabia
}}
Middle East Airlines Flight 444 was a scheduled passenger flight between Beirut International Airport and Dhahran International Airport. On 17 April 1964, the flight, operated by a Sud Aviation Caravelle III crashed into the Persian Gulf about {{cvt|19|km}} south–southeast of Dhahran International Airport. All 42 passengers and 7 crew members died in the crash.{{cite web |title=Accident description |url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/332915 |publisher=Aviation Safety Network |access-date=5 December 2024}} The cause of the crash was never determined.
Aircraft and crew
The accident aircraft was a Lebanese-registered Sud Aviation Caravelle III, the only fleet in the airline, and bore the reginatration OD–AEM. It was ceritified airworthy until 29 January 1965, and a maintenance certificate was issued on 5 April. On the date of the crash, the aircraft had flown from Beirut to Ankara and back to its origin city after which some technical problems were fixed. The flight captain was a 33-year-old who had logged 9,193 hours in the air, of which, 235 hours on the Sud Aviation Caravelle. He had 10 hours and 35 minutes on OD–AEM. The co-pilot, aged 36, had flown for 7,691 hours and spent 70 hours on the Sud Aviation Caravelle; 29 hours was on the ill-fated aircraft.
Flight
Flight 444 departed Beirut International Airport at 1709 UTC and proceeded with its flight plan to a cruising altitude of {{cvt|30,000|ft}}. Two hours later, Bahrain air control approved its decent to {{cvt|5,000|ft}} over the Dhahran navigation beacon. At 19:06, Flight 444 requested the latest wind and visibility updates from Dhahran Tower. The tower reported north–northeasternly winds of {{cvt|10|kn}}, gusting to {{cvt|16|kn}}, with visibility of {{cvt|7.4|km}}, although due to a sandstom, was limited to {{cvt|100.6|m}}. At 19:09, the crew informed air control it was descending from {{cvt|30,000|ft}}, and by 19:26, estimated they would reach the navigation beacon in two minutes.{{Cite report |title=Aircraft Accident Digest|number=16|volume=1|series= Circular 82-AN/69|year=1968|publisher=International Civil Aviation Organization |date= |url=https://news.mcaa.gov.mn/training/bookSubject/598|pages= 151-161}}
At 19:28, Flight 444 reported that it was descending to {{cvt|5,000|ft}}. It was cleared for an ADF approach and ordered to report again at {{cvt|4,000|ft}} and {{cvt|2,000|ft}}. A minute later, the flight confirmed it had passed {{cvt|4,000|ft}}. At 19:30, the flight reported its altitude at {{cvt|2,500|ft}} and turned towards the runway. The crew was cleared to land and directed to report once they reached the minimum altitude and saw the runway. A brief loud noise was heard over the radio by the control tower at 19:32 and communication with the flight ceased. It was later discovered that the aircraft crashed into the gulf while making a turn at 19:32. The crash site was located {{cvt|7.4|km}} offshore and {{cvt|18.5|km}} south of the airport. It impacted the water at a slight nose-down angle, banked to the right, and at speeds consistent with those during landing.
Recovery
American, British and Saudi Arabian aircraft participated in aerial search and rescue while workers at the Arabian American Oil Co. helped survey the ground. The company also supplied two planes and 51 trucks to assist. There were 23 Americans on board who may have been employees. Additionally, there were French, Jordanian, Palestinian, Syrian, Lebanese and Bahrainian nationals on board.{{cite news |title=Americans Die In Plane Crash |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=DS19640418.2.3&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN--------|volume=37 |issue=220 |access-date=5 December 2024 |work=Desert Sun |date=18 April 1964}} The following morning, a United States Air Force and two airliners spotted the submerged wreckage, with the aircraft partially intact.{{cite news |title=49 believed dead in Dahran crash; 23 Americans Aboard Plane Down in Persian Gulf |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1964/04/19/archives/49-believed-dead-in-dharan-crash-23-americans-aboard-plane-down-in.html |access-date=5 December 2024 |work=The New York Times |date=19 April 1964}} Despite the fuselage intact, none of the occupants survived the crash.{{cite news |title=Local man, bride die in Mideast plane crash |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NG9KAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA1&dq=plane+Persian&article_id=1873,708487&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwio0eDZyo-KAxW0FTQIHbGoJE8Q6AF6BAgGEAI#v=onepage&q=plane%20Persian&f=false |access-date=5 December 2024 |page=1|volume=75|issue=232|work=Youngstown Vindicator |date=19 April 1964}} About 95 percent of the aircraft was recovered within a {{cvt|76.2|m}} radius of the main wreckage. The water depth at the crash site was about {{cvt|5.5|m}}.{{cite news |title=49 feared dead in plane crash |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sQBeAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA1&dq=plane+Persian&article_id=1780,4178263&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwio0eDZyo-KAxW0FTQIHbGoJE8Q6AF6BAgHEAI#v=onepage&q=plane%20Persian&f=false |access-date=5 December 2024 |work=The Bonham Daily Favorite |date=19 April 1964}} The forward and rear fuselage separated from the main body, but was held by electrical wiring and control cables. Most of the victims were stuck to their seats when they were found.
Investigation
An investigation conducted by the General Authority of Civil Aviation could not determine the cause of the crash. Both pilots were deemed capable of flying and the aircraft had no technical issues. Despite the poor weather condition, it did not meet the threshold that prevented the pilot from aborting the approach. However, a localised high velocity vertical gust or windshear occurred in the area which could potentially caused the aircraft to descend more rapidly than usual. The pilots had either completed or were about to complete the non-directional beacon approach when the aircraft crashed.
References
{{reflist}}
{{Aviation accidents and incidents in 1964}}
{{Aviation accidents and incidents in Saudi Arabia}}
Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in 1964
Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in Saudi Arabia
Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in Bahrain
Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in Lebanon
Category:Accidents and incidents involving the Sud Aviation Caravelle