On September 15, 1974, an Air Vietnam Flight 706 hijacking was involved in an aviation accident. 75 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The detonation of hand grenades by hijackers during the approach to Phan Rang Air Base led to the crash. This summary draws on records from Wikidata contributors.
A Boeing 727 operated by Air Vietnam crashed near Phan Rang Air Base on September 15, 1974, following a hijacking and grenade detonations.
What happened
On September 15, 1974, an Air Vietnam Boeing 727 was involved in a hijacking incident while operating Flight 706. As the aircraft was nearing Phan Rang Air Base in South Vietnam, three hijackers onboard detonated hand grenades. This action occurred while the flight was attempting an emergency landing at the base. The resulting sequence of events led to the destruction of the aircraft, resulting in 75 fatalities and 0 survivors.
Investigation
Investigations into the incident established that the crash occurred during the approach phase of the flight. The presence of explosives used by the hijackers during the descent was a critical element in the destruction of the aircraft.
Probable cause
The detonation of hand grenades by hijackers during the approach to Phan Rang Air Base led to the crash.