What happened
Korean Air Flight 858 was a scheduled international passenger service connecting Baghdad, Iraq, with Seoul, South Korea. On November 29, 1987, the Boeing 707-3B5C aircraft experienced a catastrophic failure while in flight. The explosion originated from a bomb concealed within an overhead storage compartment in the passenger cabin. This device had been planted by two agents acting on behalf of North Korea.
Investigation
The incident resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft and the loss of all individuals on board. Authorities determined that the cause was not mechanical failure or pilot error, but rather a deliberate act of sabotage. The investigation confirmed that the bomb was detonated intentionally during the flight phase.
Findings
The primary contributing factor was the successful placement of an explosive device by foreign agents. This act led to 115 fatalities and zero survivors. The event is classified as an act of terrorism rather than a standard aviation accident.