73 fatalities

Aircraft Shot Down by Surface-to-Air Missile After Takeoff from Addis Ababa-Bole Airport

Addis Ababa-Bole, EthiopiaTakeoff (climb)

On January 14, 1982, an Antonov AN-12 operated by Ethiopian Air Force - Ye Ityopya Ayer Hayl was involved in an aviation accident near Addis Ababa-Bole, Ethiopia during takeoff. 73 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Shot down by a surface-to-air missile. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 5 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-11Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft was shot down by a surface-to-air missile while climbing after takeoff from Addis Ababa-Bole Airport, killing all 73 occupants, including Libyan, Cuban, and Ethiopian soldiers.

Incident Overview and Casualties An aircraft was shot down by a surface-to-air missile while climbing after takeoff from Addis Ababa-Bole Airport. The crash resulted in the deaths of all 73 occupants on board. ## Occupant Breakdown The 73 fatalities included 24 Libyan soldiers, 24 Cuban soldiers, and 25 Ethiopian soldiers. ## Official Findings The official investigation determined that the probable cause of the accident was that the aircraft was shot down by a surface-to-air missile. No other factors were identified in the source material as contributing to the incident. ## Operational Context The incident occurred during the climb phase following takeoff from Addis Ababa-Bole Airport. The source does not provide additional details regarding the aircraft type, registration, date, operator, or specific location of the crash beyond the airport of departure.