Were there any fatalities in the 4 Sept 1985 Antonov AN-26 accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 52 fatalities.

Aircraft Shot Down Near Kandahar Airport (YA-BAM)

Q: What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 4 Sept 1985 involved an Antonov AN-26, registration YA-BAM, operated by Ariana Afghan Airlines, at Kandahar, Afghanistan.

On September 4, 1985, an Antonov AN-26 (registration YA-BAM) operated by Ariana Afghan Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Kandahar, Afghanistan during takeoff. 52 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Shot down by a surface-to-air missile shortly after takeoff. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 7 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

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

An aircraft was hit by a surface-to-air missile while climbing after takeoff from Kandahar Airport. It crashed 18 km west of the airport, resulting in the deaths of all 52 occupants.

Incident Overview and Location Details The incident occurred shortly after the aircraft departed from Kandahar Airport. During its initial climb, the aircraft reached an altitude of 3,800 feet before being struck by a surface-to-air missile. The impact caused the aircraft to lose control, leading to a crash site located 18 kilometers west of Kandahar Airport. The aircraft was completely destroyed in the crash. No specific aircraft type, registration, operator, or date was provided in the source material. ## Casualties and Official Findings All 52 occupants on board the aircraft perished in the crash. The official investigation determined that the probable cause of the accident was the aircraft being shot down by a surface-to-air missile shortly after takeoff. The source does not provide additional details regarding the specific circumstances of the missile launch or the identities of the occupants.

Aircraft Shot Down Near Kandahar Airport (YA-BAM)

More accident analyses

UPS Freighter Enters Active Runway at Changi During ZK-OKS Takeoff Roll

Regional Express Saab 340 deviates from departure path due to FMS data anomaly

ATSB identifies uncalibrated dipstick as key factor in fuel quantity error

Twin-engine aircraft crashes in cornfield near Fulton Airport

Fatal crash of Jodel DR1050 Ambassadeur near Châteauroux – Villers

Robin DR400 forced landing at Bessan due to fuel selector error