On January 1, 1976, a Boeing 720 (registration OD-AFT) operated by Middle East Airlines - MEA was involved in an aviation accident near Al Qaysumah, Saudi Arabia in flight. 82 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The accident was the consequence of the explosion of a bomb that had been placed in the front cargo compartment. The detonation at high altitude caused an explosive decompression of the cabin and the total disintegration of the airplane. 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.
An aircraft en route from Beirut to Dubai cruising at 37,000 feet disappeared from radar after a bomb exploded in the front cargo compartment, causing total disintegration. None of the 82 occupants survived.
Incident Overview
An aircraft operating a scheduled flight from Beirut to Dubai was cruising at an altitude of 37,000 feet during night hours when it vanished from radar screens at 0530 local time. The crew did not transmit any distress call prior to the disappearance. Search efforts later located wreckage approximately 37 kilometers northwest of Al Qaysumah in the Saudi desert. Debris was scattered over a wide area, and none of the 82 occupants survived the accident.
Investigation Findings
Official investigation determined that the accident resulted from the explosion of a bomb placed in the front cargo compartment. The detonation at high altitude led to an explosive decompression of the cabin, followed by the total disintegration of the aircraft.
Probable cause
The accident was the consequence of the explosion of a bomb that had been placed in the front cargo compartment. The detonation at high altitude caused an explosive decompression of the cabin and the total disintegration of the airplane.