Midair Collision Between Boeing 727 and MiG-23 Near Tripoli Airport (5A-DIA)

Incident Overview and Flight Progression A commercial flight operated by a Boeing 727 completed an uneventful journey from Benghazi and was subsequently cleared to begin its descent toward Tripoli Airport. During the approach phase, the flight crew received instructions to hold over the Papa Echo beacon, which was situated 4.1 DME from the threshold of runway 27, due to active military traffic in the area. ## Collision and Aftermath While the Boeing 727 was holding at an altitude of 3,000 feet, it collided with a Libyan Air Force MiG-23 fighter jet that had recently taken off from Tripoli Airport. The impact caused the fighter to strike the tail section of the commercial aircraft. Following the collision, the tail of the Boeing 727 separated, causing the aircraft to enter a steep dive. The commercial jet ultimately crashed approximately 9 kilometers from the airport. ## Casualties and Ejections The accident resulted in the deaths of all 157 occupants aboard the Boeing 727. In contrast, both pilots on board the MiG-23 fighter jet successfully ejected from their aircraft and survived the incident.