130 fatalities

Aircraft Shot Down by Surface-to-Air Missile After Takeoff from Lubango Airport (D2-TBN)

Lubango, AngolaTakeoff (climb)

On November 8, 1983, a Boeing 737-200 (registration D2-TBN) operated by TAAG Angola Airlines - Transportes Aéreos de Angola was involved in an aviation accident near Lubango, Angola during takeoff. 130 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Shot down by a UNITA SAM-7 surface-to-air missile. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 10 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
Boeing 737-200
Photo: San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

An aircraft was hit by a surface-to-air missile during initial climb at 200 feet after takeoff from Lubango Airport. It crashed 800 meters past the runway end, killing all 130 occupants.

Incident Overview After takeoff from Lubango Airport, the aircraft was struck by a surface-to-air missile while in initial climb at an altitude of 200 feet. The impact occurred shortly after departure, during the early phase of the flight. ## Crash Sequence Following the missile strike, the aircraft turned to the left and began losing altitude. It subsequently crashed in a large explosion approximately 800 meters beyond the end of the runway. The aircraft disintegrated upon impact with the ground. ## Casualties All 130 occupants on board were killed in the crash. No survivors were reported. ## Official Findings The official investigation determined that the aircraft was shot down by a UNITA SAM-7 surface-to-air missile.

Probable cause

Shot down by a UNITA SAM-7 surface-to-air missile.