Cargo aircraft disappearance near Barentu

5 fatalities • Barentu, Eritrea • Flight

A cargo flight disappeared from radar during cruise, resulting in the loss of all five people on board after an onboard explosion.

What happened

During a scheduled cargo operation, an unidentified aircraft vanished from radar tracking while maintaining its cruising altitude. Following the loss of contact, search efforts located the wreckage within a desert region situated near Barentu. There were no distress signals transmitted by the crew before the aircraft went offline.

The crash resulted in five fatalities, with no survivors reported among the occupants. The debris field was recovered in the remote desert landscape, marking the end of the flight's trajectory.

Findings

Official investigations concluded that the destruction of the aircraft was caused by an onboard bomb explosion while the plane was in flight.

Probable cause

An explosive device detonated inside the aircraft during the cruise phase of flight.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1979-02-19 Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) accident near Barentu, Eritrea?

A cargo flight disappeared from radar during cruise, resulting in the loss of all five people on board after an onboard explosion.

Were there any fatalities in the 1979-02-19 Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 5 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1979-02-19 involved a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), registration ET-AFW, operated by Ethiopian Airlines, at Barentu, Eritrea.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

An explosive device detonated inside the aircraft during the cruise phase of flight.

Loading the flight search…