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10 fatalities

Night Approach Crash into the Sea Near Las Palmas (EC-ARA)

Las Palmas-Gando (Gran Canaria), SpainLanding (descent or approach)

On July 6, 1972, a Douglas DC-8 (registration EC-ARA) operated by Aviaco - Aviacion y Comercio was involved in an aviation accident near Las Palmas-Gando (Gran Canaria), Spain during landing or approach. 10 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The exact cause of the accident remains determined. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards
Aircraft registered EC-ARA
Aircraft registered EC-ARA. Photo: Lars Söderström / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

An aircraft crashed into the sea during a night approach to Las Palmas-Gando Airport, killing all 10 occupants. The wreckage sank to a depth of 1,560 meters, and the exact cause remains undetermined.

Incident Overview and Route Details The aircraft was operating a positioning flight from Madrid-Barajas Airport to Las Palmas, with the intended purpose of picking up German tourists for a return journey to Hamburg. The accident occurred during a night approach to Las Palmas-Gando Airport. ## Crash Circumstances and Aftermath The airplane crashed into the sea in unknown circumstances, approximately 22 kilometers east of Arinaga. Following the impact, few debris were found floating on the water's surface. None of the 10 occupants on board survived the crash. The wreckage subsequently sank to a depth of 1,560 meters.

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