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30 fatalities

Aircraft Collision with Terrain Near Aden Airport (YU-AHR)

Aden, YemenLanding (descent or approach)

On March 19, 1972, a Douglas DC-9 (registration YU-AHR) operated by Egyptair was involved in an aviation accident near Aden, Yemen during landing or approach. 30 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Controlled flight into terrain. 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

An aircraft struck the slope of Mt Shamsan while approaching Aden Airport in limited visibility, resulting in the deaths of all 30 occupants. The crew was attempting to land under VFR mode.

Accident Overview and Location Details During an approach to Aden Airport, an aircraft collided with the slope of Mt Shamsan, which is situated approximately 5 km south of the runway 08 threshold. The impact caused the aircraft to disintegrate, and all 30 people on board were killed. The accident occurred under weather conditions that were described as marginal, with limited visibility affecting the flight environment. The specific aircraft type, registration, operator, and exact date of the incident are not provided in the source material. ## Operational Context and Investigation Findings At the time of the accident, the crew was attempting to land under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) mode for an unknown reason. The official investigation identified the probable cause of the accident as controlled flight into terrain. The source does not provide further details regarding the specific factors that led to the crew's decision to operate under VFR in marginal weather conditions.

Controlled flight into terrain

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