No fatalities

Aircraft crash short of runway at Lod Airport (G-AJPJ)

Lod (לוֹד), IsraelLanding (descent or approach)

On July 20, 1948, a Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII (registration G-AJPJ) operated by Mayflower Air Services was involved in an aviation accident near Lod (לוֹד), Israel during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft stalled during final approach, likely exacerbated by engine failure and unauthorized entry into Israeli airspace. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft crashed short of the runway at Lod Airport during final approach after stalling. All three crew members survived, but the airframe was destroyed beyond repair.

What happened

During the final approach to Lod Airport, the aircraft experienced a stall and impacted the ground short of the runway threshold. The accident resulted in significant structural damage, rendering the airframe beyond repair. Fortunately, all three members of the crew survived the incident without sustaining injuries.

Findings

Investigations indicated that two engines were inoperative at the time of the crash, potentially due to fuel starvation. Additionally, Israeli authorities noted that the aircraft was operating on a delivery flight from the United Kingdom. It was determined that neither the crew nor the operator had obtained the necessary permission to land in Israel.

Probable cause

The aircraft stalled during final approach, likely exacerbated by engine failure and unauthorized entry into Israeli airspace.