1950s Four-Engine Aircraft Crash Near Cairo (N6004C)

Incident Overview and Timeline A four-engine aircraft christened 'Star of Maryland' departed Cairo-Faruk Airport at 0135 local time and was cleared to climb to 14,000 feet. While flying northwest at 10,000 feet, engine number three caught fire. The crew feathered the propeller but could not extinguish the fire. ## Communication and Emergency Cairo control tower received a routine position report at 23:55Z, stating the aircraft was 25 miles out of Cairo with an estimated arrival in Rome at 0530. The message was acknowledged, but the flight did not reply with the customary 'Roger'. No further communication was received despite attempts by several stations. ## Crash and Casualties Witnesses in the desert northwest of Cairo saw the aircraft on fire. The aircraft turned back toward Cairo, but the fire intensified, causing the burning engine to fall free. The crew attempted a night emergency landing in a desert area about 100 km northwest of Cairo. The aircraft crashed and disintegrated on impact, killing all 55 occupants, including tourists, engineers, and US diplomats.