Incident Summary
Shortly after takeoff from Moscow-Vnukovo Airport, while climbing at night, the airplane entered a right turn, lost altitude, and banked 90° to the right. It then struck power cables and crashed in a field located 10 kilometers south of the airport. The impact forces totally destroyed the airplane, and all 25 occupants were killed.
Investigation
The official investigation determined that an explosive device containing 400 to 800 grams of trinitrotoluene (TNT) exploded approximately 7 to 15 seconds after rotation. The bomb was placed in hand baggage on the cabin floor, possibly under seat number 45. The detonation ruptured the cabin floor and the left wing root, severing control cables and rendering them inoperative. The airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and lost several pieces at an altitude of 200 meters before striking the ground.
Probable Cause
The probable cause was identified as an act of sabotage involving an explosive device. Despite extensive investigations that concluded in 1973, the Soviet authorities were unable to identify the perpetrator.