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75 fatalities

Spanish Government Charter Flight Crash Near Trabzon (UR-42352)

Trabzon, TurkeyLanding (descent or approach)

On May 26, 2003, a Yakovlev Yak-42 (registration UR-42352) operated by UM Air - Ukrainian-Mediterranean Airlines - Ukrainske-Tschermomorskie Avialinii was involved in an aviation accident near Trabzon, Turkey during landing or approach. 75 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain due to the combination of the following factors: loss of situational awareness on part of the flying crew; the crew failed to comply with the Standard Operational Procedures published by the… This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Source recordUpdated 2026-09-03Data APIEditorial standards

A Spanish government-chartered aircraft crashed into a mountain near Trabzon, Turkey, killing all 75 occupants. The flight was returning from Afghanistan with peacekeepers.

Flight Details and Casualties The aircraft was chartered by the Spanish Government and was operating a charter flight from Bishkek to Zaragoza with an intermediate stop in Trabzon. On board were 62 Spanish peacekeepers and 13 crew members, for a total of 75 occupants. The passengers included 41 members of the Land Forces and 21 members of the Air Force, all returning to Spain after a peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan. ## Accident Sequence During a night descent to Trabzon Airport, the crew encountered poor visibility caused by fog. The crew was unable to establish visual contact with the approach lights and runway 29, and they initiated a go-around. Minutes later, while attempting a second approach, the crew did not recognize that the aircraft was not following the correct approach pattern for runway 29. The aircraft then impacted a mountain at an altitude of 4,600 feet. ## Wreckage Location The aircraft disintegrated on impact, and all 75 occupants were killed. The wreckage was located 3.5 km east of the village of Maçka, approximately 23 km southwest of the airport.

Probable cause

The accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain due to the combination of the following factors: loss of situational awareness on part of the flying crew; the crew failed to comply with the Standard Operational Procedures published by the operator; the crew failed to follow the published approach charts; implementation of a non-precision approach; incorrect use of the automated flight systems; inadequate training (LOFT); and the crew descended below the MDA in limited visibility.
Controlled flight into terrain

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