Ethiopian Airlines Flight 604
1988 aviation accident in Ethiopia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ethiopian Airlines Flight 604 was a scheduled Addis Ababa–Bahir Dar–Asmara flight in which the aircraft caught fire during a belly landing at Bahir Dar Airport, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, on 15 September 1988.
- Bahir Dar Airport, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
- 11°36′17″N 37°19′11″E
ET-AJA, the aircraft involved in the accident, pictured in 1987 | |
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | 15 September 1988 |
| Summary | Belly landing following dual engine failure caused by bird strike |
| Site |
|
 | |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Boeing 737-200 |
| Operator | Ethiopian Airlines |
| IATA flight No. | ET604 |
| ICAO flight No. | ETH604 |
| Call sign | ETHIOPIAN 604 |
| Registration | ET-AJA |
| Flight origin | Bole International Airport, Ethiopia |
| Stopover | Bahir Dar Airport, Ethiopia |
| Destination | Asmara International Airport, Eritrea |
| Occupants | 104 |
| Passengers | 98 |
| Crew | 6 |
| Fatalities | 35 |
| Injuries | 27 |
| Survivors | 69 |
Aircraft
The aircraft involved in the accident was a Boeing 737-260, registration ET-AJA, delivered new to Ethiopian Airlines. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was less than a year old.[1]
Accident description
On 15 September 1988,[2]: 51 the aircraft was scheduled to operate the second leg of a domestic Addis Ababa–Bahir Dar–Asmara passenger service with 98 passengers and 6 crew members on board.[1][3] Both engines of the aircraft ingested a flock of speckled pigeons as it took off from Bahir Dar Airport, and subsequently overheated.[1] One of the engines immediately lost thrust, while the other did so on the emergency return to the departure airport.[4] During a gear-up landing, the aircraft caught fire.[1] Thirty-five passengers died, but all of the crew survived.[1]
See also
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- Ethiopian Airlines accidents and incidents
- Ural Airlines Flight 178 – 2019 accident after both engines failed following a bird strike shortly after takeoff
- US Airways Flight 1549 – 2009 accident after both engines failed following a bird strike shortly after takeoff
- Scandinavian Airlines Flight 751 – 1991 accident after both engines failed following ice ingestion shortly after takeoff
- Eastern Air Lines Flight 375 – 1960 accident after the aircraft suffered a bird strike shortly after takeoff
- Jeju Air Flight 2216 - similar accident in 2024 after both engines failed following a bird strike before landing leading to a belly landing