Date: 18 May 1973

Location: Siberia, Russia, U.S.S.R.

Type of event: terrorism

Description:

A hijacked Aeroflot Tu-104 airliner exploded over Siberia. The airliner was en route from Moscow to Chita. The hijacker set off a bomb in the passenger cabin after his demands were not met, when the plane was about 150 km short of Chita. All aboard were killed. Some reports have claimed, however, that the aircraft was shot down by Soviet fighters while departing Soviet airspace. (Sources differ on the date and/or number of fatalities.)

Consequences: 100 killed

References:

• "Accident Database," PlaneCrashInfo.com, on line [http://www.planecrashinfo.com/database.htm].
• "ASN Aircraft Hijacking description 18 May 1973," Aviation Safety Network, on line [http://aviation-safety.net/database/1973/730518-0.htm].
• Oberg, James E., Uncovering Soviet Disasters: Exploring the Limits of Glasnost, 1988, Random House (New York, NY).

© 2017 by Wm. Robert Johnston.
Last modified 26 November 2017.
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