Date: 19 September 1989

Location: near Bilma, Niger

Type of event: terrorism

Description:

A French UTA passenger DC-10 was destroyed in mid-air over Niger by the explosion of a luggage bomb at 2:00 PM. While en route from N'Djanen, Chad, to Paris, the bomb exploded in the cargo area, causing the plane to break up and crash near Bilma, Niger, 46 minutes after takeoff. The bomber is believed to be a man from Congo who deboarded at N'Djanen, but Libyan state involvement is also suspected.

Consequences: 171 killed

References:

• "Accident Database," PlaneCrashInfo.com, on line [http://www.planecrashinfo.com/database.htm].
• BBC, 8 March 1999, "Libyans tried for French airline bombing," BBC News, on line [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/292565.stm].

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