Saudia Flight 163 facts for kids
Saudia Flight 163 was a plane trip that was supposed to go from Karachi, Pakistan, to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with a stop in Riyadh. On August 19, 1980, a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar airplane, carrying 287 passengers and 14 crew members, caught fire shortly after taking off from Riyadh. Even though the pilots managed to land the plane safely at Riyadh International Airport, everyone on board – all 301 people – sadly died from breathing in smoke. The airplane was later completely destroyed by the fire.
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What Happened on Flight 163?
On August 19, 1980, Saudia Flight 163 took off from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, heading for Jeddah. About seven minutes after leaving the ground, a fire started in the cargo area of the plane. The crew quickly knew something was wrong.
Emergency Landing and Fire
The pilots decided to turn the plane around and make an emergency landing back at Riyadh International Airport. They did a great job landing the plane safely. However, after the plane landed, it took some time for the doors to be opened. During this time, the fire inside the plane grew, and a lot of smoke filled the cabin.
Why People Died
Sadly, all 301 people on board, including passengers and crew, died from breathing in the thick smoke. Even though the plane landed safely, the smoke was too much. The fire continued to burn, and eventually, the entire aircraft was destroyed. This event was a very sad day in aviation history.
After the Accident
After the fire was put out, investigators looked closely at the plane to find out what caused the fire and why everyone died. They found that the fire started in the cargo hold. This accident led to new safety rules for airplanes, especially about how quickly people can get out of a plane during an emergency and how fires are handled on board.
Images for kids
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An overview of Saudia Flight 163 after the fire
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The remains of HZ-AHK, after the fire
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Cargo compartment C3 after the fire
See also
In Spanish: Vuelo 163 de Saudia para niños
