All 301 aboard died after crew failed to evacuate a burning L-1011 at Riyadh, making it the deadliest aviation accident ever in Saudi Arabia.
Key Facts
- Total fatalities
- 301 (287 passengers, 14 crew)
- Aircraft type
- Lockheed L-1011 TriStar
- Date
- 19 August 1980
- Cause of deaths
- Smoke inhalation after failed evacuation
- Ranking at time
- Second-deadliest single-aircraft accident in history
- Route
- Karachi to Jeddah via Riyadh
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Shortly after takeoff from Riyadh International Airport, a fire broke out aboard the Saudia L-1011 TriStar. The crew declared an emergency and turned back toward Riyadh, successfully executing an emergency landing on the runway.
Despite landing safely, the flight crew failed to initiate an emergency evacuation. Passengers and crew remained aboard the aircraft as the fire and smoke intensified. Rescue teams were unable to open the doors in time, and all 301 people on board died from smoke inhalation.
The disaster became the deadliest aviation accident in Saudi Arabian history and, at the time, the second-deadliest single-aircraft accident globally. It prompted international scrutiny of cockpit decision-making protocols and emergency evacuation procedures for commercial aviation.