Gulf Air Flight 771
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Gulf Air Flight 771 was a flight that flew from Abu Dhabi International Airport in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates to Karachi International Airport in Karachi, Pakistan.
On 23 September 1983, while the Boeing 737 was en route to Karachi from Abu Dhabi, a bomb exploded in the baggage compartment. The plane crashed in the desert near Mina Jebel Ali in the United Arab Emirates. All 6 crew members and 111 passengers perished.
The bomb was apparently planted by the Abu Nidal organization, to convince Saudi Arabia to pay protection money to Nidal so as to avoid attacks on their soil. Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates paid the money soon after the bombing. There also exist conspiracy theories that the plane was mistakenly shot down by artillery fire from the ground.
[edit] External links
- Aviation Safety Network page for Gulf Air Flight 771
- Page from planecrashinfo.com
- Abu Nidal behind 1983 Gulf Air bombing: Aide
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