PAKISTAN INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES FLIGHT 705
On May 20, 1965, Pakistan International Airlines Flight 705 crashed while descending to land at Cairo International Airport, Egypt. Flight 705 on that day was an inaugural flight between Karachi, Pakistan and London, United Kingdom, with intermediate stops planned at Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, Cairo, Egypt and Geneva, Switzerland. The aircraft involved, was a Boeing 720-040B, registered as AP-AMH. The aircraft was delivered new to Pakistan International Airlines on November 7, 1962. At the time of the accident, the aircraft had flown 8378 hours.
As the aircraft was on final approach to Cairo International Airport, the pilot reported problems with the flaps. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft crashed southeast of the airport, and broke up as it exploded into flames. Of the 127 people on board, 121 were killed.
The probable cause of the crash was that the aircraft did not maintain the adequate height for the circuit, and continued to descend until it contacted the ground. The reason for that abnormal continuation of descent is unknown. The aircraft exceeded the recommended descent rate during the final stages of landing, for reasons unknown.
With 121 fatalities, Flight 705 remains the deadliest accident involving the Boeing 720 aircraft.
NOTABLE AVIATION ACCIDENTS AND INCIDENTS