IRAN AIR FLIGHT 655
On July 3, 1988, Iran Air Flight 655 was shot down by the US Navy cruiser USS Vincennes. All 290 people on board were killed.
The aircraft involved, was an Airbus A300B2-203, registered as EP-IBU. It arrived to Bandar Abbas International Airport from Tehran, as Flight 451. From there it continued to Dubai, as Flight 655. Shortly after departing Bandar, the aircraft was hit by surface-to-air missiles, while flying over Iran's territorial waters in the Persian Gulf, along the flight's usual route. The tail and one wing broke off as a result of the explosions. Control was lost, and the aircraft crashed into the sea.
The missiles were fired by the US Navy cruiser USS Vincennes. It was operating in the area together with the frigates USS Elmer Montgomery and USS Sides. They were to protect other ships in the area. According to the United States government, the crew of USS Vincennes had incorrectly identified the Airbus as an attacking Iranian Air Force F-14 Tomcat. The ill-fated airliner was delayed in leaving Bandar Abbas, because of a problem with the passport of a passenger. Soon after taking off, the target appeared on the radar of the USS Vincennes. Because the plane was late, and confusion of time zones, the crew was not expecting an airliner in the area. Information on civil flight schedules was available in USS Vincennes. However, it was pointed out that such information was, at best, of limited value determining expected time of overflight. In the absence of flight plan and flight progress information, a realistic traffic picture could not be established, and positive aircraft identification could not be obtained on that basis. USS Vincennes had made ten attempts to contact the aircraft, on both military and civilian radio frequencies, but had received no response. Because of that, USS Vincennes took the ultimate decision to launch missiles against the perceived hostile target.
With 290 fatalities, Flight 655 remains the deadliest accident involving the Airbus A300 aircraft.
NOTABLE AVIATION ACCIDENTS AND INCIDENTS