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1970 Berrechid Royal Air Maroc Caravelle crash

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1970 Berrechid Royal Air Maroc Caravelle crash
Similar aircraft as the crashed airplane
Accident
DateApril 1, 1970 (1970-04-01)
SummaryCrash resulting from avoiding the town of Berrechid, Morocco.
SiteBerrechid, Morocco
Aircraft
Aircraft typeSud Aviation SE-210 Caravelle III
OperatorRoyal Air Maroc - RAM
RegistrationCN-CCV
Flight originAgadir, Morocco
StopoverCasablanca, Morocco
DestinationParis, France
Passengers76
Crew6
Fatalities61[1]—65[2]
Survivors17–21

The 1970 Berrechid crash was an aviation incident involving a Sud Aviation SE-210 Caravelle III on a route between Agadir and Paris,[3] with a stopover in Casablanca.[4][2]

During the descent, the airplane lost altitude near Berrechid, a city around 30 kilometers from the intermediate stop Casablanca.[4]

The crash resulted in 61 fatalities, with 21 survivors, six of whom were in critical condition.[5] It was reported that four more people died later in hospital.[2]

Crash

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The crash was reported to have been a result of the plane dodging to avoid the town of Berrechid, Morocco. There is contention as to whether the aircraft hit high-voltage wires before crashing. The aircraft crashed on El Gara road, and spread debris over a 1,000 square yards (840 m2) area.[6] The pilot attempted to land in a field, and a 50 metres (55 yd) long furrow was created in the field.[7] The crash site was near a narrow road.[4]

61 people were killed directly after the crash. Four other people died later in the hospital of Casablanca. Several other survivors were in critical condition.[2] Most of the people onboard were French and Moroccan citizens.[2]

Aftermath

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The aircraft was damaged beyond repair, and the fuselage broke in two.[3] The front part of the aircraft was severely burned, while the tail damage was less severe.[7]

Aircraft

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At the time of the crash, the aircraft was a 9 year and 11 month old Sud Aviation SE-210 Caravelle registered under CN-CCV.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "ASN Aircraft accident Sud Aviation SE-210 Caravelle III CN-CCV Berrechid". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Bij vliegramp in Marokkko 65 doden" [65 dead in air disaster in Morocco]. Het Parool (in Dutch). 2 April 1970 – via Delpher.
  3. ^ a b c "ASN Aircraft accident Sud Aviation SE-210 Caravelle III CN-CCV Berrechid". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  4. ^ a b c "Vliegtuig met 82 inzittenden neergestort" [Plane crashed with 82 people on board]. Leeuwarder Courant (in Dutch). 1 April 1970 – via Delpher.
  5. ^ "61 KILLED IN CRASH OF MOROCCAN PLANE". The New York Times. 1970-04-02. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  6. ^ "Air crash kills 61 in Morocco". The Boston Globe. 1970-04-01. p. 5. Retrieved 2023-11-19 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ a b "L'accident de la Caravelle d'Air Maroc a fait 61 morts" [Air Maroc Caravelle accident leaves 61 dead]. Le Monde.fr (in French). 1970-04-03. Retrieved 2023-11-19.