Trans-Air Service Flight 671

Trans-Air Service Flight 671 was a cargo flight from Luxembourg Airport to Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano, Nigeria. While flying over France on 31 March 1992, the Boeing 707 operating the flight experienced an in-flight separation of two engines on its right wing. Despite the damage to the aircraft, the pilots were able to perform an emergency landing on runway 33 at Istres-Le Tubé Air Base in Istres, France. All five occupants of the aircraft survived, but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair due to a fire on the right wing.

Accident

The flight departed Luxembourg Airport at 07:14 UTC (9:14 am local time) on 31 March 1992; it was carrying 38 tonnes of freight and was destined for Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport near Kano, Nigeria. At approximately 08:11, while the aircraft was climbing through 32,000 ft over the Drôme department in southeastern France, the crew noticed severe turbulence and heard a loud "double bang"; the aircraft subsequently began to roll to the right. Captain Berglund then disengaged the autopilot and used control column and rudder inputs to regain control of the aircraft. In addition, the fire warning was continuously audible and could not be switched off by the flight engineer. First Officer Emery observed that the number 4 engine (the right-most of the aircraft's four engines) had detached from the wing and sent out a mayday call. Emery then noticed that the number 3 engine (the inner engine on the right wing) had also detached from the wing. Captain Berglund started descending towards Marseille while Flight Engineer Boone began dumping fuel in preparation for an emergency landing.

During the descent, the crew noticed an airfield ahead; this was Istres-Le Tubé Air Base in Istres, France. The crew then decided to land on runway 15 at Istres; this required a left hand circuit prior to landing. This left turn proved to be very challenging for Captain Berglund given the damage to the aircraft's flight controls; the cockpit voice recorder showed that First Officer Emery was encouraging Berglund by repeating the words "left turn" six times. Shortly before landing, the air traffic controller observed a fire on the aircraft.

The aircraft made an emergency landing at Istres at 08:35 (10:35 am local time), approximately 24 minutes after the initial engine separation. During the landing roll, the aircraft ran off the left side of the runway. After the aircraft came to a stop, the crew noticed that there was a fire on the aircraft's right wing. All five occupants of the aircraft survived without any injuries; nonetheless, there was considerable fire damage to the right wing. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.