Middle East Airlines Flight 444

Middle East Airlines Flight 444 was a scheduled passenger flight between Beirut International Airport and Dhahran International Airport. On 17 April 1964, the flight, operated by a Sud Aviation Caravelle III crashed into the Persian Gulf about 19 km south–southeast of Dhahran International Airport. All 42 passengers and 7 crew members died in the crash. The cause of the crash was never determined.

Flight

Flight 444 departed Beirut International Airport at 1709 UTC and proceeded with its flight plan to a cruising altitude of 30,000 ft. Two hours later, Bahrain air control approved its decent to 5,000 ft over the Dhahran navigation beacon. At 19:06, Flight 444 requested the latest wind and visibility updates from Dhahran Tower. The tower reported north–northeasternly winds of 10 kn, gusting to 16 kn, with visibility of 7.4 km, although due to a sandstom, was limited to 100.6 m. At 19:09, the crew informed air control it was descending from 30,000 ft, and by 19:26, estimated they would reach the navigation beacon in two minutes.

At 19:28, Flight 444 reported that it was descending to 5,000 ft. It was cleared for an ADF approach and ordered to report again at 4,000 ft and 2,000 ft. A minute later, the flight confirmed it had passed 4,000 ft. At 19:30, the flight reported its altitude at 2,500 ft and turned towards the runway. The crew was cleared to land and directed to report once they reached the minimum altitude and saw the runway. A brief loud noise was heard over the radio by the control tower at 19:32 and communication with the flight ceased. It was later discovered that the aircraft crashed into the gulf while making a turn at 19:32. The crash site was located 7.4 km offshore and 18.5 km south of the airport. It impacted the water at a slight nose-down angle, banked to the right, and at speeds consistent with those during landing.