Today in History: Uganda Airlines Flight 775 Crashes in Rome

What the report says

Nile Post reports that Uganda Airlines Flight 775 crashed near Rome’s Fiumicino Airport on October 17, 1988, in one of the deadliest accidents involving Uganda’s national carrier. The Boeing 707 was operating an international passenger service from London Gatwick to Entebbe, with a scheduled stop in Rome, when it encountered dense fog during its approach shortly after midnight.

According to the report, the crew made two unsuccessful landing attempts before preparing for a third approach to Runway 34L. The aircraft then descended below the minimum safe altitude without the pilots having visual contact with the runway. It hit trees and buildings about 800 metres short of the runway, broke apart across a road and parking area, and caught fire. Of the 52 people on board, 33 died, including all seven crew members, while 19 survived.

The article says investigators pointed to shortcomings in crew preparation and coordination during a non-precision instrument approach as the main cause, while fatigue, attention to ground lights through the fog and issues with the minimum-altitude warning system were also examined as contributing factors. The aircraft involved was a Boeing 707-338C, registration 5X-UBC.

The crash remains a significant part of Uganda’s aviation history. The original state-owned Uganda Airlines later ceased operations in 2001, and a separate national carrier was relaunched in 2019.