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Why did Swissair Flight 330 crash?

Swissair Flight 330 (SR330/SWR330) was a regularly scheduled flight from Zurich Airport in Kloten, Switzerland, to Hong Kong with a planned stopover in Tel Aviv, Israel. A bomb planted by two members of the PLO exploded soon after takeoff, causing the plane to crash, killing all 47 passengers and crew.



Swissair Flight 330 crashed on February 21, 1970, due to a terrorist bombing. Approximately nine minutes after take-off from Zurich, a barometric-triggered bomb detonated in the aft cargo compartment. The explosion caused a loss of cabin pressure and started a fire that filled the cockpit with thick smoke, making it nearly impossible for the pilots to see their instruments. Despite their heroic efforts to turn the Convair CV-990 Coronado back to Zurich for an emergency landing, the aircraft suffered a total loss of electrical power and crashed into a wooded area in Würenlingen, Switzerland. All 47 people on board were killed. The attack was attributed to the PFLP-GC, a Palestinian splinter group, who reportedly targeted the flight because it was carrying mail and passengers destined for Israel. This tragedy remains a pivotal moment in aviation history, leading to the first major international push for significantly stricter airport security and cargo screening protocols.

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