1993 Sukhumi airliner attacks
From 20 to 23 September 1993, during the Sukhumi massacre, separatists in Sukhumi, Abkhazia blocked Georgian troops' overland supply routes as part of the war in Abkhazia.[1] In response, the Georgian government used Sukhumi Babushara Airport to ferry supplies to troops stationed in Sukhumi. Abkhaz forces attacked the airport in an attempt to further block the supply routes.
| 1993 Sukhumi airliner attacks | |
|---|---|
| Part of War in Abkhazia (1992–1993) | |
Overview of Sukhumi Airport | |
| Location | Sukhumi Babushara Airport, Georgia |
| Coordinates | 42°51′29″N 041°07′41″E / 42.85806°N 41.12806°E |
| Date | 20–23 September 1993 |
| Occurrence | |
|---|---|
| Date | 20–23 September 1993 |
| Summary | Shoot down, destroyed on the ground |
| Site | Georgia, Black Sea |
| Total fatalities | 136 |
| Total survivors | 29 |
| First aircraft | |
| The crashed aircraft in Aeroflot livery | |
| Type | Tupolev Tu-134A-3 |
| Operator | Transair Georgia |
| Registration | 4L-65893 |
| Flight origin | Sochi Airport |
| Destination | Sukhumi-Babusheri Airport |
| Passengers | 22 |
| Crew | 5 |
| Fatalities | 27 (all) |
| Survivors | 0 |
| Second aircraft | |
| A Orbi Georgian Airways Tu-154B, similar to the aircraft involved in the accident | |
| Type | Tupolev Tu-154B |
| Operator | Orbi Georgian Airways |
| Registration | 4L-85163 |
| Flight origin | Novo Alexeyevka Airport |
| Destination | Sukhumi-Babusheri Airport |
| Passengers | 120 |
| Crew | 12 |
| Fatalities | 108 |
| Survivors | 24 |
| Third aircraft | |
| Type | Tupolev Tu-134A |
| Operator | Transair Georgia |
| Registration | CCCP-65001 |
| Flight origin | Sukhumi-Babusheri Airport |
| Destination | Novo Alexeyevka Airport |
| Passengers | 24 |
| Crew | 6 |
| Fatalities | 1 |
| Survivors | 29 |
During the siege of the airport, five civilian airliners belonging to Transair Georgia and Orbi Georgian Airways were hit by missiles allegedly fired by separatists in Sukhumi. Over 150 people died in the attacks.[1][2][3]
20 September edit
Two Orbi Georgian Airways' Tupolev Tu-134As (registration 4L-65808 and 4L-65809) were destroyed by Abkhaz small arms fire or missiles with no casualties.[4][5][6]
21 September edit
A Transair Тu-134А-3 (built in 1975 with registration 4L-65893 and factory number 5340120[7]) was flying to Sukhumi from Sochi International Airport. The crew consisted of captain Geras Georgievich Tabuev, first officer Otar Grigorievich Shengelia, and navigator Sergey Alexandrovich Shah, as well as two flight attendants; G. K. Kvaratskhelia and O. I. Morgunov. Тhe 22 passengers were mainly journalists. At 16:25, at an altitude of 980 feet (300 m), the aircraft was hit on approach to Sukhumi-Babusheri Airport by a Strela 2 surface-to-air missile. The missile had been fired from an Abkhaz boat commanded by Toriy Achba. The plane crashed into the Black Sea, killing all five crew members and 22 passengers.[8] Other sources reported 28 people on board (six crew members and 22 passengers).[1][2][8][9][10]
22 September edit
An Orbi Georgian Airways Tu-154B aircraft (built in 1976 with registration 4L-85163 and factory number 76А-163[11]) flying from Tbilisi and carrying civilians and internal security forces was on approach to Sukhumi-Babusheri Airport when it was struck by surface-to-air missiles. The plane crash-landed on the airstrip; the ensuing fire killed 108 of the 132 passengers and crew,[9][12][13][14] making the incident the deadliest aviation disaster to occur in Georgia.[15] Georgian media claimed that the flight was carrying refugees, but there was no factual evidence to back up these claims.[16][17]
Another Tu-154 was attacked later in the evening, but landed safely.[18]
23 September edit
Passengers were boarding a Transair Tu-134A (built in 1975 with registrations CCCP-65001 and factory number 42235) at Sukhumi when it was struck by rockets from an Abkhaz BM-21 Grad rocket launcher. It caught fire and burned, leaving one crew member dead. The aircraft was due to operate a Sukhumi-Tbilisi service.[18][19][20]
On the same day, an ORBI Tu-154 (registration 4L-85359[21]) was reportedly destroyed by mortar or artillery fire.[22]
References edit
- ^ a b c Zhirokhov, Michael (21 January 2005). "Авиация в абхазском конфликте" [Aviation in the Abkhaz conflict] (in Russian). Corner of the sky. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
- ^ a b "Violations of the Laws of War and Russia's Role in the Conflict". Retrieved 27 October 2013.
- ^ Ranter, Harro. "Georgia air safety profile". aviation-safety.net. Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
- ^ Ranter, Harro. "Aircraft accident Tupolev 134A 65809 Sukhumi-Babusheri Airport (SUI)". aviation-safety.net. Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
- ^ "Туполев Ту-134А Бортовой №: 4L-65808" [Tupolev Tu-134A Board No: 4L-65808]. Russianplanes.net (in Russian). Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- ^ "Туполев Ту-134А Бортовой №: 4L-65809" [Tupolev Tu-134A Board No: 4L-65809]. Russianplanes.net (in Russian). Retrieved 27 October 2013.
- ^ "Туполев Ту-134А-3 Бортовой №: 4L-65893" [Tupolev Tu-134A-3 Board No: 4L-65893]. Russianplanes.net (in Russian). Retrieved 27 October 2013.
- ^ a b "Уничтожение трёх самолётов а/к Transair Georgia в ходе вооружённого конфликта в Абхазии (борт 4L-65893), 21 сентября 1993 года" [Destruction of three Transair Georgia aircraft during the armed conflict in Abkhazia (board 4L-65893), September 21, 1993.]. AirDisaster.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 27 October 2013.
- ^ a b "Ад в раю. Часть 4. Последний штурм Сухуми. Хроника" [Hell in paradise. Part 4. The last assault on Sukhumi. Chronicle] (in Russian). ArtOfWar. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
- ^ "Катастрофа Ту-134 под Сухуми" [Accident of Tu-134 near Sukhumi]. www.kommersant.ru (in Russian). 23 September 1993. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
- ^ "Туполев Ту-154Б Бортовой №: 4L-85163" [Tupolev Tu-154B Board No: 4L-85163]. Russianplanes.net (in Russian). Retrieved 27 October 2013.
- ^ "Уничтожение трёх самолётов а/к Transair Georgia в ходе вооружённого конфликта в Абхазии (борт 4L-85163), 22 сентября 1993 года" [Destruction of three aircraft of the Transair Georgia during the armed conflict in Abkhazia (board 4L-85163), September 22, 1993.]. AirDisaster.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 27 October 2013.
- ^ "Последний день Сухуми" [The last day of Sukhumi] (in Russian). 15 April 1993. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
- ^ "Катастрофа Ту-154 в Сухуми" [Катастрофа Ту-154 в Сухуми]. www.kommersant.ru (in Russian). 24 September 1993. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
- ^ Ranter, Harro. "Aircraft accident Tupolev 154B 85163 Sukhumi-Babusheri Airport (SUI)". aviation-safety.net. Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
- ^ "Абхазы сбивают самолёт с грузинскими беженцами" [Abkhazians shoot down a plane with Georgian refugees]. YouTube (in Russian). 26 February 2012. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
- ^ "Был Сбит Гражданский самолёт с Грузинскими Беженцами на борту пытавшимися улететь из Сухуми" [A civilian plane with Georgian Refugees on board was shot down while trying to fly from Sukhumi]. YouTube (in Russian). 1 July 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2014.[dead link]
- ^ a b "Катастрофа Ту-154 в Сухуми. Ракетные атаки на Сухумский аэропорт продолжаются" [Accident of Tu-154 at Sukhumi. Missile attacks on Sukhumi airport continue]. Kommersant (in Russian). 24 September 1993. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
- ^ "Туполев Ту-134А Бортовой №: CCCP-65001" [Tupolev Tu-134A Board No: CCCP-65001] (in Russian). Russianplanes.net. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
- ^ "Уничтожение трёх самолётов а/к Transair Georgia в ходе вооружённого конфликта в Абхазии (борт 4L-65001), 23 сентября 1993 года" [Destruction of three aircraft of the Transair Georgia during the armed conflict in Abkhazia (board 4L-65001), September 23, 1993.]. AirDisaster.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 27 October 2013.
- ^ "Туполев Ту-154Б-2 Бортовой №: 4L-85359" [Tupolev Tu-154B-2 Board No: 85359]. Russianplanes.net (in Russian). Retrieved 27 October 2013.
- ^ Ranter, Harro. "Aircraft accident Tupolev 154B-2 85359 Sukhumi-Babusheri Airport (SUI)". aviation-safety.net. Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 27 October 2013.