The last air crash at Budapest airport — VIDEO, PHOTO GALLERY

The last air disaster at Budapest Airport took place on 15 January 1975, more than 47 years ago. Nine people lost their lives in the crash. However, there were also other catastrophic incidents in the history of Hungarian aviation. In 1961, a MALÉV aircraft caused a fatal accident in Budapest, while in 1975, a Hungarian plane crashed into the Mediterranean Sea.

Deadly fog in 1975

15 January 1975 is the date when the last plane crash took place in Hungary. The fatal accident occurred more than 47 years ago, at Budapest International Airport. One of the planes of the Hungarian Aviation Company (MALÉV) flew from Berlin to Budapest. Hungary faced a series of cold winter days with strong winds and heavy fog. The aircraft was supposed to arrive in Budapest along with another Hungarian plane. However, due to bad weather conditions, the other plane finally landed in Debrecen.

The MALÉV aircraft began to descend, but due to the fog, they failed to notice that they had turned 160 metres to the left. Air traffic control contacted them, but it was too late by then. The airplane hit the ground and collided with the airport’s radar.

All crew members died immediately.

The wrecks were scattered across 450 metres long and 100 metres wide, writes hellomagyar.hu. According to the investigation, everything was in order and the weather caused the disaster. As the result of the accident, the flight safety rules had been revised and Budapest Airport had modernised its meteorological equipment.

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MALÉV plane above the Mediterranean Sea

The same year, in 1975, another air disaster occurred, although not in Hungary this time. A domestic airplane crashed into the waters. 

All 50 passengers and 10 crew members were killed in the accident.