Arrow Air Flight MF1285R - Plane Crash Sites on Waymarking.com

On December 11th, 1985, Arrow Air Flight MF1285R, a Douglas DC-8-63, US registration N950JW departed Cairo, Egypt on an international charter flight to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, USA, via Cologne, Germany, and Gander, Newfoundland. On board were 8 crew members and 248 passengers. The flight was the return portion of the second in a series of three planned troop rotation flights originating at McChord Air Force Base, Washington, USA and terminating in Fort Campbell. The flight had been chartered by the Multinational Force Observers (MFO) to transport troops, their personal effects and some military equipment to and from peacekeeping duties in the Sinai Desert. All 248 passengers who departed Cairo on 11th of December 1985, were members of the 101st Airborne Division (United States Army) based in Fort Campbell.

The flight departed Cairo and arrived at Cologne on December 11th 1985 for a planned technical stop. A complete crew change took place following which the flight departed Cologne for Gander at 11:20pm Gander time.

The flight arrived at Gander at 5:34am where passengers were de-planed and the aircraft was refuelled and serviced. The flight departed Gander at 6:45am. The aircraft gained little altitude after rotation and began to descend crossing the Trans Canada Highway approximately 900ft beyond the departure end of runway 22. The aircraft continued to descend until it struck downsloping terrain approximately 3000ft beyond the departure end of the runway.

The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and severe fuel-fed fire. All 256 occupants on board sustained fatal injuries.

The accident occurred at 6:46am during the hours of darkness at latitude 48 degrees, 54 minutes, 40 seconds North, longitude 54 degrees, 34 minutes, 35 seconds West at an elevation of 279 feet above sea level. The Arrow Air Crash was the worst air disaster ever on Canadian Soil.

Web Address for Related Web Sites: [Web Link] Date of Crash: 12/12/1985 Aircraft Model: Douglas DC-8-63 Military or Civilian: Military Tail Number: N950JW Cause of Crash: Weather (icing).

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