MUHARRAQ — 2000 · Major Tragedy
Gulf Air Flight 072 Crash
On the evening of 23 August 2000, Gulf Air Flight 072, an Airbus A320 from Cairo, abandoned its landing at Bahrain International Airport, went around, and shortly afterwards crashed into the Persian Gulf about two kilometres offshore. All 135 passengers and eight crew, 143 people in all, were killed. The investigation into Bahrain's deadliest air accident found that during a low-level manoeuvre over the sea at night the pilots suffered spatial disorientation and did not notice the aircraft's rapid descent. The final report, published in August 2002, also cited deficiencies in crew training and in regulatory safety oversight as contributing factors.
- Date
- 2000
- Place
- Off Bahrain International Airport, Bahrain, Muharraq, BH
- Category
- Major Tragedy
- Case Status
- Closed
- Coordinates
- 26.2800, 50.6500 ↗
Timeline of Events
- 23 August 2000Gulf Air 072 crashed into the sea after a go-around.
- August 2000The flight recorders were recovered from the water.
- 15 August 2002The final report cited disorientation and systemic failings.
Sources
- The Guardian — Gulf Air crash theguardian.com ↗
- The New York Times — 2nd recorder recovered in Bahrain crash nytimes.com ↗
- CBS News — Gulf Air probe begins cbsnews.com ↗
- The Guardian
- The New York Times
- CBS News
Source grade A: several independent sources, at least one an official record or reference work. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.