Middle East Airlines Flight 438 was an international passenger flight operated by a Boeing 720 from Beirut, Lebanon, to Muscat, Oman, with a stopover in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. On 1 January 1976, the aircraft operating the flight was destroyed at 11,300 feet by a bomb, killing all 81 people on board. The bombers were never identified.[1]
Aircraft
The aircraft involved was a Boeing 720-023[2] that first flew on 23 September 1960. The aircraft was registered as N7534A and was delivered to American Airlines on 10 October. In July 1971, American Airlines sold the aircraft back to lessor. On 3 March 1972, the aircraft was sold to Middle East Airlines where it was re-registered as OD-AFT. The aircraft was powered by four Pratt & Whitney JT3D-1-MC7 turbofan engines with water injection and a thrust of 17000 lbf each.