Video: 'February 21, 1973: Israel Shoots Down Passenger Airliner!'

(Wednesday, February 21, 1973, approximately 2:00 p.m. Eastern European Time; during Libyan Arab Airlines Flight 114) — Israeli fighter planes shot down Libyan Arab Airlines Flight 114 today after the Boeing 727 strayed over the Sinai Desert during its flight from Benghazi in Libya to Cairo in Egypt, killing all but five of the 113 people on board.

The flight had been cleared for a landing in Cairo but, because of a sandstorm, was off course and descended toward the Suez Canal in the Israeli-occupied Egyptian peninsula.

The only survivors were four of the 104 passengers, and Flight 114’s co-pilot.

The Israeli military apparently believed the airliner was a security threat in Israeli-controlled airspace. The pilots of two intercepting F-4 Phantom II fighters shot bursts of 20mm gunfire and damaged the airliner’s controls.

Israel’s defense minister later said there was an “error in judgment” by the military. Israel paid reparations to the families of the victims.