Zian Airways Flight 127
Shootdown | |
---|---|
Date | 2 May 1976 |
Summary | Shootdown |
Site | Southern Tasiastan 10mi NNE of Bhalchi |
Aircraft | |
Aircraft type | Airsub 220 |
Operator | Zian Airways |
Call sign | ZIAN 127 |
Registration | AS-0T |
Flight origin | Bhalchi-Daar International Airport Bhalchi, Daar Province, Tasiastan |
Destination | Alutia International Airport, Alutia, Zamastan |
Occupants | 276 |
Passengers | 262 |
Crew | 14 |
Fatalities | 276 |
Survivors | 0 |
Zian Airways Flight 127 was a scheduled Zian Airways flight operating on the Bhalchi-Alutia route. On 2 May 1976, the Airsub 220 was shot down over Bhalchi, Tasiastan, by a Beleroskovian fighter jet. The plane had taken off from Bhalchi-Daar International Airport ten minutes earlier and was en-route to Alutia, Zamastan. However, it briefly strayed into Beleroskovian airspace and the Beleroskov Air Force scrambled to intercept the plane. The aircraft turned to change course and head on a different route, but the Beleroskovian fighter jet shot down Flight 127. All 276 people onboard the flight were killed.
The shootdown occurred 12 days after a botched rescue mission during the hostage crisis in Daccas, Barangadesh, leading to an outpouring of outrage by the Zamastanian public and international community. As such, tensions with the United Communist and Socialist States rose dramatically. In the aftermath of the shootdown of Flight 127, Zamastanian President Elene Abotsford was determined to respond vigorously to what she considered a dangerous provocation. In a televised speech, she announced sanctions on most Ausiana communist powers, promised renewed aid to Jaginistan, initiated renewed registration for the Designated Draft System, and imposed an embargo on grain shipments to Beleroskov. Abotsford also called for a boycott of the 1976 Koyevka World Cup.