October 4, 1992
El Al Flight 1862, a 747 cargo plane flying from New York to Tel Aviv, crashes into an apartment complex in Bijlmermeer, Netherlands, an Amsterdam suburb, at 5:36 p.m. The crash takes place 16 minutes after takeoff from Schiphol Airport, where the plane stopped for a crew change. Three crew members, one non-revenue passenger, and 43 people on the ground are killed in the crash.
The crash is caused by a mechanical failure that results in an engine breaking off and striking and destroying another engine. The plane is attempting to return to the airport for an emergency landing when it crashes.
The accident spawns several conspiracy theories, including that the plane was carrying chemical weapons to Israel, all of which are debunked by official inquiries.
Read the El Al Flight 1862 accident report from the Netherlands Aviation Safety Board.
