Investigation Summary
The flight departed Jeddah at 01:29 local time. Approximately 18 minutes into the flight, a flight attendant reported a fire near the rear passenger door. The fire intensified with extreme speed, preventing the crew from successfully executing an emergency return. Investigators faced difficulties due to the lack of conclusive physical evidence, but the primary theory involves the use of portable stoves by pilgrims. At the time, it was not uncommon for passengers to carry small gasoline or kerosene stoves to prepare food. It is believed that the pressure differential during the climb caused a fuel leak from such a device, which then ignited.
Final Conclusions
The Saudi-led investigation concluded that the most probable cause was the ignition of leaking fuel from one or more portable stoves carried by passengers. The fire's rapid spread was likely fueled by the cabin's interior materials and the panic of passengers moving forward, which may have shifted the aircraft's center of gravity or allowed smoke to overwhelm the cockpit crew.
Video Analysis
Pakistan International Airlines Flight 740 Aftermath Footage — Archival footage showing the wreckage and recovery efforts following the crash of PIA Flight 740 near Taif, Saudi Arabia, in November 1979.
Watch on YouTube ↗If playback is blocked, the owner has disabled embedding — use the link above.
Systems & Failure Modes
Aft Cabin Door Area
The location where the fire was first spotted by cabin crew.
Pressurization System
The pressure differential during climb is believed to have caused improperly sealed passenger stoves to leak fuel.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was a 9-year-old Boeing 707 that had previously been leased to British Caledonian.
- 02Most of the 145 passengers were pilgrims returning from the Hajj in Mecca.
- 03The crash remains the third-deadliest aviation accident on Saudi Arabian soil.
- 04Debris from the impact was scattered over an area of approximately three miles.
- 05The investigation officially discounted sabotage and electrical failure due to lack of evidence.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Prohibition of Portable Stoves
Stricter enforcement and eventual total bans on carrying portable gas or kerosene stoves in passenger cabins were implemented, particularly on Hajj charter flights.
Cabin Material Flammability Standards
The accident contributed to the industry-wide push for more fire-resistant cabin materials and improved smoke evacuation procedures.