TWA 903
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Trans World Airlines Flight TW903 was a regularly scheduled flight from Bombay, India to New York-Idlewild, via Rome-Ciampino via Cairo.
"The Star of Maryland", a Lockheed Constellation 749A, flew the route on the night of August 31, 1950. It departed Cairo at 23:35 for Rome-Ciampino with 55 persons aboard (48 passengers and 7 crew members) in good weather.
As Flight 903 was climbing at 10,000 feet (3,000 m), the crew reported that its number 3 engine was on fire and that they needed a priority return to Cairo. As the plane was returning to Cairo, the engine separated from the plane, forcing the crew to attempt a forced landing in the desert about 65 miles NNW of Cairo. The plane struck the desert near Wadi Natrun and burned. All 55 persons aboard perished.
After an intensive investigation, the probable cause of the crash was cited to be failure of the rear master rod on the number 3 engine. The failure caused the engine to overheat, in turn causing it to catch fire.
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