Saudia Flight 163 – Riyadh Fire Disaster
Date of Incident: August 19, 1980
Location: Riyadh International Airport, Saudi Arabia
🧭 What Happened
Saudia Flight 163, a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar, departed Riyadh for Jeddah after a stopover from Karachi. Seven minutes into the flight, smoke warnings from the aft cargo hold prompted a return to Riyadh. The aircraft landed safely but was not evacuated. All 301 onboard died from smoke inhalation as the fire consumed the cabin.
✈️ Aircraft Details
Flight Number: SV163 / SVA163
Aircraft Type: Lockheed L-1011-200 TriStar
Registration: HZ-AHK
Departure: Karachi (KHI) → Riyadh (RUH) → Jeddah (JED)
Fatalities: All 301 onboard
Survivors: 0
🔍 Key Factors
The fire originated in cargo compartment C3. The crew delayed evacuation, taxied the aircraft for 2m40s after landing, and kept engines running for 3m15s, preventing rescue teams from opening doors. The cabin remained pressurized, and passengers succumbed to toxic smoke before any door was opened.
📆 Timeline of Events
- 18:08 UTC – Departure from Riyadh
- 18:15 UTC – Smoke warning from cargo hold
- 18:20 UTC – Decision to return to Riyadh
- 18:36 UTC – Landing at Riyadh
- 18:39 UTC – Aircraft comes to stop on taxiway
- 18:42 UTC – Engines shut down; communication lost
- 19:05 UTC – R2 door opened by ground crew
- 19:08 UTC – Cabin flashover; aircraft destroyed
🎙️ Cockpit Voice & Flight Data
“We’ve got a fire back there.” — Flight Engineer Curtis
“We are shutting down the engines and are now evacuating.” — Final transmission
The CVR captured confusion, delayed decision-making, and lack of assertive action. The FDR showed no attempt to depressurize the cabin. Both recorders were recovered and analyzed by Saudi and U.S. authorities.
⚙️ Aircraft Systems & Failures
- Fire in C3 cargo hold; source undetermined
- Cabin remained pressurized after landing
- Engines running prevented door access
- No evacuation initiated; crew found in seats
🛡️ Aftermath and Reforms
- Lockheed removed insulation above rear cargo area
- Halomethane extinguishers recommended by NTSB
- Saudia revised emergency training and CRM protocols
- Crew resource management emphasized globally