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Safety Recommendation Details

Safety Recommendation A-75-004
Details
Synopsis: ON SEPTEMBER 8, 1974, TRANS WORLD AIRLINES FLIGHT 841, A B-707-331B, CRASHED IN THE IONIAN SEA, ABOUT 50 MILES WEST OF CEPHALONIA, GREECE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON A FLIGHT FROM TEL AVIV, ISRAEL, TO NEW YORK, NEW YORK, WITH SCHEDULED STOPS IN ATHENS, GREECE, AND ROME, ITALY. THE RESULTS OF THE LABORATORY EXAMINATION OF CERTAIN ITEMS IN THE RECOVERED FLOTSAM ESTABLISH CONCLUSIVELY THAT THE DETONATION OF A HIGH ORDER EXPLOSIVE TOOK PLACE IN THE AIRCRAFT'S AFT CARGO COMPARTMENT.
Recommendation: EXPEDITE THE DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF SUITABLE EXPLOSIVES DETECTION EQUIPMENT TO PRECLUDE THE INTRODUCTION OF EXPLOSIVE DEVICES ON BOARD AN AIRCRAFT.
Original recommendation transmittal letter: PDF
Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action
Mode: Aviation
Location: Ionian Sea, Greece
Is Reiterated: No
Is Hazmat: No
Is NPRM: No
Accident #: 79449
Accident Reports: Trans World Airways, Inc., Boeing 707-331B, N8734
Report #: AAR-75-07
Accident Date: 9/8/1974
Issue Date: 1/10/1975
Date Closed: 10/1/1975
Addressee(s) and Addressee Status: FAA (Closed - Acceptable Action)
Keyword(s): Hazmat

Safety Recommendation History
From: NTSB
To: FAA
Date: 10/1/1975
Response: Closed--acceptable action.
From: FAA
To: NTSB
Date: 4/16/1975
Response: FAA LTR: THE FAA RECOGNIZES THE NEED FOR AN EXPLOSIVE DETECTION SYSTEM IN AVIATION SECURITY AND HAS AN ON-GOING EXPLOSIVE DETECTION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. ALL TECHNIQUES THAT HAVE A POSSIBILITY OF BEING EFFICIENT IN THE DETECTION OF EXPLOSIVES ARE BEING PURSUED AS FAST AS POSSIBLE UNDER CURRENT AVAILABLE RESOURCES. SYSTEMS USING CONCEPTS SUCH AS EXPLOSIVE VAPOR DETECTION, NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE, THERMAL NEUTRON ACTIVATION, X-RAY ABSORPTION AND TAGGING OF EXPLOSIVES ARE CURRENTLY UNDER STUDY.