On October 12, 1967, 66 passengers and crew lost their lives when an aircraft exploded over the Mediterranean Sea, a mystery that still remains unsolved after 57 years.
The British European Airways (BEA) Flight CY284 was traveling from Nicosia, Cyprus, to Athens, Greece, when tragedy struck.
The flight was operated on behalf of Cyprus Airways using a De Havilland DH.106 Comet 4B aircraft, which was notable as the world’s first commercial jet airliner, developed and built in the UK.
he journey appeared to progress normally, with the plane cruising at an altitude of 29,000 feet. However, communication was lost while it was flying over the Mediterranean, and shortly after, the aircraft crashed into the sea near the island of Kastellorizo, claiming the lives of all 66 people on board.
Debris from the plane was later discovered scattered across the sea, suggesting that the aircraft had experienced a catastrophic mid-air explosion. An investigation into the crash pointed to the possibility of a bomb being the cause, though no conclusive explanation was ever reached.
At the time, Cyprus was in the midst of political conflict between Greek and Turkish communities, with terrorism being a significant concern. Some speculated that the explosion might have been part of an assassination attempt targeting a Cypriot militia member who was onboard. Despite these theories, the official investigation never provided a definitive answer, and documents related to the case have been sealed by the Home Office until 2067.
Simon Hepworth, whose father worked with BEA captain Gordon Blackwood—one of the victims of the crash—has been searching for answers for decades. The 65-year-old retired police officer continues to seek clarity on what happened that day. “Being in the BEA family, it was very close to home. It was something that stayed with me for many years,” he told Metro. “It was something my parents never forgot. My father had kept a set of BEA pilot wings that came from Gordon’s uniform, and I was able to give them back to his daughter.”
Hepworth expressed the lasting impact the tragedy has had on families, saying, “For people who lost family members, it’s like a wound. There was no information for decades, so the families were never able to get any kind of closure, and that’s significant.”
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police, speaking to Metro, acknowledged the unresolved nature of the tragedy: “The bombing of CY284 in 1967 was an atrocity that claimed the lives of 66 people, including 21 UK nationals. No one has been brought to justice, and there remain many unanswered questions.”
The spokesperson praised the families’ ongoing fight for justice, noting: “It is a mark of the courage and tenacity of the families of those who lost their lives on that fateful flight that they continue to campaign for justice.”
In 2021, a review of the original investigation was carried out, prompted by a complaint from a surviving relative. The spokesperson added: “We hope the findings of this review give those families further clarity and understanding about the circumstances of the attack, and what the Met and other partners did in the immediate aftermath.”
Simon Hepworth also revealed that the review uncovered that not all investigative leads had been properly followed at the time of the crash. Despite the years that have passed, efforts continue to provide answers and closure to those affected. The Met remains committed to learning from past investigations to better serve families today, recently attending a memorial for the victims to pay respects alongside their families.
