Tragedy on the A7: Paninternational plane crash shakes Germany

Tragedy on the A7: Paninternational plane crash shakes Germany

Today, September 7, 2025, we look back at a tragic incident in the history of Munich aviation. On September 6, 1971 there was a terrible accident with the BAC 1-11 of the German airline Paninternational, which affected flight DR 112 from Hamburg to Málaga. Fully occupied by 115 passengers and 6 crew members, the aircraft took off from runway 34 at 6:19 p.m. when a terrible accident occurred. The machine landed badly on the A7 motorway near Hasloh after both engines burst into flames almost simultaneously.

The flight, which began with a series of unforeseen complications, ended in a dramatic emergency landing. Captain Reinhold Hüls and his crew were able to make an emergency landing of the aircraft despite the catastrophic circumstances on the highway that was under construction. But the joy that most of the passengers survived was short-lived because the left landing gear broke during landing and the plane collided with a bridge pillar. Of the 121 passengers, 22 ultimately died, including one crew member, while 45 others were injured, some seriously. Fortunately, no people on the ground were affected.

Cause and consequences of the accident

The causes of the disaster were devastating. Investigations revealed that kerosene from the water injection tanks was inadvertently injected into the engines, resulting in the fatal engine failure. A warning signal from an employee who noticed the unusual smell of kerosene was unfortunately ignored. This ignorance and unclear responsibilities within the maintenance department in Düsseldorf led to massive accusations against the airline.

After the accident, trust in Paninternational almost completely collapsed. Tour operators terminated their contracts, flights were canceled and the airline's flight operations were ultimately discontinued at the end of the 1971 summer schedule. The parent company, Paneuropa, later merged into the Thomas Cook Group, leaving behind another chapter in Munich's aviation history that is not only remembered, but also teaches lessons.

A painful farewell

The BAC 1-11, known for its comfort, originally began flying in 1969. Founded by the Munich-based tour operator Paneuropa, the airline experienced rapid expansion and ordered several aircraft, including four BAC 1-11-500s from the British Aircraft Corporation. But the airline's inglorious end reminds us all how important safety is in aviation. Every passenger, every flight and every decision counts.

The story of Paninternational and flight DR 112 urges us to be vigilant and reminds us that even from big mistakes there are lessons to be learned. In the last few decades, the aviation industry has made immense progress in terms of safety. But the thought of that unfortunate landing on the highway remains alive in the minds of many people who were affected by that tragic day.