DM-STO ¦ ZRH 19.08.1978
Ilyushin IL-18D (c/n 188010904)
Interflug
Zürich-Kloten (ZRH/LSZH)
19 August 1978
A planned cargo service by East German flag carrier Interflug on a Friday night in darkness resulted in quite some frustration, as the flight was scheduled to be operated by IL-18 DM-STO, and both, the aircraft and the airline were extremely rare to Zürich.
All the bigger was the surprise when on Saturday morning the aircraft was still there, basking in the sun at the old freight area, and surrounded by all the cargo that was scheduled to be loaded onto the aircraft. In fact the crew had abandoned the IL-18 the previous night and asked for political asylum!
DM-STO was built in and delivered to Interflug 1968, became DDR-STO in 1981 and D-AOAU in 1990. It later flew with Air Zory, Ber-Line and then Aerocaribbean in Cuba, who received it in late 1995 as CU-T131, and later CU-T1532. It was reported as operational as late as early 2002, but in March 2004 it was destroyed beyond repair following an engine fire during take-off from Holguin.
DM-STO ¦ ZRH 19.08.1978
Ilyushin IL-18D (c/n 188010904)
Interflug
Zürich-Kloten (ZRH/LSZH)
19 August 1978
A planned cargo service by East German flag carrier Interflug on a Friday night in darkness resulted in quite some frustration, as the flight was scheduled to be operated by IL-18 DM-STO, and both, the aircraft and the airline were extremely rare to Zürich.
All the bigger was the surprise when on Saturday morning the aircraft was still there, basking in the sun at the old freight area, and surrounded by all the cargo that was scheduled to be loaded onto the aircraft. In fact the crew had abandoned the IL-18 the previous night and asked for political asylum!
DM-STO was built in and delivered to Interflug 1968, became DDR-STO in 1981 and D-AOAU in 1990. It later flew with Air Zory, Ber-Line and then Aerocaribbean in Cuba, who received it in late 1995 as CU-T131, and later CU-T1532. It was reported as operational as late as early 2002, but in March 2004 it was destroyed beyond repair following an engine fire during take-off from Holguin.