Seaboard World Airlines Flight 253A

Seaboard World Airlines Flight 253A
The aircraft involved in 1983, while operating with Icelandic Airlines
Incident
DateJuly 1, 1968
SummaryForced landing
SiteKuril Islands, Soviet Union
Aircraft
Aircraft typeDouglas DC-8 Super 63CF
OperatorSeaboard World Airlines (chartered as a troop transport)
RegistrationN8631
Flight originMcChord Air Force Base, Washington
DestinationYokota Air Base, Japan
Occupants238
Passengers214
Crew24
Fatalities0
Injuries0
Survivors238

Seaboard World Airlines Flight 253A was a military charter flight carrying 214 American troops bound for South Vietnam. On July 1, 1968, the plane was intercepted by Soviet jets after it unintentionally violated Soviet airspace. It was forced to land on one of the Soviet-controlled Kuril Islands with all 238 Americans aboard being detained for two days.