The Viscount had been quarantined (pushed out of the hangar and parked away from buildings) after an engine change as it was suspected that a bomb had been placed aboard while the aircraft was hangared. True, the plane exploded and was destroyed in the ensuing fire which quickly engulfed the aircraft. A thick, black pall of smoke could be seen from miles around.

This stainless-steel engine nameplate is the only known souvenir taken from the remains of VR-AAV

Remains of the day. The once majestic Viscount lies a twisted heap on the tarmac at Khormaksar, only the tail section and outer starboard engine surviving the inferno, leaving little for souvenir hunters.