Cyprus International Airways - Trident Kyrenia - Survivor

Today, there are many reminders of the 1974 invasion of Cyprus all with their own stories following them like shadows.

Hawker Siddeley Trident 5B-DXA 'Trident Kyrenia' is one of those reminders.

She was delivered new to Cyprus International Airways in 1970 when the airline was replacing its fleet of Vickers Viscounts with an all jet fleet. Along with her sisters she would serve the island for the next four years out of Nicosia International Airport back when Cyprus was the place to be in the early 70s.

The day was July 19th 1974 when DXA was preparing to leave for the late evening flight from London Heathrow to Nicosia via Rome. Due to the situation on the island only 7 passengers were booked, despite concerns the captain was directed to proceed with the flight.

The flight was uneventful until the jet got over Cyprus, the captain having taken on extra fuel at Rome in order to divert should Nicosia become unusable when they arrived. Flying round the coast they noted large groups of ships clustered on the northern coast and multiple small blips on the radar assumed to be Turkish fighters. Out of concern for his jet and those onboard the captain radioed the ground on to the airline's management with a request to turn back for Rome.

Several minutes past while the Trident flew down the coast when the message came through, he would be permitted to return to Rome. Trident Kyrenia finally touched down at Fiumicino in the early hours of the 20th upon which the crew and passengers learnt of the invasion.

5B-DXA would be the only survivor from Cyprus International's fleet with all others destroyed or too badly damaged to leave Nicosia. She would serve with British Continental for a number of years before being retired in 1979 to be preserved in the UK, while initially she retained her British Continental livery and registration, in 1998 she was returned to her original Cyprus International colours as a reminder to her heritage.

First post of 2023! Got lots due out, if people like I can do more story based posts like this one?