TAAG Angola Airlines Flight 462 was a scheduled domestic flight from Lubango Airport to Luanda, the capital of Angola. On its ill-fated journey, the aircraft, a Boeing 737, took off but quickly encountered difficulties before crashing into an area northeast of the airport. All 130 people, including passengers and crew members, tragically perished in the incident. In the aftermath, UNITA, a prominent rebel faction in Angola's ongoing civil war, claimed they shot down the aircraft, implicating their involvement in the incident. This assertion, however, faced skepticism from the Angolan government, which argued that the crash was due to technical failure rather than hostile action.

This crash occurred amidst a backdrop of political turmoil in Angola, where civil conflict between government forces and rebel factions like UNITA was rampant since the country’s independence in 1975. The civil war witnessed numerous violent encounters, contributing to widespread suffering and instability. The crash of Flight 462 further highlighted the dangers faced by civilians during this tumultuous period, as aviation travel was often seen as a lifeline in a country otherwise besieged by conflict. This incident raised questions regarding the safety of air travel in war-torn regions and highlighted the complexities of distinguishing between military and civilian targets in conflicts.

The tragedy marked a significant event in Angola’s aviation history, prompting discussions on flight safety protocols and the need for tracking incidents related to civil aviation in conflict zones. The French government conducted investigations into the crash, leading to heightened scrutiny about air traffic in Africa, especially in war-affected nations. The loss of life underscored the human cost of civil strife and the indirect consequences of warfare on non-combatants.