South African Airways Flight 201 was a scheduled passenger flight operated by South African Airways using a de Havilland DH.106 Comet 1. The flight took off from Rome, Italy, bound for Cairo, Egypt, on the evening of April 8, 1954. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft encountered difficulties while climbing, which led to a rapid loss of altitude. Eyewitness reports described seeing the plane struggling in the night sky before it crashed into the Mediterranean Sea. Rescue operations commenced promptly, but all 21 passengers and crew members aboard the flight were lost in the incident. This disaster marked one of the earliest significant crashes involving the Comet, highlighting the design flaws that plagued its early models.Investigations conducted after the crash pointed to issues related to the aircraft's structural integrity and control systems, which contributed to navigational challenges during flight. The Comet was the world's first jet airliner and had originally been marketed and celebrated for its speed and comfort. However, this accident, along with others involving the Comet series, led to a greater scrutiny of aircraft safety protocols and design standards across the aviation industry. The findings from these investigations prompted widespread changes in aviation regulations, particularly concerning jet airliner design and safety measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.