The Day 1122 Passengers Flew in a747

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Taking between 400 and 500 passengers is normal on a Boeing 747, but there is one case where it has been as high as 1,122. This happened in 1991 as part of Operation Solomon, with Israeli airline El Al evacuating Ethiopian Jews to Israel. It set a record for the most passengers on one flight, which still holds today.

Ethiopian Jews known as “Falashas” sit on bard of an Israeli Air Force Boeing 707, during t heir transfer from Addis Ababa to Tel Aviv early 25 1991. Sixteen thousand five hundred “Falashas” were evacuated from Ethiopia as part of “Operation Solomon”, the world’s largest airlift carried out out by Israeli army. The large numbers of emigrants from Ethiopia and, primarily, from the Soviet Union, increased Israel’s population by nearly 10 % in 3 years (between 1989-92). (Photo credit should read PATRICK BAZ/AFP via Getty Images)

Fitting 1,122 passengers on a 747 is, of course, not normal. The typical three-class capacity of the 747-400 is around 416 and 410 for the newer 747-8. The maximum permitted by regulations for the 747-400 is 660. This is the exit limit – based on the number that can be safely evacuated from the aircraft in a specified time. For the 747-200 (as used in Operation Solomon), the exit limit is just 550.

For the highest capacity in normal use, the leader is the 747-400D. This was a high capacity variant developed for Japan’s domestic market, with a shorter range but capacity of up to 600 (or 568 in a two-class configuration). Only 19 aircraft were ordered, and the last one was retired in 2014.1

As a non-commercial flight, El Al clearly exceeded the regulated limit and committed to the following:

  • All the seats were removed.
  • Fuel was reduced. (The flight was just over 2,500 kilometers.)
  • Limited cargo (Most passengers had no luggage or belongings.)
ISRAEL – MAY 01: Arrival of the Falashas during Operation Solomon in Jerusalem, Israel on May 01, 1991. (Photo by Esaias BAITEL/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

Operation Solomon

Operation Solomon came about following years of civil war in Ethiopia. In 1991, the government was close to being overcome by military rebels. The Israeli government (with planning support from the US) decided to step in and evacuate Jewish civilians caught up in the worsening conflict. Operation Solomon was the third such mission to evacuate civilians to Israel.

It was originally planned to operate over two weeks but was reduced to just 48 hours (hence the huge capacities!). In total 14,325 Ethiopian Jews from Addis Ababa to Tel Aviv were evacuated..

Up to 34 aircraft from the Israeli air force and El AI were used. These included 747-200, 707 and C-130 Hercules military aircraft.

The total?

There is some dispute about the total maximum passengers carried. Some sources say it was 1,078 or 1,088, while others claim it was as high as 1,122. Any of these numbers would make it by far the highest ever carried by a 747, and would still qualify for the record. There are also reports that two babies were born during the flight, but no deaths.

The official record with Guinness World Records is recorded as 1088 passengers (including the two babies).

(Credit to Simple Flying)

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