Far East Air Transport Flight 103 (callsign

Call sign

In broadcasting and radio communications, a call sign is a unique designation for a transmitting station. In North America they are used as names for broadcasting stations...

 FAR EASTERN 103), a Boeing 737-222, had just departed Taipei Songshan Airport

Taipei Songshan Airport

Taipei Songshan Airport or Taipei Sungshan Airport is a midsize commercial airport and military airbase located in Songshan, Taipei, Taiwan...

 for Kaohsiung

Kaohsiung

Kaohsiung is a city located in southwestern Taiwan, facing the Taiwan Strait on the west. Kaohsiung, officially named Kaohsiung City, is divided into thirty-eight districts. The city is one of five special municipalities of the Republic of China...

 when the aircraft broke apart in mid-air 14 minutes after take-off.

Although the accident was thought to have been caused by an explosive device, an investigation by the Republic of China Civil Aeronautics Board concluded that severe corrosion led to a pressure hull rupture.

The aircraft had previously lost cabin pressure

Cabin pressurization

Cabin pressurization is the pumping of compressed air into an aircraft cabin to maintain a safe and comfortable environment for crew and passengers when flying at altitude.-Need for cabin pressurization:...

 on 5 August and also when the crew had been returning it to Taipei

Taipei

Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...

 for repairs earlier on the day of its fatal flight.

A total of 110 passengers and crew including 18 Japanese citizens (including Kuniko Mukōda

Kuniko Mukoda

was a Japanese TV screenwriter. Most of her scripts focus on day-to-day family life and relationships. She was also awarded the middle-brow Naoki Prize for her short stories "Hanano Namae", "Kawauso" and "Inugoya" .-Life:...

) and 2 other foreigners, died on the flight.