Book renews questions about CY284 bombing and absence of public inquiry in Cyprus

Nicosia, Cyprus. A newly published book has renewed scrutiny of the 1967 bombing of Cyprus Airways flight CY284, which killed 66 people, and its suspected political purpose. Author Simon Hepworth and researchers have questioned why the British investigation’s findings have not led to a full public inquiry in Cyprus.

The flight and the evidence

Hepworth’s latest work, Murder in High Places? The secret investigation into the bombing of flight CY284, examines the aircraft’s destruction on October 12, 1967. A bomb detonated on a British European Airways Comet travelling from Athens to Nicosia, sending it into the Mediterranean Sea and killing all 59 passengers and seven crew.

A passenger seat cushion retrieved from the water contained evidence of military-grade explosives, investigators found. That discovery challenged the early explanation that a collision with another aircraft had caused the crash.

The book follows Hepworth’s earlier publication, Bealine Charlie Oscar – The Mystery of flight CY284, released in 2018.

Research into a suspected assassination plot

Researchers Fanoulas Argyrou and Michalis Thomaidis had previously examined the disaster using material from the British National Archives. Their research appeared in 2011 in Eleftheria, a Greek community newspaper based in London.

Argyrou argued that the attack was politically motivated and aimed at killing General Georgios Grivas. He had planned to travel on the aircraft but cancelled at the last minute.

Cyprus’ initial response and political background

Cyprus’ special branch was the sole authority to initially dismiss bombing as the cause. It was headed by Polykarpos Yiorkadjis, who then held both the interior and defence ministerial portfolios.

A former operative, Yiorkadjis had established extensive intelligence networks. He had also been among Archbishop Makarios’ strongest supporters, but became a political rival after his departure from government in 1968.

Makarios later survived an attempt on his life on March 11,1970. Gunmen fired at his helicopter during take-off from the Archbishopric in Nicosia.