[1][2][3] The aircraft, operated by Dan-Air Services Ltd, was a Hawker Siddeley HS 748–105 series 1 (construction/manufacturer's serial number: 1542, registration: G-BEKF) that had its first flight in 1962.

[1] It entered service with Aerolíneas Argentinas the same year and was subsequently operated by Argentinian state-owned oil company Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales (YPF).

[4] It was one of seven Hawker Siddeley HS 748 series 1 aircraft Dan-Air acquired from YPF for oil industry support work in the North Sea in 1977.

[1] G-BEKF was engaged on regular charter flights between Aberdeen and Sumburgh, carrying oil company personnel.

It then crossed the airport perimeter road and passed over the inclined sea defences, losing its port wing and breaking its fuselage in two in the process.

It was thought likely that the elevator gust lock became re-engaged during the pilots' pre-takeoff checks, and that it was not noticed until the takeoff was so far advanced that a successful abandonment within the overrun area could not be made.