Norway’s aviation accident commission reviews 1989 Partnair crash after new findings

Norway’s Accident Investigation Board is assessing whether to reopen its probe into the 1989 Partnair crash following new evidence uncovered in a podcast investigation, Dagbladet reports.

The disaster, which killed 55 people when a chartered Convair 580 aircraft plunged into the sea near Hirtshals, Denmark, was previously attributed to faulty and worn parts. However, a new eight-part podcast series, “Dødsflyet Partnair 394” (The Death Flight Partnair 394), presents findings that challenge the official conclusion.

Podcast producers Stein Morten Lier and Alexander Wisting, alongside bereaved families, claim to have obtained previously undisclosed documents, including a report allegedly withheld by the investigation board but later released to relatives by police. Their research also reveals that two US F-16 jets—unmentioned in the 1993 official report—were operating in the area at the time.

“Could create shockwaves”
Lier suggests that if a Norwegian F-16 broke the sound barrier near the Partnair aircraft, the resulting shockwave may have exceeded the older plane’s structural limits. The investigation team also questions radar data used to clear the Norwegian military of involvement, calling its reliability into doubt.

A fresh analysis of the flight data recorder (“black box”) further indicates the Partnair plane may have encountered critical issues immediately after the F-16’s passage—a timeline at odds with the 1993 findings.

The Accident Investigation Board confirmed it is reviewing the new material. “When we receive information that appears novel in a closed investigation, we conduct a thorough, independent assessment,” director Ingvild K. Ytrehus told Dagbladet.

The Norwegian Armed Forces declined to engage with the podcast team’s findings, reiterating confidence in the original investigation and citing a 20-year-old court ruling that absolved them of responsibility.

The podcast series launches Tuesday on Podme. Producers describe the board’s willingness to re-examine the case as “a victory” that could bring long-sought answers for families who have questioned the official narrative.