Base. Between 17 September 1963 and 20 November 1963 the United States Air Force's 524th Tactical Fighter Squadron was deployed here with North American F-100 Super Sabres. The Gulf War A detachment of Royal Air Force Panavia Tornado GR1's from No. 31 Squadron RAF were based here during January 1991. 1990s During October 1994 the USAF 75th Fighter Squadron (A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft) was moved to Dhahran Air Base, prior to forward deployment to Ahmad al-Jaber Air Base, Kuwait. In 1999, Dhahran Air Base was renamed King Abdulaziz Air Base. Current use Dhahran International Airport has been transformed into a military airbase. It has been renamed King Abdulaziz Air Base and serves the purposes of the Royal Saudi Air Force. There are also a couple of VIP airlines that operate out of DHA: Aviation-Link operates one A319 and B777-200, and NEXUS Flight Operations operates one A319. RSAF 3 Wing: No. 13 Squadron RSAF with the McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle and the F-15D No. 92 Squadron RSAF with the McDonnell Douglas F-15S Strike Eagle No. 44 Squadron RSAF with the Bell 412EP RSAF 11 Wing: No. 75 Squadron RSAF with the Tornado IDS No. 83 Squadron RSAF with the Tornado IDS Accidents and incidents On October 19, 1950 a Douglas DC-3 crashed on takeoff from the airbase, killing one person onboard and damaging the aircraft beyond repair. On December 30, 1956 a United States Air Force Military Air Transport Service Lockheed C-121 Constellation en route from Tripoli crashed on approach to the airfield, killing 12 of 38 on board. The cause was determined to be a combination of the inoperativity of Ground Controlled Approach (GCA) and poor visibility due to fog. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair. On April 17, 1964 Middle East Airlines Flight 444, a Sud Aviation SE-210 Caravelle III carrying 42 passengers and 7 crew, crashed 7 km offshore in the Half Moon Bay, approaching Dhahran International Airport from the south. The cause of the crash remains undetermined. All people onboard lost their lives in the crash. On July 8, 1968, a Saudia Convair CV-340 carrying 11 people en route from Bahrain International Airport crashed 5 km (3 mi) south of the airport while attempting approach for the third time due to poor visibility caused by a sandstorm. On March 17, 1985, a Saudia Boeing 737-200 carrying 76 passengers and 21 crew from Jeddah to Riyadh was hijacked