1960 saw the introduction of the Boeing 707-320 intercontinental jet for trans-Atlantic flights to New York . SABENA was mainland Europe 's first airline to operate a jet across the Atlantic ( BOAC had been flying jet transatlantic services using the de Havilland Comet 4 since 4 October 1958 ) . One of Sabena 's aircraft became the first Boeing 707 to crash while in commercial service when Flight 548 crashed while preparing to land at Brussels on 15 February 1961 . The United States Figure Skating Team was aboard the aircraft , en route from New York to Prague via Brussels to compete in a figure skating championship
Flight 548
Sabena Flight 548
Sabena