The Comet was involved in 26 hull-loss accidents , including 13 fatal crashes which resulted in 426 fatalities . Pilot error was blamed for the type 's first fatal accident , which occurred during takeoff at Karachi , Pakistan , on 3 March 1953 and involved a Canadian Pacific Airlines Comet 1A . Three fatal Comet 1 crashes due to structural problems , specifically BOAC Flight 783 on 2 May 1953 , BOAC Flight 781 on 10 January 1954 , and South African Airways Flight 201 on 8 April 1954 , led to the grounding of the entire Comet fleet . After design modifications were implemented , Comet services resumed in 1958
South African Airways Flight 201
South African Airways Flight 201
De Havilland Comet