A STEWARDESS killed in a plane crash more than three decades ago has had her name added to a memorial thanks to an anonymous donor.

Bournemouth woman Andrea Pegg was one of 15 people who died on Talia Airways Flight 2H79 after it crashed into the Kyrenian mountain range on approach to Cyprus on February 27, 1988.

According to records from Aviation Safety Network the crash was caused by pilot error. The plane had been cleared for approach but cancelled instrument flight rules and descended to 2000 feet, disregarding the altitude of the mountain chain ahead.

Upon noticing the mountains, the pilot tried to turn left and climb but struck the mountain barely ten minutes before it was due to land – killing everyone on board.

Wreckage from the Boeing 727 remains on the mountainside to this day and is located near Buffavento Castle.

Bournemouth Echo: Bournemouth woman Andrea Pegg.Bournemouth woman Andrea Pegg. (Image: Pegg family/Oz Orman)

In 1990, a special memorial monument was unveiled which featured the names of all the Talia Airways flight crew – including Ms Pegg. The memorial was funded by the parents of another British stewardess to die in the crash – Sharon Simcock of Lytham St Anne.

Ms Simcock’s father Ian Simcock was quoted at the time as saying the memorial had not been built just for his daughter, but for all her friends and colleagues who also died in the tragedy.

However, by 2018, the memorial was vandalised and destroyed.

A Turkish Cypriot resident, incensed by the damage, contacted local authorities who rebuilt a new memorial in its place.

Bournemouth Echo: Memorial to victims of Talia Airways Flight 2H79 crash.Memorial to victims of Talia Airways Flight 2H79 crash. (Image: Chris Elliott)

Despite the memorial being rebuilt, an error meant that the names of Ms Pegg and Ms Simcock were not added.

Shortly before the 35th anniversary of the crash on February 27, 2023, an independent donor in Cyprus, who wished to remain anonymous, paid for the added engraving.

The names of Ms Pegg and Ms Simcock were re-added to the side of the memorial featuring the other six crew members who died on the flight.

Flowers were laid for the Talia Airways crew for the anniversary of the crash.

It is understood Ms Pegg’s family still live in the Bournemouth area.