Incident Overview
Shortly after departing from Alexandria Airport, the flight crew informed air traffic control of an explosion in the left engine and requested diversion to Cairo International Airport for an emergency landing. The explosion caused extensive damage, rendering the crew unable to extend the landing gear or deploy the flaps.
Emergency Landing
The captain decided to execute a belly landing on a sandy area near Runway 05. The aircraft skidded for several dozen yards before coming to rest. The impact and subsequent slide resulted in the aircraft being damaged beyond repair.
Occupants and Injuries
All 15 occupants on board escaped the aircraft without injury.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined the probable cause to be an explosion of the left engine due to the presence of a foreign object in the rear cone of the left engine nacelle.