What happened
During the initial climb phase following departure from Alexandria Airport, the flight crew reported a significant failure involving the left engine. The crew notified Air Traffic Control that an explosion had occurred within the left engine nacelle and immediately requested an emergency diversion to Cairo International Airport.
As a result of the damage sustained during the explosion, the aircraft suffered mechanical failures that prevented the crew from deploying the landing gear or the flaps. Faced with these limitations, the captain executed a decision to perform a belly landing on a sandy patch situated near runway 05. The aircraft type slid for several dozen yards across the terrain before coming to a complete stop. While the impact resulted in the aircraft being written off as a total loss, all 15 occupants managed to evacuate the wreckage without any injuries.
Findings
Investigations into the incident determined that the primary factor was an explosion within the left engine. This event was triggered by the presence of a foreign object located in the rear cone of the left engine nacelle.