What happened
On the afternoon of the accident, an aircraft operated by Misrair departed Nicosia at 15:49, destined for Cairo. During the flight, the crew encountered severe meteorological conditions, including thunderstorms, turbulence, and icing. Due to deteriorating weather at the destination, the crew contacted Misrair Operations to discuss potential diversion airports such as Port Said, Alexandria, or El Arish.
During the flight, several technical issues were noted within the cockpit. The magnetic compass was unserviceable, a crack appeared in a cockpit window panel due to the storm, and there was a discrepancy between the two altimeters, which showed readings of 24,000 feet and 25,000 feet respectively. Despite these challenges, the flight proceeded toward Cairo.
The aircraft was cleared for an approach to runway 23. However, following this clearance, all communication with the crew ceased. The aircraft type crashed approximately 5 km from the runway, where it subsequently caught fire. There were 0 survivors reported in the wreckage.
Findings
The investigation determined that the aircraft descended below a safe altitude during its final approach. During this descent, the port wing struck sand dunes located northeast of the airfield, causing the pilot to lose control of the aircraft type. The investigation concluded that the primary factor was the transition from IFR to VFR flight rules, as the crew likely struggled to adapt to the changing weather conditions and the shift in navigational procedures.