What happened
Following a comprehensive overhaul at the Antonov factory in Kiev, an Antonov aircraft was being ferried to Bamako, with a scheduled stop in Tunis. During the initial leg of the journey from Kiev to Tunis, the flight crew notified air traffic control of mechanical difficulties while traversing northern Greece. Consequently, the flight was cleared to divert to Thessaloniki-Makedonia Airport.
Because a radar approach could not be performed, the crew attempted to complete the landing using Visual Flight Rules (VFR) despite being in Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC). During the final approach, visibility was significantly reduced by fog and rainfall. The aircraft impacted a mountain slope approximately 4 km before reaching the runway. The accident resulted in six fatalities among the crew.
Findings
Investigations suggest that the crew was unaware of their insufficient altitude during the approach. There is also indication that the aircraft may have been experiencing technical issues related to fuel during the flight.