What happened
On March 6, 2003, an Air Algérie Boeing 737-200, registration 7T-VEZ, was performing a scheduled domestic flight from Tamanrasset to Ghardaïa via Algiers. During the takeoff roll on runway 02 at Tamanrasset Aguenar airport, a loud, dull thud was heard shortly after rotation. This sound coincided with a sudden failure of the left engine.
Following the engine failure, the aircraft experienced a significant leftward yaw. The commander took control of the aircraft; however, the plane began to lose airspeed progressively. The aircraft eventually entered a stall and crashed approximately 1,645 meters from the departure point, left of the runway axis. At the time of impact, the landing gear remained extended. The accident resulted in 6 fatalities among the 97 passengers and 6 crew members on board, and the aircraft was destroyed.
The investigation
The investigation, conducted by the Algerian National Commission of Inquiry with technical support from the French BEA, examined the wreckage, flight data recorder (FDR), and cockpit voice recorder (CVR). Investigators analyzed the engine components, specifically focusing on the left engine's low-pressure turbine and compressor sections. Metallurgical examinations were performed on debris recovered from the engine casing and the runway. The inquiry also reviewed the crew's training records, flight performance calculations, and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident, noting the high altitude and high temperature of the airfield.