What happened
While operating a flight originally scheduled from Tel Aviv to Bucharest, the crew received notification regarding adverse weather conditions at their intended destination. As a result, the flight was diverted to Constanţa-Mihail Kogălniceanu Airport, located approximately 200 km east of Bucharest.
During the approach to the diversion airport, the aircraft encountered significantly reduced visibility caused by fog. While descending toward the runway, the plane impacted the ground in a field situated roughly 5 km from the threshold. The accident resulted in 19 fatalities and 8 injuries among the occupants on board.
Findings
Investigations into the accident determined that the crew proceeded with the approach despite the presence of thick fog. The primary factor in the crash was that the aircraft descended below the minimum descent altitude (MDA), which was a deviation from established flight procedures and published safety protocols.