What happened
A charter flight operated by Royal Air Maroc was performing a transport mission from Paris-Le Bourget to Agadir, transporting 181 Moroccan workers and their families for the holiday season. The flight proceeded without incident until the crew requested and received clearance from air traffic control to begin their descent.
During the approach, while at an altitude of 2,400 feet, the right wing of the aircraft collided with a rocky mountain peak. This impact caused the separation of the number four engine. Despite efforts by the crew to increase power to the remaining engines, the aircraft traveled approximately 400 meters before breaking apart in a small valley. The debris field was located roughly 40 km north of Agadir-Inezgane Airport. There were 188 fatalities among the occupants.
Findings
Investigations concluded that the accident was a result of controlled flight into terrain. The aircraft was descending at an insufficient altitude and was following an incorrect track while approaching Agadir-Inezgane Airport. Several environmental factors contributed to the event, including poor visibility caused by nighttime conditions and localized patches of fog, which deprived the crew of necessary visual ground references.