What happened
Shortly after departing from Maiquetía-Simon Bolivar Airport at night, the aircraft began a climb toward an altitude of 3,000 feet. Approximately three minutes into the flight, the plane became uncontrollable, pitched downward, and crashed into the ocean roughly 5 km away from the coast. The wreckage settled on the seabed at a depth of 50 meters. There were 62 fatalities among the total number of occupants.
Findings
While an official cause was never formally finalized due to the classification of investigation documents by French authorities, technical evidence suggests the disaster was likely caused by an explosive device. Although some early suspicions pointed toward pilot spatial disorientation, subsequent laboratory analysis conducted in Paris revealed traces of nitrocellulose, nitroglycerine, and derivatives of dinitrotoluene or trinitrotoluene on various components. Specifically, chemical examinations of the fuselage, landing hatch, and landing gear identified these substances. Investigators concluded there was a high probability that an explosive had been placed within the left main landing gear well, leading to the destruction of the aircraft in flight.