Accident Details
The aircraft was conducting a scheduled flight from Kano to Karachi, with an intermediate stop at Jeddah. It carried 145 passengers and a crew of 11. The flight departed Jeddah-King Abdulaziz Airport at 0129 local time, climbing through night conditions with good weather.
While cruising at 37,000 feet, the captain informed air traffic control about an in-flight fire. ATC cleared the flight to descend to 30,000 feet, and subsequently to 4,000 feet at the crew's discretion. Seventeen minutes later, the situation became critical, with heavy smoke spreading in the cabin. The crew declared an emergency.
While attempting an emergency landing in a desert area, the aircraft struck the ground and disintegrated on impact. The wreckage was located approximately 48 kilometers north of At Ta'if, in a rocky area. None of the 156 occupants survived.
Probable Cause
According to official findings, the probable cause was an in-flight fire in the cabin area. The fire, through its intensity and rapid extension, resulted in panic among passengers and smoke in the cockpit, eventually incapacitating the flight crew. The cause of the cabin fire was not determined.
Investigators considered that the origin could have been a leaking gasoline or kerosene stove carried aboard by Haj pilgrim passengers. Pressure differential could have caused a poorly sealed gasket to leak fuel. Another possibility was an electrical fire, but rapid extension was considered difficult to explain given the electrical circuit protection devices of the Boeing 707. Sabotage was also considered, but no evidence of an incendiary device was found.
Aircraft Information
The aircraft was a Boeing 707. No registration, operator, or date of accident is specified in the source.