Cairo Approach Accident Involving Flight 705 (AP-AMH)

Flight Details and Approach Sequence Flight 705 was a scheduled international public transport flight operating from Karachi to Dhahran, Cairo, Geneva, and London. The crew reported no defects at Dhahran before departing at 2122 hours W. The flight reported abeam Aqaba at 2313 hours, left FL 360 at 2322 hours, reached the RD fix at 2330 hours, and was approaching Ft 130 at 2338 hours. ## Descent and Circuit Clearance The flight was cleared to descend to FL 65 and given a QNH of 1014 mb. It reported overhead at 2339 hours, passed FL 100, and was instructed to maintain FL 65. After completing a holding turn in the Cairo range pattern, the flight was cleared to join a left-hand circuit for runway 34 and report downwind. The crew stated they would perform an instrument let-down and call when commencing the procedure turn. ## Final Approach and Loss of Contact The flight was cleared to descend to FL 45 and report procedure turn inbound descending to 2,500 ft. At 2345 hours, the crew reported being in a position to report downwind for runway 34 and requested clearance to proceed downwind. Cairo approach control then cleared the flight to descend to circuit height for final approach to runway 34 and to change to tower frequency 118.1 Mc/s. The crew acknowledged they would turn on final and change frequency. At 2348:30 hours, the crew acknowledged being on final. At 2348:55 hours, a scratching noise was heard on the control tower receiver, and no further communication was received from the aircraft. ## Casualties and Aircraft Condition Six passengers survived, while 121 other occupants were killed. The aircraft was totally destroyed. The crew included pilot Ali Akhtar Khan, copilot Afzal Johari, chief navigation officer Khalid Zia Lodhi, chief flight engineer Mr. Yasin, flight engineer Mr. Shafiq, and several flight attendants.