What happened
A scheduled international flight, operating as Flight 114 from Tripoli with stops in Benghost and Cairo, entered Israeli airspace while navigating toward its destination. The aircraft, a Boeing 727, was traveling on a route that typically follows the Libyan coast before turning inland near Lake Qarun. During the flight, the crew encountered a heavy sandstorm, which necessitated reliance on instrument navigation.
While approaching the Cairo terminal area, the aircraft drifted off its intended course and entered Israeli-controlled airspace over the Sinai Peninsula. At approximately 13:55, Israeli radar detected the airliner at an altitude of 15,000 feet near the Suez Canal. Two Israeli Air Force Phantom fighters were dispatched to intercept the unidentified plane. Upon visual contact, the crew reportedly mistook the Israeli jets for Egyptian aircraft.
As the Boeing 727 continued its flight path and then suddenly veered westward, Israeli pilots interpreted the maneuver as an attempt to evade interception. The fighter jets engaged the airliner with 20 mm cannon fire, causing critical damage to the wing structure, hydraulic systems, and control surfaces. Following the attack, the aircraft attempted an emergency landing in a desert area characterized by sand dunes but ultimately crashed, resulting in an explosion. The accident resulted in 108 fatalities and only four survivors among the passengers.
Findings
Investigations into the incident highlighted that strong westerly upper-level winds associated with a sandstorm likely caused the aircraft to deviate from its planned course. This navigational error, combined with instrument difficulties, led the plane into unauthorized airspace. While the Israeli military viewed the erratic flight behavior as a security threat, the incident was widely condemned internationally.