What happened
During the flight, approximately 50 minutes after departure, the aircraft was cruising at 26,000 feet within Saudi Arabian airspace when four individuals entered the cockpit. These hijackers forced the flight crew to change course toward Tehran.
As the situation escalated, a grenade detonated inside the passenger cabin. In response to the unfolding crisis, the crew attempted an emergency landing at Arar. During this period, a second grenade exploded within the cockpit area. While performing the final approach, the aircraft type became uncontrollable and struck the ground 800 meters before reaching the runway. The impact resulted in a massive fire that destroyed the plane.
Findings
The incident resulted in 63 fatalities and 43 injuries. The destruction of the aircraft was caused by the loss of control during the emergency landing sequence following the cockpit grenade explosion.