What happened
During a flight traveling from Luqa toward Benghazi, the aircraft experienced a mechanical failure involving one of its engines while traversing the Mediterranean Sea. In response to the loss of power, the crew initiated a descent to a lower altitude to manage the emergency.
The flight crew attempted an emergency ditching of the aircraft approximately 160 km northwest of Benghazi. Following the impact with the water, the aircraft subsequently sank and was lost at the scene.
Despite the loss of the airframe, all 32 occupants were successfully recovered from the water. The rescue operation was conducted by a USN Albatross crew, after which the survivors were moved to a Royal Navy vessel for further assistance.
Findings
Investigations into the incident determined that the primary reason for the emergency was an engine failure during the flight.