What happened
The incident occurred while the aircraft was operating at cruising altitude near the Italian coast. Conditions were characterized by poor visibility, necessitating flight under instrument rules. During this phase, a fire ignited on the left side of the cockpit, adjacent to the captain's position. The flight crew attempted to suppress the flames but failed to contain the blaze. As the fire rapidly intensified, the crew moved to the main cabin to assist passengers with emergency procedures.
The evacuation preparation was complicated by the fact that passengers had not received prior instruction on how to don parachutes. While the crew and some passengers were preparing for a potential ditching or bailout, the aircraft lost control. The burning plane descended into the water, impacting the surface in the Gulf of Salerno near Amalfi. Rescue teams recovered eight survivors from the scene: four passengers and all four members of the flight crew who had successfully ejected before impact. Tragically, 30 other occupants perished in the accident, and the airframe disintegrated upon striking the sea.
Findings
Official investigators reviewed the circumstances surrounding the event. Although weather conditions were adverse at the time, they were not identified as a contributing factor to the crash. The inquiry focused heavily on the origin of the cockpit fire. While an electrical short-circuit was considered a possibility, the investigation team was unable to definitively determine the exact cause of the ignition.