What happened
The aircraft encountered deteriorating weather conditions while flying over the Peloponnese region of Greece. During this period, the plane impacted the slope of Mt Taigetos, situated approximately 22 kilometers southeast of Kalamata. The collision with the terrain resulted in the destruction of the airframe due to impact forces. All 24 occupants perished in the accident.
Search and rescue operations were launched immediately following the loss of contact. Seven United States Air Force aircraft participated in the recovery efforts. The wreckage was located several hours later within a remote mountainous area.
Findings
Initial reports from Greek and Czech authorities suggested that the incident may have been a controlled flight into terrain caused by adverse weather. However, subsequent investigations led to a revised conclusion. The Greek government officially confirmed that the aircraft was shot down by Greek communist insurgents. The specific motivations behind this act of interference remain unknown.