Incident Overview
During a scheduled flight from Damascus to Aleppo, the crew of a Dakota aircraft received instructions to deviate from their planned route. This change was prompted by reports regarding the recent disappearance of a Netherlands Navy Catalina over Lebanese territory.
Operational Context
The decision to alter the flight path was made with the specific objective of locating potential wreckage associated with the missing naval aircraft. The crew was tasked with conducting a visual search while maintaining their general trajectory toward Aleppo, despite the additional operational burden this placed on the flight.
Accident Circumstances
While executing this detour, the Dakota encountered poor weather conditions that likely reduced visibility and increased navigational challenges. During this phase of the flight, the aircraft collided with the slope of a mountain in the Dahr el-Kadib region. The impact occurred while the crew was actively engaged in the search mission.
Casualties
The accident resulted in significant loss of life and injury among those on board. A total of nine occupants were killed in the crash. Additionally, six other individuals sustained injuries as a result of the collision with the terrain.