What happened
During a descent toward Athens-Hassani Airport, the flight crew received instructions from air traffic control to hold due to adverse weather conditions, specifically thunderstorm activity at the destination. Shortly after receiving these instructions, the four-engine aircraft, identified by the name 'Sunnan', collided with the slope of Mt Hymettus, which is situated northeast of the airport.
The impact forces resulted in the complete destruction of the airframe. Tragically, all 44 occupants on board were killed in the accident. The crash occurred in an area where visibility was significantly reduced by low clouds, making it difficult for the crew to identify the mountain terrain. It is assessed that the flight team did not have a clear understanding of their precise position relative to the ground at the time of the impact.
Findings
The primary contributing factor cited was the inability of the crew to distinguish the mountain due to poor visibility caused by low cloud cover. Additionally, it is believed that the lack of awareness regarding the aircraft's exact position played a critical role in the accident sequence.