Night Approach Accident: Four-Engine Aircraft Strikes Mountain Slope Near Tamanrasset (7T-VAU)

Flight Details and Accident Sequence The aircraft, a four-engine model, was operating a flight from Algiers to Tamanrasset with intermediate stops at Ghardaïa, Hassi Messaoud, In Amenas, and Djanet. The flight was scheduled to have tourists embark at Djanet Airport, but for an unknown reason, no passengers boarded or disembarked at that stop. During the night approach to Tamanrasset Airport, the crew did not recognize that the aircraft's altitude was insufficient. The airplane struck a mountain slope located 8 km from the airport and exploded. The wreckage was discovered approximately 300 meters below the summit. The aircraft was completely destroyed by the impact forces and a post-crash fire. ## Casualties Four passengers sustained serious injuries: two Algerians and two Swiss nationals. All 35 other occupants were killed, including Swiss and French tourists. The Swiss citizens who died were: Peter Messikommer, Reinhard Wyss, Hans Grieshaber, Christina Grieshaber, Wilhelm Leisinger, Othmar Lienhard, Fritz Matter, Emma Holenstein, Jacques Bachmann, Werner Luethy, Raymond Dorner, Gilberte Dorner, Anne-Marie Lombard, Michel Sechy, Mrs. Sechy, and Juerg Sechy. The survivors were Jacques Lombard and Aurelio Fogacci.