What happened
During an approach to Aden Airport, an aircraft collided with the side of Mt Shamsan, situated approximately 5 km south of the threshold for runway 08. The impact caused the plane to disintegrate upon hitting the slope. At the time of the accident, visibility was restricted due to marginal weather conditions.
All 30 occupants on board were killed in the crash. Records indicate that the crew was attempting to conduct the landing under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) despite the degraded visibility present at the location.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified that the primary factor was controlled flight into terrain. The decision to operate under VFR during periods of limited visibility contributed to the collision with the mountain slope.