What happened
A maritime patrol mission originating from Lartigue Airbase (Tafraoui AFB) in Oran ended in an accident near the Algiers region. The flight was scheduled to monitor the coastline between Cape Tenès and Cape Carbon. While navigating the airspace northwest of Béjaïa, the aircraft type encountered intense downdrafts.
This atmospheric instability caused the plane to strike rocky terrain situated above the sea. The impact resulted in one fatality and three injuries. The crew members involved included the pilot, the copilot, a gunner, and a radio operator.
Findings
- The primary factor leading to the crash was the encounter with strong downdrafts during the flight phase.