What happened
A flight departing from El Adem toward Luqa, Malta, was carrying 34 members of the Maltese Artillery Contingent along with 3 crew members. During the initial climb phase following rotation, the aircraft experienced a stall and a right-hand bank. The captain attempted to recover control of the aircraft; however, the plane impacted the runway surface, underwent a 90-degree rotation, and subsequently crashed and caught fire. The accident resulted in 17 fatalities (comprising one crew member and 16 passengers) and 20 injuries, with several individuals sustaining serious harm. The airframe was destroyed in the impact.
Findings
Investigations into the crash determined that the loss of control was triggered by a mechanical failure involving the co-pilot's seat. Specifically, a safety catch on the seat rails dislodged, allowing the seat to slide backward until it hit the stop. This movement caused the co-pilot to involuntarily pull the control column, which induced an excessive angle of attack and led to the aerodynamic stall. Additionally, investigators noted that the co-pilot was operating the aircraft during the takeoff phase despite lacking the necessary license to perform a departure with passengers on board.