Incident Details
An Ilyushin aircraft was en route from Damascus to Cairo, carrying members of the Egyptian Air Force and Air Defence Command. While cruising at an altitude of 10,000 feet, the aircraft was intercepted by a Gloster Meteor NF.13 belonging to the Israel Air Force. The Israeli Secret Services had been informed of the possible presence of Egyptian General Abed al-Hakim Amar on board and issued an order to shoot down the aircraft. The Meteor, crewed by one pilot and one navigator, attacked the Ilyushin multiple times. The aircraft subsequently went out of control and crashed into the Mediterranean Sea.
Casualties and Aftermath
All individuals on board the Ilyushin died in the crash. Later, Egyptian authorities confirmed that General Abed al-Hakim Amar was not on the flight. The official investigation attributed the cause to the aircraft being shot down by an Israeli fighter.