Incident Details
The flight, originating from Jeddah, began its descent to Aswan Airport under night conditions. A sandstorm reduced visibility, prompting the crew to abort the first approach and execute a go-around. A second approach was also abandoned shortly thereafter.
On the third landing attempt, horizontal visibility was reported at 2 to 3 kilometers. The captain did not recognize that the aircraft's altitude was insufficient. The right wing struck the top of a hangar. The aircraft lost control and crashed in flames 1,120 meters short of the runway threshold. Five passengers sustained injuries; the other 100 occupants died.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined that the pilot descended below the minimum safe altitude without having the runway lights clearly in sight. A contributory factor was fatigue arising from continuous working hours without suitable rest periods and three night approaches.