Incident Overview
A twin-engine airplane departed Vienna-Schwechat Airport on a training flight to Hamburg-Fuhlsbüttel, West Germany. After 40 minutes into the flight, while cruising at an altitude of 39,000 feet, radio contact was lost. The crew failed to respond to any air traffic control calls. The aircraft did not descend toward Hamburg and continued over the Atlantic Ocean.
Search and Response
Authorities decided to dispatch a fighter plane to intercept. The military crew, upon reaching the flying Learjet, confirmed that there was no activity and no movement on board. The aircraft continued on its course until its fuel was exhausted. Both engines then stopped, and the airplane entered a dive, crashing into the Atlantic Ocean approximately 560 kilometers northwest off Scotland.
Wreckage and Casualties
Few debris were found, while the main wreckage disappeared into the sea. All three occupants were killed.
Investigation Findings
Due to lack of evidence, the exact cause of the accident could not be determined. However, the assumption that the accident was the consequence of an unexpected cabin depressurization was not ruled out, possibly following the failure of a seal or a protection valve.