Overview
On a night flight over the Sahara Desert, an airplane cruising at an altitude of 20,000 feet vertically above the desert disintegrated in mid-air and crashed in a remote desert area in eastern Algeria, near the border with Libya. The crew was unable to transmit any distress call before the breakup. The wreckage was scattered over a wide zone between Ghadamès (Libya) and Zarzaïtine, Algeria.
Occupants
All 78 occupants on board were killed in the crash. The crew consisted of pilot Mr. Bouchier, copilot Mr. Best, navigator Mr. Baylion, radio operator Mr. Guntz, mechanics Mr. Gambart de Lignières and Mr. Burgaut, stewardess Mrs. Chiapolino, and stewards Mr. Eichelberger and Mr. Pasqueron.
Investigation and Probable Cause
The official investigation determined the probable cause of the accident to be an act of sabotage involving the detonation of a nitrocellulose explosive device. The specific reasons for the sabotage and the identity of those responsible remain unknown.