What happened
On the day of the accident, a four-engine aircraft departed from Paris-Le Bourget Airport at 10:16 local time, traveling toward Rome-Ciampino. During the descent phase of the flight, the crew reported their position to ground controllers at 14:36 local time, noting an altitude of 6,500 feet while positioned north of Civitavecchia.
As the aircraft approached its destination, it encountered turbulent conditions and thunderstorm activity. During this period, the aircraft was struck by lightning, which led to a rapid descent into the ground. The impact occurred near a railway road approximately 8 km north of Civitavecchia, roughly 75 km from Rome-Ciampino Airport.
The accident resulted in 14 fatalities among the occupants. Additionally, one crew member and two passengers sustained serious injuries during the event.
Findings
Investigations into the crash determined that an in-flight fire was the primary factor leading to the loss of control. The lightning strike hit the wing frame of the aircraft, which subsequently ignited a combination of air and fuel vapors within one of the wing panels or fuel tanks.