What happened
During a routine flight departing from Ajaccio, the crew initiated their descent toward Nice-Côte d'Azur Airport. During this phase of flight, the pilot transmitted an emergency distress signal reporting a fire on board and requesting immediate landing priority. Shortly after this transmission, the aircraft entered a steep dive and struck the surface of the Mediterranean Sea approximately 40 km from Antibes. The impact was characterized by extreme violence and high speed, causing the airframe to disintegrate upon contact with the water. All 95 occupants perished in the accident.
Findings
Investigations into the crash have been unable to reach a definitive conclusion regarding the exact trigger of the event. While several theories were initially considered—including pilot error, a cockpit fire, or a hydraulic reservoir failure—the primary focus has centered on a fire originating in the rear cabin near the galley and right-side lavatory. It is possible that smoke or fumes from this fire led to the incapacitation of the pilot, though this remains unverified. Other hypotheses investigated by the board of inquiry included the possibility of the aircraft being struck by a surface-to-air missile during local naval exercises, a theory that continues to be discussed in relation to potentially classified documents.