What happened
A charter flight, transporting French technicians toward oil facilities in Hassi Messaoud, was operating a route from Marseille with a scheduled stop in Algiers. During the nighttime cruise phase of the flight, an electrical short-circuit developed within the cockpit panel, resulting in the spread of smoke throughout the cabin.
In response to the emergency, the crew initiated a diversion to Biskra Airport. However, during the descent toward the diversion airfield, the aircraft became uncontrollable. The plane crashed into a desert area situated approximately 40 km southeast of Biskra, impacting the ground with significant fire. The accident resulted in 35 fatalities and left both pilots seriously injured.
Findings
The investigation determined that an electrical short-circuit within the cockpit instrumentation panel was the primary factor leading to the smoke and subsequent loss of control.