What happened
A cargo mission scheduled to travel from Birmingham to Aden, with several planned stops including Nice, Brindisi, Heraklion, Cairo, and Jedda, ended in a fatal accident. During the night, the twin engine aircraft departed from Heraklion Airport using runway 27. After completing a takeoff roll of approximately 1,800 meters, the plane reached an altitude of about 100 feet.
At this low altitude during the initial climb phase, the crew experienced mechanical difficulties involving the engines. Following these technical issues, the aircraft entered a left bank and descended into the sea. The accident resulted in three fatalities, with all crew members on board losing their lives.
Findings
Investigations into the crash focused on the sudden loss of power during the climb. While investigators could not definitively determine the exact origin of the engine failure, evidence suggested that a faulty fuel or ignition system was the most probable culprit. Additionally, it remains undetermined why the aircraft was unable to sustain controlled flight following the mechanical malfunction.