What happened
On 8 August, a scheduled Zambezi service traveling from Salisbury, Rhodesia, to London was conducting its final leg toward Libya. The flight path included several stops, including Ndola, Entebbe, Khartoum, and Wadi Halfa. After departing Wadi Halfa at 21:20LT, the flight proceeded without incident and remained slightly ahead of its planned schedule.
Upon entering the Benina control zone at 01:12 hours, the pilot requested a direct approach to runway 330° Right using the locator and responder beacons. This request was granted by Benina Approach Control. Approximately 20 to 30 seconds after acknowledging this clearance, the Boeing 707 struck high ground located 5.5 miles southeast of the airport. The impact triggered a fire on the aircraft.
The accident resulted in 36 fatalities, consisting of 4 crew and 32 passengers. There were 7 crew members and 47 passengers on board at the time of the crash.
Findings
Investigations determined that while operating in cloud conditions during the approach to runway 330° Right, the pilot descended below the required altitude. This descent caused the Boeing 707 to collide with terrain. While the exact reason for the low altitude could not be definitively proven, investigators noted that the pilot likely misread the altimeter. Additionally, the investigation considered that fatigue or minor physical illness might have impacted the pilot's performance.