Damascus Governorate (مُحافظة دمشق‎)

The crew was completing a local training flight in Damascus. Apparently, the pilots encountered technical problems and attempted an emergency landing in an olive grove when the aircraft crashed against a wall. All three occupants were killed.

The aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Tripoli to Damascus, carrying a load of military equipment and spare parts. While descending to Damascus Airport, the airplane was attacked and several bullets went through an engine and the tail. The crew completed an emergency descent and was able to land without further problem. Nevertheless, the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.

On approach to Damascus Airport, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the three engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain located 22 km from the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all four crew members were killed. They were performing a cargo flight from Sofia to Sharjah with an intermediate stop in Damascus.

While approaching Damascus International Airport by night and excellent weather conditions, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck the ground at an altitude of 605 meters AMSL and crashed in flames in a desert area located about 18 km from the airport. Rescue teams arrived on scene about 30 minutes later and two passengers, two Syrian citizens, were rescued. All 126 other occupants were killed, among them 67 Czechs, 55 Syrians, 3 Polish and one East-German. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were ideal with good visibility despite the night and a wind from 230° at 10 knots.

The aircraft took off from Beirut International Airport, Lebanon, at 1955 hours GMT on a non-scheduled international flight to Amman, Jordan. The aircraft was cleared to climb to and maintain FL 135 according to the flight plan submitted. At 2014 hours the aircraft reported to Damascus Centre over Dakweh at FL 120 climbing to FL 135 and estimating Damascus beacon at 2019 hours. The aircraft having not reported over that beacon by 2020 hours, the Damascus Centre controller initiated a series of calls which were not answered by the aircraft. At 2035 hours, a telephone call indicated that an aircraft flying west to east was seen on fire and had crashed half-way between the Syrian border and Damascus. It was subsequently found that this was the subject aircraft, and that it had crashed at approximately 2016 hours on a 45° slope of a mountain at a height of 4 200 ft AMSL on a heading of 340°. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 54 occupants have been killed.

After touchdown at Damascus Airport, the four engine aircraft encountered difficulties to stop within the remaining distance, overran and lost its nose gear before coming to rest. There were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

On final approach to Damascus Airport, while completing the check-list, the crew noted that the three green lights related to the undercarriage were not green. The captain requested confirmation to the controller based in the tower who confirmed that all three landing gear were down. On touchdown, the rain main gear collapsed and the airplane slid for several yards before coming to rest. There were no injuries among the 22 occupants but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crashed on takeoff at Mezzeh AFB, Damascus. Crew fate remains unknown.