Morocco

One of the main gear collapsed upon landing at Oujda Airport. The airplane slid for few dozen meters before coming to rest. All occupants evacuated safely but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

On behalf of Royal Air Maroc, the aircraft was completing a charter flight from Paris-Le Bourget to Agadir, carrying 181 Moroccan workers and their family members back for holidays. Following an uneventful flight, the crew contacted ATC and was cleared to start the descent. At an altitude of 2,400 feet, the right wing struck a rocky peak. On impact, the engine n°4 was torn off. The crew increased engine power and the airplane flew for about 400 meters before it disintegrated in a small valley. The wreckage was found few hours later about 40 km north of Agadir-Inezgane Airport. None of the 188 occupants survived the crash.

The airplane, leased by Sobelair to Royal Air Maroc, was completing a charter flight from Paris to Casablanca with an intermediate stop in Tangier. While descending to Tangier-Boukhalef Airport by night and poor weather conditions, the crew completed a circuit too far to the east when, at an altitude of 2,300 feet, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Mellaline located about 17 km northwest of Tétouan. The wreckage was found a day later and all 106 occupants have been killed. Most of them were Moroccan citizen flying back home for the end of year celebrations. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were poor with thunderstorm activity and a visibility below minimums.

About an hour after its departure from Rota NAS, Spain, while cruising at an altitude of 800 meters in marginal weather conditions, the four engine aircraft struck the slope of Jebel Musa (851 meters high) located near the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. The aircraft was destroyed and all 14 occupants have been killed. Attached to Brunswick Air Base, Maine, the airplane was completing a routine flight from Rota NAS to Souday BAY AFB, Chania, Greece.

The airplane was completing a flight from Agadir to Paris with an intermediate stop in Casablanca. On final approach, the crew encountered unclear technical problems when the airplane lost height and crashed 2 km short of runway 35 threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and 61 occupants were killed while 21 other were injured.

The crew was performing a cargo flight from Faro to Uli with an intermediate stop in São Tomé with ammunition on board. While overflying Morocco by night, the crew encountered engine problems and informed ATC they want to divert to the nearest airport. The aircraft lost altitude then struck the slope of Mt Tibhirine located near the Mt Toubkal, south of Oukaïmeden, in the Atlas range. All SAR operations were suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. In July 1970, the debris were located on the top of the mountain, at an altitude of 3,900 meters. All eight occupants were killed and the aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces.

The four engine aircraft departed Conakry Airport on an international scheduled flight to Moscow with intermediate stops at Rabat and Prague. While descending to Rabat, the pilot was informed by ATC that it was not possible to land in Rabat due to poor weather conditions and was vectored and rerouted to Casablanca-Anfa Airport. Unfamiliarized with this airport, the pilot-in-command started the approach to runway 21 at an insufficient altitude when he spotted a building in the approach path. He increased power and gain altitude, causing the aircraft to pass over the glide but continued the approach, causing the airplane to land too far down the runway. After touchdown, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest 300 meters further. All 102 occupants were evacuated, among them 10 were injured. The aircraft was destroyed and its wreckage caused the airport to be closed to all traffic for three days.

The aircraft took off from Malaga, Spain, at 0733 hours GMT, on a non- scheduled international flight to Tangier, Morocco, and return. Meteorological conditions were good as far as Gibraltar; however, the aircraft encountered conditions which were below the general minima north-west of Tangier. The crew first contacted Tangier control tower at 0755 hours, estimating Tangier at 0805 hours. The 0720 hours weather observation was then passed to the crew. At 0758 hours the crew was informed that the Tangier VOR was inoperative and two minutes later they were requested to report at 2 500 ft over the TW locator or field in sight. At 0802 hours they were provided with the 0750 hours weather observation together with the latest QNH (1 024 mb) and QFE (1 022 mb). This was acknowledged by the crew at 0803 hours. All subsequent calls from Tangier control tower remained unanswered. It was subsequently found that the aircraft had crashed at about 0804 hours into the sea, approximately 10 NM off the Moroccan coast. Three passengers were rescued while 50 other occupants were killed.

The crew departed Southend in the UK on a delivery flight to Nigeria with intermediate stops at Marrakech, Agadir, Fuerteventura, Las Palmas and Dakar. While cruising by night, the crew decided not to land at Agadir and continued directly to Fuerteventura. While approaching the island, the crew elected to contact ATC but without success. Also, as the Fuerteventura NDB was OFF, the crew was unable to receive any signal and in such conditions, decided to return to Agadir. While approaching the Moroccan coast, the pilot was forced to ditch the aircraft 22 km off shore due to a fuel exhaustion. Quickly on site, the crew of a trawler was able to evacuate all three crew members while the aircraft sank and was lost.

After a normal flight from Orly Airport, Paris, Flight 2005, Paris-Rabat-Casablanca, reported over the Rabat-Sale Airport, where meteorological conditions were unfavorable owing to thick, low fog which reduced horizontal visibility and ceiling. The pilot reported his intention to attempt a break-through over the non directional beacon; the control tower immediately replied that that facility was not in line with the runway, but the message was not acknowledged. The aircraft crashed to the ground at 2109 hours GMT. The aircraft was completely destroyed by impact and the fire which followed.
Crew:
Mr. Seaume, pilot,
Mr. Simeoni, copilot,
Mr. Nicora, mechanic,
Mrs. Metenier, stewardess,
Mr. Duhamel, steward,
Mr. Jacomon, steward.