Berlin – Nicosia – Cairo

On March 18, 1966 at 04:58 PM, Berlin – Nicosia – Cairo experienced a crash involving Antonov AN-24, operated by United Arab Airlines, with the event recorded near Cairo-Intl Cairo.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

30 people were known to be on board, 30 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 5, crew fatalities: 5, passengers on board: 25, passenger fatalities: 25, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. Flight 749 took off from Nicosia at 15:49 for a flight to Cairo. Bad weather existed along the route and weather at destination Cairo was also worsening. The crew contacted Misrair Operations and requested information about possible airports for a diversion. The crew also reported they where flying in a thunderstorm with turbulent and icing conditions. One altimeter read 24000 feet while the other read 25000 feet, the magnetic compass was unserviceable and there was a crack in a cockpit window panel due to the thunderstorm. Possible like Alexandria, Port Said and El Arish were discussed, but the flight continued to Cairo. The flight was cleared for a runway 23 approach and landing, but nothing more was heard from the flight. The aircraft had crashed and caught fire 5 km from the runway.

Aircraft reference details include registration SU-AOA, MSN 57302009, year of manufacture 1965.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 30.1141°, 31.4245°.