Royal Air Maroc Flight 630
Encyclopedia
Royal Air Maroc Flight 630 was a passenger flight on 21 August 1994 which crashed approximately ten minutes after takeoff from Agadir – Al Massira Airport. All 44 passengers and crew on board were killed. At the time it was the worst incident ever involving an ATR 42
aircraft
about 20 miles (32.2 km) north of Agadir.
Among the forty passengers on board were a Kuwait
i Prince and his wife.
was intentionally disconnected by the aircraft's pilot, 32 year old Younes Khayati, who then deliberately crashed the aircraft. A flight union disputed the suicide explanation.
ATR 42
-Civil operators:The largest operators of the ATR-42 are FedEx Express, Airlinair, TRIP Linhas Aéreas,and Mexico City-based Aeromar respectively. Number of aircraft as of 2010:Some 70 other airlines operate smaller numbers of the type....
aircraft
Flight
Flight 630 was a scheduled flight from Agadir, Morocco to Casablanca using an ATR 42 aircraft. At approximately ten minutes into the flight while climbing through 16000 feet, the aircraft entered a steep dive, and crashed into a region of the Atlas MountainsAtlas Mountains
The Atlas Mountains is a mountain range across a northern stretch of Africa extending about through Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. The highest peak is Toubkal, with an elevation of in southwestern Morocco. The Atlas ranges separate the Mediterranean and Atlantic coastlines from the Sahara Desert...
about 20 miles (32.2 km) north of Agadir.
Among the forty passengers on board were a Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
i Prince and his wife.
Investigation
The commission that investigated the crash determined that the ATR 42's autopilotAutopilot
An autopilot is a mechanical, electrical, or hydraulic system used to guide a vehicle without assistance from a human being. An autopilot can refer specifically to aircraft, self-steering gear for boats, or auto guidance of space craft and missiles...
was intentionally disconnected by the aircraft's pilot, 32 year old Younes Khayati, who then deliberately crashed the aircraft. A flight union disputed the suicide explanation.