Investigation Summary
Flight 705 was a high-profile inaugural flight carrying 114 passengers, including several prominent journalists and distinguished guests. The aircraft had successfully completed the first leg from Karachi to Dhahran and was performing a night approach to Cairo's Runway 34. The descent profile appeared normal initially, leaving FL 360 at 23:22 and passing 13,000 feet at 23:38. During the left-hand circuit, the aircraft continued its descent in a slight left-bank attitude well below the prescribed altitude. While wreckage analysis later showed the flaps were set to 20 degrees, there was no radioed report of flap distress to ATC; the crew's last communication at 23:48:30 was an acknowledgement of instructions. The Boeing 720 impacted the desert terrain with its landing gear up. The impact and subsequent explosion destroyed the aircraft, though six passengers were miraculously thrown clear of the wreckage and survived. Investigators found no evidence of pre-impact mechanical failure, leaving the reason for the crew's failure to monitor their altitude during the turn a mystery.
Final Conclusions
The official investigation concluded that the probable cause was the aircraft's failure to maintain adequate height for the circuit, resulting in continued descent until ground contact. The reason for this abnormal continuation of descent was never definitively established. The flight recorder data and wreckage analysis confirmed the aircraft was under control but simply too low for its position relative to the airport.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Systems & Failure Modes
Flaps
The crew reported problems with the flaps shortly before the crash; wreckage analysis showed they were set at 20 degrees at impact.
Landing Gear
The landing gear was found in the retracted (up) position at the time of ground contact.
Interesting Facts
- 01The flight was an inaugural service intended to showcase PIA's new route to London via Geneva.
- 02Among the fatalities was Huang Zhiqian, the chief designer of the Chinese Shenyang J-8 fighter jet.
- 03Six passengers survived the crash after being thrown clear of the fuselage during the breakup.
- 04A transistor radio containing $120,000 worth of hidden jewelry was discovered in the wreckage by local police.
- 05At the time of the accident, the Boeing 720-040B had accumulated 8,378 flight hours.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Enhanced Approach Monitoring
Source ↗Following the accident, PIA and Egyptian civil aviation authorities emphasized stricter adherence to minimum sector altitudes during night visual circuits to prevent CFIT.