On 6 March 2003, the aircraft operating the flight, a Boeing 737-2T4, crashed near the Trans-Sahara Highway shortly after taking off from Tamanrasset's Aguenar – Hadj Bey Akhamok Airport, killing all but one of the 103 people on board.

[3] The investigation concluded that a flight crew error caused the crash following an engine failure shortly after take-off.

Among the passengers were 14 members of the Mouloudia d'Adriane football team, who were heading to Ghardaia for the regional qualification of the Algerian League One.

The flight was popular for Algerians and tourists as Tamanrasset was known for its archaeological sites and was the capital of the Tuareg people.

On 6 March 2003, the flight was carrying 97 passengers and 6 crew members, with First Officer Yousfi as the pilot flying.

The explosion was loud enough to be heard by workers in Tamanrasset's air traffic control tower and other witnesses in the area.

[1](11) The aircraft continued to climb with its landing gear still extended, reaching a maximum height of around 400 ft (120 m) before its airspeed significantly dropped from 160 knots (300 km/h; 180 mph) to its stall speed.

It descended with its nose in up position and eventually crashed onto a field at 15:15 CET, striking the ground with its right side and bursting into flames.

The wreckage slid across the ground and struck the airport's perimeter fence, crossed a road and finally came to rest.

The cockpit occupants, including the captain, first officer, and the chief attendant, were killed due to the impact.

[20] Prime Minister of Algeria Ali Benflis immediately set up a commission to investigate the accident.

[21][22] Testimonies from multiple witnesses were consistent with an explosion as they claimed that a large thumping noise was heard immediately after take-off from Tamanrasset.

During the wreckage examination, investigators discovered that during the flight the left engine was rotating at low speed with no thrust.

A further confirmation was needed from the flight recorders to understand the situation on board that might have explained the exact cause of the crash.

Due to the old age of the FDR, there were only six recorded parameters: time, pressure altitude, speed, magnetic heading, vertical acceleration, and send/receive VHF communication.

[1](19–20) According to the recorders, during the preparation for the flight, First Officer Yousfi had conducted the pre-departure checklist by herself as Captain Benaouicha was running late.

During the taxiing, the captain could be heard conversing with the chief attendant, who was also in the cockpit, rather than paying attention to the flight operation.

The altitude and the speed then dropped and the stick shaker was activated for one second, warning the crew of an impending stall.

Investigators stated that the occurrence of an engine failure during a critical phase of the flight (e.g., during the aircraft's rotation) would have provided the crew with a very limited amount of time to assess the situation.

[1](36–38) However, management of the emergency by the flight crew was the most crucial part for the aircraft to be able to return in a safe manner.

Prior to take-off, First Officer Yousfi was about to give the crew members a pre-flight briefing when she was suddenly interrupted by Captain Benaouicha.

His previous role required him to scan the instruments so that the flight crew could understand the exact cause of the emergency.

As he was not a PNF anymore, his duty to monitor the aircraft's instruments was immediately handed over to the first officer, who had been at the controls for the entire time prior to the role switch.

His decision was probably influenced by the rocky environment of the airport, which would have made it impossible for the crew to conduct an emergency landing.

Just one second prior to the engine failure, First Officer Yousfi was the PF and she had actually requested the captain to retract the landing gear.

The gear then remained in the extended position and the aircraft stayed in its high pitch attitude, diminishing its ability to fly and ultimately causing it to crash.

[1] Following the crash, investigators asked Air Algérie to ensure that their cockpit resource management (CRM) training effectively heighten flight crew awareness on the strict respect of following the procedures of the appropriate hand-over and task-sharing.

In the nearby Ben Messaoud sports complex in Iméchouène, multiple mini-tournaments were held for the residents in the area.

Special sponsorship would also be given to Mouloudia d'Adriane, the football club that lost 14 members of the team in the crash.

[10] After the crash, the football club worked hard to promote multiple sport activities in Tamanrasset.