A 2024 investigation by "Biograph" journal found witnesses in former communist Committee for State Security (DS) who testified that the aircraft had two unlisted passengers, who were most likely DS-trained agents from Arab countries.

The aircraft was most likely hijacked in-flight and crashed as result of onboard fighting, neither of which the communist government was ready to admit.

The aircraft crashed 10 minutes from takeoff near the village of Gabare, close to Byala Slatina, 130 km northeast of Sofia, killing all 73 people on board.

[6] Among the victims were members of the Polish national track cycling team (Tadeusz Włodarczyk, Witold Stachowiak, Marek Kolasa, Krzysztof Otocki and Jacek Zdaniuk)[5] and members of the Bulgarian national rhythmic gymnastics team (Valentina Kirilova, Snezhana Mikhailova, Albena Petrova, Sevdalina Popova and Rumiana Stefanova with their coach Julieta Shishmanova).

[7] Other victims included the Polish Vice-Minister of Culture Janusz Wilhelmi [pl][5] and Bulgarian footballer Georgi Dimitrov.

[7] A marble monument located in a gorge near the village of Gabare commemorates the accident and its victims.