The aircraft was powered by four Pratt & Whitney JT3D-1-MC7 turbofan engines with water cooling and a thrust of 17,000 pounds-force (76 kN) each.

In the predawn twilight, the airliner was en route from Beirut to Dubai when at 05:30, 1 hour and 40 minutes after departure, a bomb exploded in the front section of the cargo hold.

The aircraft broke up at an altitude of 11,300 metres (37,100 ft) and crashed 37 km (23 mi) northwest of Qaisumah, Saudi Arabia.

It is also the second-deadliest aviation disaster involving the Boeing 720, behind Pakistan International Airlines Flight 705.

Boarding and baggage loading delayed the flight, causing the bomb to explode early while the aircraft was still cruising.