On 25 June 2007, the Antonov An-24, registered as XU-U4A, disappeared over the Cambodian jungle near Bokor Mountain in Kampot while on approach to Sihanoukville.

Sihanoukville is famous for its beaches, while Siem Reap is site of the famed Angkor Wat temple complex.

[7] According to PMTAir's website, the airline has six roundtrip flights a week between Siem Reap and Incheon and Busan.

Compared to Pavlenko, Co-pilot Dara was less experienced with a total flying experience of 3,520 flight hours.

[5] As the aircraft reached the mid-point of the route between Siem Reap and Sihanoukville, it started to deviate to the left of the track.

[5] At 10:36 local time, the crew requested the controllers in Sihanoukville about the general weather condition in the area.

At 03:46 local time, the aircraft descended below Phnom Penh's radar coverage and its blip disappeared from the screen.

As Sihanoukville Airport was neither equipped with radar nor other navigational aids such as VOR, DME and ILS, the crew had to rely to visual ground observation.

A search and rescue team was assembled by the authorities, involving more than thousands of soldiers and local police officers.

[11][12] South Korean relatives that heard the news of the disappearance of the flight immediately flew from Incheon International Airport to Phnom Penh.

[11][12][13] On the second day of the search operation, several searchers in helicopters set out after a rain storm cleared, scouring a stretch of dense jungle and mountainous terrain, but returned with no further clues as to where the aircraft may be located.

Prime Minister Hun Sen visited Kampot Town to discuss the search and rescue efforts with Cambodia's top military officials.

[14] Prime Minister Hun Sen then conducted a press conference in response to the discovery, and stated "This is a tragedy no one should have to experience.

The team would be assisted with the Russian Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC) for the read-out of the aircraft's flight recorders.

Further inspection revealed that the aircraft didn't explode upon impact, as per the statement from the spokesman of Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Cho Hee-Yong.

The investigation could not confirm on whether the co-pilot had informed or translated his communication with the tower to the commander as the cockpit voice recorder was unusable.

Investigators stated that the crew, who were confused on their actual position, decided to continue their descent despite the deteriorating weather condition.

The aircraft eventually collided with trees and terrain approximately 27 nautical miles (50 km; 31 mi) from the airport.

It stated three following factors as the cause of the crash: the crew's decision to fly the aircraft through a mountainous terrain despite their lack of awareness on their exact position and the surrounding terrain, the crew's decision to continue their descent despite the adverse weather condition, and the poor management of PMTair.

[17][5] Immediately after the crash, South Korean aviation authorities held safety inspections on PMTair and six other foreign airlines.