View source for Air Algérie Flight 6289

{{Short description|2003 aviation accident in Algeria}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox aircraft occurrence
| name            = Air Algérie Flight 6289
| image           = Air Algerie Boeing 737-2T4 7T-VEZ at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport on 20 August 2002.jpg
| alt             = 
| caption         = 7T-VEZ, the aircraft involved in the accident, seen in 2002
| occurrence_type = Accident
| date            = {{start date|2003|03|06|df=y}}
| site            = [[Aguenar – Hadj Bey Akhamok Airport]], [[Tamanrasset]], Algeria
| coordinates     = {{Coord|22|47|N|5|31|E|type:event|display=inline,title}}
| aircraft_type   = [[Boeing 737|Boeing 737-2T4]]
| aircraft_name   = [[Mountains of Daïa|Monts du Daia]]
| operator        = [[Air Algérie]]
| IATA            = AH6289
| ICAO            = DAH6289
| callsign        = AIR ALGERIE 6289
| tail_number     = 7T-VEZ
| origin          = [[Aguenar – Hadj Bey Akhamok Airport]], [[Tamanrasset]], Algeria
| stopover        = [[Noumérat – Moufdi Zakaria Airport]], [[Ghardaia]], Algeria
| stopover0       = 
| last_stopover   = 
| destination     = [[Houari Boumediene Airport]], [[Algiers]], Algeria
| occupants       = 103
| passengers      = 97
| crew            = 6
| fatalities      = 102
| injuries        = 1
| survivors       = 1
| type            = [[Stall (fluid dynamics)#Fixed-wing aircraft|Stalled]] after [[engine failure]] on take-off
}}
'''Air Algérie Flight 6289 (AH6289)''' was an Algerian [[Domestic flight|domestic passenger flight]] from [[Tamanrasset]] to the nation's capital of [[Algiers]] with a stopover in [[Ghardaïa]], operated by Algerian [[flag carrier|national airline]] [[Air Algérie]]. On 6 March 2003, the aircraft operating the flight, a [[Boeing 737#737-200|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.<ref name="BEA">{{cite web |title=Report on the accident on 6 March 2003 at Tamanrasset to the Boeing 737-200 registered 7T-VEZ operated by Air Algérie |url=https://bea.aero/fileadmin/documents/docspa/2003/7t-z030306a/pdf/7t-z030306a_06.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205223600/http://www.bea.aero/docspa/2003/7t-z030306a/pdf/7t-z030306a.pdf |archive-date=2012-02-05 |access-date=2018-12-21 |website=www.bea.aero |publisher=[[Ministry of Public Works and Transport (Algeria)|Ministry of Public Works and Transport]] |via=[[Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=DCA03RA029|url=https://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-releases/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20030402X00424|url-status=live|access-date=2018-12-21|website=www.ntsb.gov|publisher=National Transportation Safety Board|id=DCA03RA029|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181221182906/https://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-releases/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20030402X00424 |archive-date=21 December 2018 }}</ref> At the time of the accident, it was the deadliest aviation disaster on Algerian soil.<ref name="ASN">{{cite web |title=ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 737-2T4 7T-VEZ Tamanrasset Airport (TMR) |url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20030306-0 |last=Ranter |first=Harro |website=Aviation Safety Network |publisher=[[Flight Safety Foundation]] |access-date=2017-04-09}}</ref>

The investigation concluded that a flight crew error caused the crash following an engine failure shortly after take-off. The captain of Flight 6289 had taken over the control from the first officer without adequate identification of the actual emergency. As the flight crew could not comprehend the exact cause of the emergency, appropriate corrective actions were not taken. The speed drastically dropped and the aircraft crashed into the terrain.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2003-03-07|title=Engine on Fire, Algerian Airplane Crashes, Killing All but One of 103 (Published 2003)|work=The New York Times|agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/07/world/engine-on-fire-algerian-airplane-crashes-killing-all-but-one-of-103.html|access-date=2020-11-13|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2003-03-06|title=Algerian plane crash kills 102|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/mar/06/2|access-date=2020-11-13|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref name="latimes">{{Cite news|date=2003-03-07|title=102 Die as Algerian Flight Crashes After Takeoff|website=Los Angeles Times|agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-mar-07-fg-crash7-story.html|access-date=2020-11-13}}</ref><ref name="technical">{{Cite news|date=2003-03-07|title='Technical fault' caused Algeria crash|work=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2829623.stm|access-date=2020-11-13}}</ref>

==Background==
===Aircraft===
The aircraft was a  19-year old [[Boeing 737|Boeing 737-2T4]] with a manufacturer serial number of 22700. Named as [[Mountains of Daïa|Monts de Daïa]] (Mountains of Daïa) with an Algerian registration of 7T-VEZ,<ref>{{cite book |last=Guttery |first=Ben R. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KBmGpaD36cMC |title=Encyclopedia of African Airlines |date=1 January 1998 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=9780786404957 |pages=15}}</ref> the aircraft was equipped with two [[Pratt & Whitney JT8D|Pratt & Whitney JT8D-17A]] engines. The aircraft entered service on 9 December 1983 and had flown for more than 40,000 hours.<ref name="BEA" />{{Reference page|style=ama|page=14}}

According to the maintenance logs, the aircraft was maintained in accordance with the written maintenance manual. The last major overhaul had been conducted from October to November 2002. The left engine was installed in 2002 and the right engine was installed in 2001. The left engine and the right engine had accrued a total of 30,586 flight hours and 22,884 flight hours, respectively.<ref name="BEA" />{{Reference page|style=ama|page=15}}

===Passengers and crew===
{|class="wikitable sortable" 
|+ Victims' nationalities
|-
! Nationality
! Passengers
! Crew
! Total
|-
| Algeria/France || style="text-align:center;" |97 ||style="text-align:center;" | - || style="text-align:center;" |97
|-
| Algeria|| style="text-align:center;" | - ||style="text-align:center;" | 6 || style="text-align:center;" |6
|- 
! Total
! 97
! 6
! 103
|}

The aircraft was carrying 97 passengers. All 97 on board were dual [[Algerians in France|French-Algerians]] nationals.<ref name="smh" /><ref name="Nouvel Obs" /> Authorities stated that among the 97 passengers, a total of 39 passengers would have disembarked in Algiers and another 58 were heading to Ghardaia.<ref name="the age">{{cite news|date=7 March 2003|title=One survivor in desert air crash|work=The Age|agency=Agence France-Presse|url=https://www.theage.com.au/world/one-survivor-in-desert-air-crash-20030307-gdvc5c.html|access-date=5 January 2022}}</ref> 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 Ligue Professionnelle 1|Algerian League One]].<ref name="tragédie">{{cite news |date=6 March 2018 |title=Crash du vol 6289 d'Air Algérie : Une tragédie encore vivace à Tamanrasset |trans-title=Air Algerie flight 6289 crash: a tragedy still alive in Tamanrasset |url=https://www.express-dz.com/2018/03/06/crash-vol-6289-dair-algerie-tragedie-vivace-a-tamanrasset/ |access-date=5 January 2022 |work=Express Algeria |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Kareche |first=Rabah |date=7 March 2021 |title=Les habitants de l'Ahaggar pleurent toujours les victimes |trans-title=The people of Ahaggar still mourn the victims |url=https://www.liberte-algerie.com/centre/les-habitants-de-lahaggar-pleurent-toujours-les-victimes-355170 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220105012422/https://www.liberte-algerie.com/centre/les-habitants-de-lahaggar-pleurent-toujours-les-victimes-355170 |archive-date=5 January 2022 |access-date=5 January 2022 |work=Liberté-Algérie |language=fr}}</ref>

There were 6 crew members on board, consisting of 2 flight crew and 4 cabin crew. The captain, 48-year-old Boualem Benaouicha (بوعلام بن عويشة), had accumulated a total of 10,760 hours of flight experience, including 1,087 hours on the Boeing 737-200 as captain. He had obtained his license to fly a Boeing 737 in 2001.<ref name="BEA" />{{Reference page|style=ama|pages=13–14}} The first officer, identified as 44-year-old Fatima Yousfi (فاطمة يوسفي), had accumulated a total of 5,219 flight hours, including 1,292 hours on the Boeing 737-200.<ref name="BEA" />{{Reference page|style=ama|pages=14–15}} According to Algerian French-language newspaper ''[[Liberté (Algeria)|Liberté]]'', she was a sister of Algerian government official [[Youcef Yousfi]].<ref>{{cite news |date=8 March 2003 |title=Un Boeing d'Air Algérie s'écrase à Tamanrasset |language=fr |trans-title=An Air Algerie Boeing crashes in Tamanrasset |work=Liberté-Algérie |url=https://www.liberte-algerie.com/actualite/un-boeing-dair-algerie-secrase-a-tamanrasset-3773 |url-status=dead |access-date=5 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150720155427/https://www.liberte-algerie.com/actualite/un-boeing-dair-algerie-secrase-a-tamanrasset-3773 |archive-date=20 July 2015}}</ref>

== Accident ==
{{Hatnote|All times in this article are [[Central European Time|Central European Time (CET)]].}}
Flight 6289 was a flight from Tamanrasset, the capital of [[Tamanrasset Province]], to the Algerian capital of Algiers with a stopover in Ghardaia. The flight was popular for Algerians and tourists as Tamanrasset was known for its archaeological sites and was the capital of the [[Tuareg people]]. The fare was also described as fairly cheap. On 6 March 2003, the flight was carrying 97 passengers and 6 crew members, with First Officer Yousfi as the pilot flying.<ref name="BEA" />{{Reference page|style=ama|page=13}} The temperature was high and the visibility was good.<ref name="morts">{{Cite news|title=102 morts dans le crash du Boeing|url=https://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2003/03/07/189349-102-morts-dans-le-crash-du-boeing.html|date=2003-03-07|work=La Dépêche du Midi|language=fr|trans-title=102 dead in Boeing crash|access-date=2020-05-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=2003-03-06|title=Plane Crash in Algeria Kills at Least 97|work=The New York Times|agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/06/international/africa/plane-crash-in-algeria-kills-at-least-97.html|access-date=5 January 2022|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

At about 15:01 [[Central European Time|CET]], pushback clearance was requested by the crew and the ATC cleared the crew to taxi to Runway 02. As the flight crew reported that they were ready for take-off, the ATC later asked the crew to line up and later cleared the crew for take-off to Ghardaia. The crew chose a V<sub>1</sub> of {{convert|144|kn|km/h mph}}, V<sub>R</sub> of {{convert|146|kn|km/h mph}} and V<sub>2</sub> of {{convert|150|kn|km/h mph}} with a maximum thrust on take-off.<ref name="BEA" />{{Reference page|style=ama|page=11}}

Flight 6289 took off from Tamanrasset at 15:13 CET. Shortly after, an explosion occurred in one of the engines. The explosion was loud enough to be heard by workers in Tamanrasset's air traffic control tower and other witnesses in the area. Debris was seen dropping onto the runway. Due to the explosion, the aircraft swayed to the left; later it veered to the right as the crew tried to correct its heading. Seconds later, First Officer Yousfi reported: "We have a small problem".<ref name="BEA" />{{Reference page|style=ama|page=11}}

The aircraft continued to climb with its landing gear still extended, reaching a maximum height of around {{cvt|400|ft|m|abbr=on}} before its airspeed significantly dropped from {{convert|160|kn|km/h 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.<ref name="BEA" />{{Reference page|style=ama|page=21}}

The impact and the fire that had erupted due to the crash immediately killed 102 people on board. The cockpit occupants, including the captain, first officer, and the chief attendant, were killed due to the impact. The rest of the occupants were killed due to the massive explosion that had been caused by the crash.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2003-03-06|title=Algeria air crash kills 102|work=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2826593.stm|access-date=2020-11-13}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=March 2025}} The [[List of sole survivors of airline accidents or incidents|sole survivor]] of the accident was 28-year-old Algerian soldier Youcef Djillali.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2003-03-07|title=Soldier is sole crash survivor|work=CNN|agency=Reuters|url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/03/07/plane.algeria.survivor.reut/index.html|access-date=2020-11-13}}</ref><ref name="smh">{{Cite news |date=2003-03-08 |title=Soldier survives desert plane crash |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/soldier-survives-desert-plane-crash-20030308-gdge0z.html |access-date=2020-11-13 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref><ref name="soldier">{{Cite news|date=2003-03-06|title=Recap: 102 die, one survives in Algerian plane crash|work=Hindustan Times|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/recap-102-die-one-survives-in-algerian-plane-crash/story-6clgvKpj35rTOWkJI2Ug6H.html|access-date=2020-11-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Air Algerie 6289 CVR Transcript |url=https://tailstrike.com/database/06-march-2003-air-algerie-6289/ |access-date=2024-06-29 |website=Tailstrike}}</ref> He was seated in the last row with his seat belt unfastened (as indicated in his statement) and was ejected from the plane upon impact, escaping from the accident. The man was found in a coma with multiple injuries.<ref name="morts"/> However, he regained consciousness the next day. Doctors said that his injuries were not life-threatening.<ref name="Nouvel Obs">{{Cite news|title=Tamanrasset: 102 mortsdont 6 Français|url=https://www.nouvelobs.com/monde/20030306.OBS7827/tamanrasset-102-morts-dont-6-francais.html?xtmc=algA_rienne_aps&xtcr=25|date=11 March 2003|work=[[L'Obs|Le Nouvel Observateur]]|language=fr|trans-title=Tamanrasset: 102 dead including 6 French|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107210202/http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/monde/20030306.OBS7827/tamanrasset-102-morts-dont-6-francais.html?xtmc=algA_rienne_aps&xtcr=25|archive-date=7 January 2014|access-date=31 December 2013}}</ref>

== Investigation ==
Prime Minister of Algeria [[Ali Benflis]] immediately set up a commission to investigate the accident. Under the [[Algerian Ministry of Transport]], the commission was led by Ahcéne Affane, Director General of the Algerian Ministry of Transport. Technical support from the [[French BEA]] was requested. Additionally, the investigation was assisted by representatives from the [[NTSB]], [[FAA]] and [[Pratt & Whitney Canada]]. A total of seven meetings were held to analyze the result and the progress of the investigation.<ref name="BEA" />{{Reference page|style=ama|pages=9, 43-46}}

=== Engine failure on take-off ===
There were widespread reports that one of the engines had caught fire shortly after take-off from Tamanrasset. Officials also reported that "technical problems" might have been the cause of the crash as there had been reports of an explosion on one of the engines.<ref name="technical" /><ref>{{cite web|title=102 dead in plane crash|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2003-03-07-0303080016-story.html|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=7 March 2003 |accessdate=6 January 2022}}</ref> 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. Initial examination on the runway later revealed the presence of debris from one of the aircraft's engines. During the wreckage examination, investigators discovered that during the flight the left engine was rotating at low speed with no thrust.<ref name="BEA" />{{Reference page|style=ama|pages=24-29, 35}}

A more thorough examination was then carried out. Analysis on the left engine revealed that the nozzle guide vanes (stator blades) had been severely damaged, particularly on the lower part of the engine.  As some parts of the guide vanes were destroyed, the gas inside the engine could not normally expand and eventually prevented the cooling stage, which was triggered by gas leaving the gas chamber. The absence of cooling then caused the high temperature to melt the guide vanes of the low pressure part of the engine, destroying the lower pressure part. This in turn caused a massive drop in engine rotation speed. Metallurgical analysis on the nozzle guide vanes of the high pressure part revealed that there were fatigue cracks on one of the blades, indicating that a blade had broken off during the take-off. The conclusion was that this was the source of the engine failure.<ref name="BEA" />{{Reference page|style=ama|pages=24-29, 35}}

After the accident, the findings led to the conclusion that an engine failure indeed had occurred aboard the flight. However, the engine failure was actually contained inside the engine itself. The engine cowling did not blow in the outward direction, which would have indicated an uncontained engine failure. In the case of uncontained engine failure, the resulting damage would have caused a significant amount of drag, complicating the aircraft's control and ultimately causing a decay of the aircraft's speed. As the engine failure in Flight 6289 was actually contained, flight control would not have been much compromised. The crew should have been able to conduct an emergency landing with only one working engine.<ref name="BEA"/>{{Reference page|style=ama|pages=25, 35}}

=== Flight recorders analysis ===
The contained engine failure should not have caused the aircraft to crash as it would not have resulted in control difficulty. With a contained engine failure on only one engine, the crew should have been able to return to the airport safely. 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.<ref name="BEA" />{{Reference page|style=ama|pages=25, 35}}

The flight recorders were retrieved from the wreckage on the same day of the accident. The CVR showed few signs of damage, while the FDR was exposed to fire. Both recorders' memory cards were in good condition, allowing a direct readout. On 13 March, the readout was performed by BEA. 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.<ref name="BEA" />{{Reference page|style=ama|pages=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. He eventually arrived when Yousfi was about to give the pre-flight briefing to the crew members. 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. There was no discussion on the possible anomaly that might have occurred in-flight, as per the approved Air Algérie procedure.<ref name="BEA" />{{Reference page|style=ama|pages=20-21}}

As the aircraft reached its rotation speed, Captain Benaouicha called for [[Rotation (aeronautics)|rotation]] (lift the nose wheel off the ground during takeoff). First Officer Yousfi then asked for gear retraction. A second later, a loud thump was heard, indicating the start of the left engine failure. Startled, the first officer immediately exclaimed the ''[[basmala]]'' several times, later asking "What's going on?" The captain immediately took over the control and asked Yousfi to let go of the controls. She stated that she had let go and later offered to retract the gear, to which the captain made no response.<ref name="BEA" />{{Reference page|style=ama|pages=20-21}}

First Officer Yousfi immediately reported that Flight 6289 was experiencing a small problem. The aircraft then climbed to a maximum altitude of 398&nbsp;ft with a speed of 134 knots. The altitude and the speed then dropped and the [[stick shaker]] was activated for one second, warning the crew of an impending stall. The speed continued to drop and the aircraft finally entered a full stall. Captain Benaouicha, somehow still unconvinced, repeatedly asked Yousfi to let go of the yoke. She kept insisting that she had let go. This conflict continued until the end of the recording. At {{convert|335|ft}}, both recordings abruptly stopped. The last recorded voice was the "Don't sink" alarm from the aircraft's GPWS. The speed was at 126 knots and the landing gear was still in extended position.<ref name="BEA" />{{Reference page|style=ama|pages=20-21}}

=== Failure to fly ===
There were multiple factors that ultimately caused the aircraft's inability to fly safely. 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. The take-off weight of Flight 6289 at the time was near its maximum allowable take-off weight, causing a reduction in the aircraft's ability to take-off. The location of the airport and the weather condition, which was located at an elevation of 1,300&nbsp;metres with a typical hot desert temperature at noon, [[Hot and high|caused the air density to decrease]]. The reduction in air density resulted in the reduction of the engine output as well. Thus, the aircraft would have needed a higher airspeed to take off from the runway.<ref name="BEA" />{{Reference page|style=ama|pages=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. If the flight crew had taken the correct actions for the emergency immediately, the aircraft would not have crashed onto the field.<ref name="BEA" />{{Reference page|style=ama|pages=36-38}}

The first sign of crew error was apparent from the initial stage of the flight. 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. The captain immediately chatted with the chief flight attendant and thus the briefing was discontinued. The pre-flight briefing was crucial as this was the exact moment when flight crew were informed on the roles of each crew members and the appropriate procedures that the crew should have taken in case the crew faced an anomaly during the take-off. The interrupted briefing indicated the crew's failure to emphasize the importance of flight safety in regards to the possible anomalies that might be encountered during a critical phase of the flight.<ref name="BEA" />{{Reference page|style=ama|pages=36-38}}

Benaouicha kept talking to the chief flight attendant even during the aircraft's taxi. This was a breach of the [[sterile cockpit rule]], which prohibited flight crew from engaging in conversations unrelated to the flight during critical phases. During the entire conversation, not a single dialogue was related to a possible anomaly on take-off.<ref name="BEA" />{{Reference page|style=ama|pages=36-38}}

During the aircraft's rotation, the engine suddenly malfunctioned. Benaouicha, without hesitation, immediately initiated a switching of roles from pilot not flying (PNF) to pilot flying (PF). 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 to switch his role as a PF was unclear. Both flight crew had not agreed to switch roles in case of a flight emergency, leading the first officer to be confused by the captain's decision.<ref name="BEA" />{{Reference page|style=ama|pages=36-38}}

As his tasks were immediately transferred to the first officer, the captain could not fully understand the situation at the time. While he was taking over the control, he repeatedly asked the first officer to let go of the yoke. The first officer was unsure of her flight role due to the sudden role switch. This was indicated by the recording.<ref name="BEA" />{{Reference page|style=ama|pages=36-38}}

The sudden switch also created a sudden increase of stress for the captain. Overwhelmed, the captain was only focusing on the pitch attitude of the aircraft. He maintained an excessive [[angle of attack]] during the entire emergency. 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.<ref name="BEA" />{{Reference page|style=ama|pages=36-38}}

At the time of the emergency, the landing gear was still in the extended position. During an engine failure on take-off, the crew should have immediately retracted the landing gear as the extension of landing gear would have resulted in difficult aerodynamics for the aircraft, thus causing a progressive decline of airspeed. It was the PF's duty to retract the landing gear. 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. However, as the role was immediately switched by the captain, it was then up to the captain to request a gear retraction. During the emergency, Yousfi had offered to retract the landing gear. As Benaouicha was preoccupied with the emergency, he did not hear the first officer's offer. 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.<ref name="BEA" />{{Reference page|style=ama|pages=36-38}}

=== Conclusion ===
The final report was published with the following:<ref name="BEA" />{{Reference page|style=ama|page=40}} 
{{blockquote|The accident was caused by the loss of an engine during a critical phase of flight, the non-retraction of the landing gear after the engine failure, and the captain, the PNF, taking over control of the airplane before having clearly identified the problem.
The following factors probably contributed to the accident:
*the perfunctory flight preparation, which meant that the crew were not equipped to face the situation that occurred at a critical moment of the flight;
*the coincidence between the moment the failure occurred and the request to retract the landing gear;
*the speed of the event that left the crew little time to recover the situation;
*maintaining an inappropriate rate of climb, taking into account the failure of one engine;
*the absence of any teamwork after the engine failure, which led to a failure to detect and correct parameters related to the conduct of the flight (speed, rate of climb, configuration, etc.);
*the takeoff weight being close to the maximum with a high aerodrome altitude and high temperature;
*the rocky environment around the aerodrome, unsuitable for an emergency landing.|source=BEA}}

The temperature on the 6th March 2003 at the airport was 23 degrees celsius, the height of the airport is 1377 metres and the weight of the plane was 48708 kg, The maximum authorized weight of  a 737-2T4  is 49500 kg.<ref name="BEA" />

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. Other recommendations were also issued to the Algerian government.<ref name="BEA" />{{Reference page|style=ama|page=41}}

==Aftermath==
Crisis centres were immediately set up in Algiers and Paris. Government officials, including Interior Minister Moureddine Yazid Zerhouni and Transport Minister [[Abdelmalek Sellal]], visited Tamanrasset to observe the crash site.<ref name="soldier"/><ref name="irishtimes">{{cite news|date=7 March 2003|title=Over 100 die in Algerian plane crash|newspaper=The Irish Times|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/over-100-die-in-algerian-plane-crash-1.351261|access-date=5 January 2022|quote=A crisis team has been set up at Algiers Airport [...]}}</ref> A repatriation ceremony for the six French victims was held in Algiers. At least two of the victims were sent to [[Marseille]] while the other four were flown to Paris.<ref>{{cite web |date=8 March 2003 |orig-date=7 March 2003 |title=Un avion d'Air Algérie avec 103 personnes à bord s'écrase au décollage de Tamanrasset: 102 morts, 1 survivant |trans-title=An Air Algérie plane with 103 people on board crashes on takeoff from Tamanrasset: 102 dead, 1 survivor |url=https://www.sangonet.com/Fich5ActuaInterAfric/Algerie_crashavion102m.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030418070725/http://www.sangonet.com/Fich5ActuaInterAfric/Algerie_crashavion102m.html |archive-date=18 April 2003 |access-date=5 January 2022 |website=Sangonet |language=fr |agency=Associated Press }}</ref>

Officials agreed to build a monument for the victims of the crash. A monument was later erected near the crash site of Flight 6289. Multiple events were also held to commemorate the victims of the crash. 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. Minister of Youth and Sports El Hadi Ould Ali stated that "The state does not forget its children and full support will be given to the club so that it can return to the sports scene".<ref name="tragédie"/> After the crash, the football club worked hard to promote multiple sport activities in Tamanrasset.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Kareche |first1=Rabah |title=Tamanrasset : les clubs de football interpellent Lhadi Ould Ali|work=INTERLIGNES |date=24 December 2017|trans-title=Tamanrasset: football clubs challenge Lhadi Ould Ali|url=https://www.inter-lignes.com/tamanrasset-clubs-de-football-interpellent-lhadi-ould-ali/|url-status=live|access-date=5 January 2022|language=fr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180123113005/http://www.inter-lignes.com/tamanrasset-clubs-de-football-interpellent-lhadi-ould-ali/|archive-date=23 January 2018}}</ref>

In response to the crash, investigators issued a recommendation for the Algerian government to create an independent investigative body for aircraft accidents in the country. However, this recommendation was not enacted and as of 2024 there is still no independent aircraft accident investigation commission in Algeria.<ref name="BEA" />

==See also==
{{portal|Africa|Aviation}}
* [[Centurion Air Cargo Flight 164]]
* [[List of accidents and incidents involving commercial aircraft]]
* [[Midwest Express Airlines Flight 105]]
* [[LOT Polish Airlines Flight 7]]
* [[LOT Polish Airlines Flight 5055]]
* [[United Airlines Flight 232]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{ASN accident|id=20030306-0}}
*[[Ministry of Public Works and Transport (Algeria)|Ministry of Public Works and Transport]]
**[http://www.bea.aero/docspa/2003/7t-z030306a/htm/7t-z030306a.html Official Accident Report info page] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20120613020240/http://www.bea.aero/docspa/2003/7t-z030306a/htm/7t-z030306a.html Archive])
***[http://www.bea.aero/docspa/2003/7t-z030306a/pdf/7t-z030306a.pdf Full official report – PDF version] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20120205223600/http://www.bea.aero/docspa/2003/7t-z030306a/pdf/7t-z030306a.pdf Archive])
**[http://www.bea.aero/docspa/2003/7t-z030306/htm/7t-z030306.html Official Accident Report info page] {{in lang|fr}} ([https://web.archive.org/web/20120615034241/http://www.bea.aero/docspa/2003/7t-z030306/htm/7t-z030306.html Archive]) – The French version is the original version
***[http://www.bea.aero/docspa/2003/7t-z030306/pdf/7t-z030306.pdf Full official report] {{in lang|fr}} ([https://web.archive.org/web/20120615034248/http://www.bea.aero/docspa/2003/7t-z030306/pdf/7t-z030306.pdf Archive])
*{{YouTube|id=330h41yZo-Q|title=Analysis of the accident and review of the Final Report by a commercial aircraft pilot and training captain}}
{{Aviation incidents and accidents in 2003}}{{Aviation accidents and incidents in Algeria}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Air Algérie Flight 6289}}
[[Category:2003 disasters in Africa]]
[[Category:Airliner accidents and incidents caused by mechanical failure]]
[[Category:Airliner accidents and incidents caused by engine failure]]
[[Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in 2003]]
[[Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in Algeria]]
[[Category:2003 in Algeria]]
[[Category:Accidents and incidents involving the Boeing 737 Original]]
[[Category:Air Algérie accidents and incidents]]
[[Category:March 2003 in Africa]]
[[Category:Airliner accidents and incidents caused by pilot error]]
[[Category:2003 disasters in Algeria]]