The altitude selector set to zero feet - did they make it in time?

A flight bound for Moroni circles at night over a black Indian Ocean as the altitude selector is set to zero feet - did they make it in time?

The altitude selector set to zero feet - did they make it in time?

In this episode, we follow the final hours of Yemenia Flight 626 and the sequence of decisions, warnings, and operational details that led up to the critical night approach into Moroni. Who made the choices in the cockpit and on the ground, and what gaps in training and maintenance set the stage for the emergency question everyone would later ask?

Flight: Yemenia Flight 626 Date: Night of 29-30 June 2009 Aircraft: Airbus A310-324, registration 7O-ADJ People: 142 passengers, 11 crew (153 total) Location: Approach to Prince Said Ibrahim International Airport, Moroni

- Departure delayed ~24 minutes due to an auxiliary power unit fault before the long leg south to Comoros. - Aircraft banned from French airspace after a 2007 DGAC inspection for serious deficiencies but continued flying other routes. - Captain Khaled Hajeb (44) and First Officer Ali Atef (50) had extensive A310 hours, yet Hajeb lacked the airline’s required Category C approach training for Moroni. - Twenty-five nautical miles out a wind shift forced a runway change requiring a dark, low-altitude circling approach with approach lights off and no moon. - Flight data shows the altitude selector rotary knob was set to zero feet during the final approach, a single input embedded in a wider chain of errors.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].