What happened
On May 11, 2010, an Airbus A340 (flight 8U771/AAW771) was operating a scheduled service from O. R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, destined for London, with a planned stop in Tripoli, Libya. The aircraft departed at 19:25 UTC carrying 93 passengers and 11 crew members, including three cockpit crew and eight cabin crew. At the time of takeoff, the aircraft had a mass of 187,501 kg and was carrying 50,000 kg of fuel.
During the final approach to runway 09 at Tripoli International Airport, the flight crew decided to execute a go-around. This maneuver was coordinated with and confirmed by the Tripoli tower. While performing the missed approach procedure, the aircraft initially responded to pilot inputs, with altitude and velocity increasing above the minimum descent altitude. However, the aircraft then experienced a sudden and dramatic descent. The Airbus A340 struck the ground approximately 1,200 meters from the runway 09 threshold and 150 meters to the right of the centerline. The force of the impact and subsequent fire led to the total destruction of the airframe.
Findings
Of the 104 people on board, 103 fatalities were recorded, with only one survivor, an 8-year-old boy, sustaining injuries.