What happened
During the descent toward Yeysk Airport, the flight crew initiated a procedure to move fuel from the auxiliary tanks into the primary central tank. Shortly after this transfer commenced, all four engines on the aircraft type ceased operation at nearly the same moment. This sudden loss of power resulted in a rapid loss of altitude, leading the aircraft to impact the waters of the Azov Sea, located several kilometers from the airport.
There were 50 people on board during the accident. The crash resulted in 25 fatalities, while the remaining 25 survivors were successfully rescued from the scene.
Findings
Investigations into the incident revealed that the central fuel tank had not undergone cleaning or draining for an extended period, leaving a significant amount of water inside the reservoir. As the crew moved fuel from the auxiliary tanks, the liquid mixed with this accumulated water. This water contamination entered the fuel lines, which ultimately triggered the simultaneous failure of all four engines.