What happened
Approximately 52 minutes into the flight from Kiev-Borispol Airport, while the aircraft was maintaining a cruising altitude of 5,100 meters, the crew received clearance to begin their descent toward Odessa Airport. During this phase, the captain notified Air Traffic Control of an active fire within the cockpit area. Although the crew deployed onboard fire extinguishers, they were unable to suppress the flames. As thick smoke filled the flight deck, visibility of the instruments became impossible for the pilots.
In response to the deteriorating conditions, the captain initiated a descent to lower altitude to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft type performed a belly landing in an open field, sliding several dozen meters before coming to a complete stop. Following the impact, the aircraft caught fire and was subsequently destroyed. Despite the intensity of the fire, all 27 occupants successfully evacuated the cabin and sustained no injuries.
Findings
Investigations into the incident identified that an electrical short-circuit within the wiring of a heating system switch triggered the cockpit fire. This malfunction was attributed to a specific design defect in the component. Additionally, reports indicated that maintenance procedures had not adhered to established standard requirements.