What happened
Shortly after departing from Tombouctou Airport, the aircraft experienced a mechanical issue during its initial climb. Approximately two minutes into the flight, one of the engines ceased functioning properly. In response to this loss of power, the pilot-in-command decided to abort the mission and attempt an emergency return to the airfield.
During the maneuver to reposition the plane for landing, the aircraft entered a stall. This led to a crash in a field situated roughly 3 km from the airport perimeter. Upon impact, the wreckage ignited, resulting in a significant fire. The accident resulted in 51 fatalities and left one passenger with serious injuries.
Findings
Official investigations determined that the primary factor leading to the accident was an engine failure occurring during the climb phase of the flight.