Accident
During a flight from Luanda-4 de Fevereiro Airport, shortly after takeoff while climbing to approximately 200 feet, the aircraft banked left, lost altitude, and crashed about 5 kilometers from the airport. The impact and subsequent fire completely destroyed the aircraft. All 57 occupants, including five crew members (four Ukrainian citizens and one Angolan), were killed.
Investigation
Investigators determined that the loss of control was likely the result of a failure of the left engine during climbout. The exact cause of the engine failure remains unknown. However, discrepancies were noted in operational documents, the passenger manifest, and weight and balance records, particularly concerning fuel and passenger data.
Context
The accident occurred after all flights of Antonov AN-24, AN-26, and AN-32 aircraft had been suspended in Angolan airspace since October 31, with an exception for the Luanda–Namibe route.