What happened
During an approach to Cazombo, an aircraft operating a route from Luena was targeted by a surface-to-air missile launched by UNITA rebels. The projectile impacted one of the engines during the descent phase of the flight. Following the engine strike, the crew attempted to perform an emergency landing.
The aircraft subsequently crashed approximately 40 km away from the destination airport. Upon impact, the airframe caught fire. The accident resulted in 42 fatalities and left six passengers injured.
Findings
Investigations concluded that the destruction of the aircraft type was caused by a direct hit from a surface-to-air missile during flight.