Incident Summary
After departing from Kharkiv, the flight crew informed air traffic control that the left engine had caught fire. ATC cleared the aircraft to divert to the Sokolnikovo Airfield near Factory #135, located close to Kharkiv. During the approach, the left engine exploded. The captain then decided to attempt an emergency landing in a wasteland adjacent to the airport.
Emergency Landing and Evacuation
The aircraft performed a belly landing on the wasteland, sliding for several dozen meters before coming to rest engulfed in flames. All seven occupants evacuated the aircraft without injury. The aircraft sustained partial destruction from the fire.
Damage
The aircraft was partially destroyed by the fire that followed the landing.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined the probable cause to be a fire and explosion of the left engine following the rupture of a fuel line after takeoff. The rupture allowed fuel to leak into the engine compartment, where it ignited upon contact with high-temperature elements.