What happened
A cargo flight operating from N'Djamena Airport toward Brazzaville was carrying a payload of garlic and onions along with 21 passengers and nine crew members. Shortly after departing N'Djamena, the flight crew notified air traffic control of mechanical issues involving the undercarriage. Consequently, the flight was authorized to divert to Bangui Airport.
While performing a holding pattern over Bangui to manage fuel levels, the aircraft began its descent toward runway 35. During the final approach, all four engines of the aircraft type ceased operation at the same time. This loss of power led to an aerodynamic stall, causing the plane to crash into a residential neighborhood approximately 4 km from the runway threshold.
The accident resulted in 28 fatalities and two injuries, consisting of one crew member and one passenger. There were no reported deaths or injuries among the residents on the ground.
Findings
Investigation into the crash determined that the simultaneous failure of all four engines was caused by fuel exhaustion.