What happened
Operating under an IFR flight plan, a cargo aircraft was transporting freight from Luxembourg to Kano, Nigeria. During the flight, while climbing through flight level 320 over the Drôme province, the aircraft encountered severe turbulence. The crew reported hearing a loud double bang, after which the aircraft experienced a sudden right roll. Following this event, the crew received fire warnings for both engine number 3 and engine number 4. The first officer reported that the right outboard engine had separated from the wing, and subsequently communicated that both right-side engines were lost.
In response to the emergency, the crew initiated a descent toward Marseille and began fuel dumping to lighten the aircraft. The crew identified the Istres military airfield as a suitable diversion point. During the approach, the captain faced significant difficulty maintaining control, particularly during the final turn for alignment. Upon touchdown on runway 15 at a speed of 190 kt, the aircraft experienced a burst of the left main gear tires. Due to the lack of hydraulic brakes, the pilot utilized the emergency braking system. The aircraft traveled 2,300 meters along the runway before veering off the left side, eventually coming to a stop 250 meters from the runway axis. There were 0 fatalities and 0 injuries reported during the evacuation.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced the separation of two engines from the right wing.
- Severe turbulence was present during the period of engine loss.
- The crew managed to execute an emergency landing at a nearby military installation despite significant control difficulties and the loss of primary braking capabilities.