What happened
During the takeoff roll at Lubumbashi-Luano Airport, a mechanical failure occurred involving a deflector on the right main landing gear. Despite this malfunction, the crew proceeded with the takeoff sequence. Once the aircraft type achieved liftoff, the crew attempted to retract the landing gear, but the right main gear remained stuck and could not be pulled into the wheel well.
Following the initial malfunction, the flight crew first planned to proceed to Kinshasa while maintaining a gear-down configuration. However, after further assessment, the decision was made to abort the flight to Kinshasa and return to the departure airport for an emergency landing. During the landing phase at Lubumbashi, the aircraft touched down but subsequently drifted to the right of the runway centerline. The aircraft then veered off the runway surface and came to a stop in a nearby ditch.
Findings
- The primary mechanical issue was the failure of a deflector located on the right main landing gear.
- The aircraft sustained damage beyond repair during the excursion.
- There were zero fatalities and zero injuries reported among the three crew members on board.