What happened
While performing a takeoff roll on runway 07 at Addis Em Ababa-Bole Airport, the aircraft encountered bird activity near the runway. As the aircraft reached a speed of approximately 100 knots, the crew observed pigeons in the vicinity, shortly before experiencing a simultaneous drop in power on both engine number two and engine number three.
In response to the loss of thrust, the crew executed an aborted takeoff and applied emergency braking. Despite these efforts, the aircraft could not stop before the end of the runway. The aircraft subsequently overran the paved surface, causing the undercarriage to separate from the airframe. The momentum carried the aircraft down an embankment, where the structural integrity of the plane failed, resulting in the aircraft breaking into two pieces.
There were no injuries reported among the four crew members on board, though the aircraft was a total loss.
Findings
- The loss of power in two engines occurred during the high-speed portion of the takeoff roll.
- Bird strikes or engine ingestion of wildlife may have contributed to the sudden reduction in engine thrust.