What happened
During a flight originating from Kinshasa, the crew initiated their descent toward Kisangani-Bangoka Airport amidst challenging meteorological conditions. Heavy rainfall had significantly reduced visibility during the approach phase. While performing the final approach, the pilot was unable to visually identify the runway. The aircraft subsequently struck the ground approximately 1,000 meters before reaching runway 31.
Following the initial impact, the aircraft lost stability and veered toward the right side of the approach path. The momentum caused the plane to explode and break apart within a wooded area. Search efforts located the debris field roughly 500 meters southeast of the threshold for runway 31. The accident resulted in 77 fatalities, comprising 5 crew and 72 passengers.
Findings
- The descent and approach were conducted during periods of heavy rainfall and low visibility.
- The aircraft struck terrain before reaching the runway threshold.