What happened
Following a brief period of being leased to Air Malta, the aircraft was being transported back to Peru. The flight path included stops in London, Reykjavik, Gander, and Miami. During the segment traveling from Reykjavik to Gander, the aircraft was operating at cruising altitude when the crew issued an emergency declaration. Following this communication, all contact with the aircraft was lost.
It is believed that the aircraft crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 290 km southeast of the Newfoundland coast. Search and rescue operations were launched immediately to locate the wreckage and any occupants. However, these efforts were discontinued several days later after the search yielded no evidence of the aircraft or its passengers.
Findings
- The crew elected to perform a ditching procedure following the declaration of an emergency.
- Loss of communication was the final recorded event before the aircraft disappeared.