What happened
During a flight originating from La Paz, the flight crew began their descent toward Cobija Airport. During this phase, air traffic control notified the crew that the destination airport was inaccessible because of unfavorable weather conditions. In response, the crew elected to divert the flight to the Trinidad-Jorge Heinrich Arauz Airport, situated approximately 600 km southeast of their original destination.
While performing the final approach to the Trinidad-Jorge Heinrich Arauz Airport, the crew communicated that they were experiencing technical difficulties. This necessitated an emergency landing attempt. The aircraft type impacted a heavily wooded and marshy region located roughly 4 km before reaching the runway. While the aircraft sustained damage that rendered it a total loss, all 159 occupants were successfully recovered from the site without fatalities.
Findings
- The flight was diverted from the initial destination due to poor weather conditions at Cobija Airport.
- The crew encountered technical issues during the approach to the diversion airport, leading to the crash landing.