Incident
Three minutes after departing from Kindu Airport, the climbing aircraft experienced an event that prompted the captain to contact air traffic control and report an explosion in the rear of the aircraft. The captain maintained communication with ATC for a few minutes before the aircraft crashed in a jungle area approximately 39 kilometers east of the airport. The entire sequence from takeoff to crash spanned 11 minutes.
Aftermath
The aircraft was totally destroyed upon impact, and all 41 occupants aboard lost their lives. Among the deceased were 20 women and children. The wreckage was located in a remote jungle region.
Investigation and Probable Cause
Official investigation determined that the aircraft had been shot down by a SAM-7 surface-to-air missile. No other contributing factors or causal links were established in the findings.