What happened
During the initial climb phase following departure from runway 06 at Havana-José Martí Airport, the aircraft experienced a sudden and extreme nose-up pitch of 30 degrees. This maneuver occurred as the landing gear was being retracted. Following this pitch-up, the aircraft rolled toward the right side and began a descent. The aircraft subsequently collided with railway tracks and power lines before breaking apart in a field situated less than one kilometer east of the airport.
The flight was being operated by Cubana de Aviación under a wet lease agreement with the Mexican carrier Global Air (Damojh Aéreolíneas), flying under the callsign DMJ972. The accident resulted in 110 fatalities and left three passengers with serious injuries. The deceased included 102 Cuban nationals, six members of the crew from Mexico, and two Argentinians. Of the three survivors, two succumbed to their injuries in the days following the crash, leaving only one person to survive the event.
Findings
- The aircraft entered an excessive nose-up angle during the retraction of the undercarriage.