What happened
A scheduled flight departed from Port Sudan Airport at 04:07 local time, bound for Khartoum. The aircraft was carrying 116 people, consisting of 105 passengers and 11 crew members. Shortly after beginning the climb, the crew notified air traffic control of technical difficulties. In response to the reported issues, the aircraft was authorized to perform an emergency landing on runway 33.
During the final approach, the aircraft encountered limited visibility. While attempting to land, the plane struck the ground approximately 5 km from the runway threshold. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft. Among the occupants, 116 people were killed, including eight citizens of the European Union and a high-ranking officer from the Sudanese Army. One two-year-old boy survived the accident with injuries.
Findings
- The aircraft was operating in limited visibility during its final approach.
- The crew had declared an emergency due to technical problems encountered during the initial climb.