What happened
During an arrival at Sana'a, the flight crew was initially authorized to proceed with an approach to runway 18. At the time of the arrival, the area was experiencing low visibility due to an active sandstorm. During the approach phase, the captain elected to execute a straight-in approach toward runway 36 instead of the originally cleared runway.
Upon making contact with the runway surface, the aircraft lost directional control. The plane veered off the paved surface and struck several small concrete blocks. The impact of this collision resulted in the collapse of the nose landing gear. While the aircraft sustained damage that rendered it a total loss, there were no injuries reported among the five crew members on board.
Findings
- The landing occurred during periods of poor weather characterized by a sandstorm.
- The decision to perform a straight-in approach to runway 36 preceded the loss of control.