What happened
On the early morning of January 8, 2020, a Ukraine International flight, operating a Boeing 737-800 with registration UR-PSR, was prepared for departure from Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA) to Kyiv Boryspyl International Airport. The flight, designated as AUI752, experienced a departure delay due to weight management issues. To ensure the aircraft did not exceed its maximum takeoff weight, airport services removed 82 packages, totaling 2094 kg, from the cargo hold.
The aircraft underwent refueling and passenger boarding during the early morning hours. After receiving necessary clearances from the IKA tower and coordination with the Tehran ACC and Mehrabad approach, the aircraft began its pushback from parking position 116 at approximately 05:55. The flight departed from Runway 29 Right at 06:12, following the IKA 1A radar procedure. The pilot initially communicated with the Mehrabad approach unit, receiving instructions to climb to FL260 and to execute a right turn after passing 6,000 feet.
Shortly after the climb began, the aircraft's signal vanished from secondary surveillance systems. At 06:14:56, the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and ADS-B information ceased transmitting. While the aircraft remained visible on Primary Surveillance Radar (PSR) for a brief period, showing a rightward veer, the signal disappeared entirely from all radar tracking at 06:18. No distress calls or reports of emergencies were received from the pilot prior to the loss of contact. There were no known fatalities or injuries reported immediately, as the aircraft's fate remained unknown following the disappearance.
Findings
- The flight was operating under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) during the departure phase.
- The aircraft was subject to significant weight reduction procedures involving the removal of luggage to comply with takeoff weight limits.
- The aircraft disappeared from radar tracking while climbing through approximately 8,100 feet.