What happened
During a return flight to Djibouti City following a maritime patrol mission, an aircraft collided with a mountainside in the Day Forest National Park. The incident occurred while the aircraft was traveling north of the Gulf of Tadjourah at an altitude of approximately 950 meters. The impact took place roughly 17 km west of Tadjourah and 50 km northwest of Djibouti City.
At the time of the accident, the crew was navigating through challenging weather conditions characterized by heavy rainfall and significantly reduced visibility. The collision resulted in the total destruction of the airframe. There were 19 fatalities among the occupants, with no survivors reported from the crew or passenger complement.
Findings
Investigations into the accident determined that the primary factor leading to the crash was controlled flight into terrain. The combination of heavy rain and poor visibility during the cruise phase contributed to the aircraft striking the mountain slope.