What happened
During an approach to Madrid-Barajas Airport from Bilbao, the flight encountered hazardous meteorological conditions characterized by heavy rain, cloud cover, and significant turbulence. As the aircraft was descending, it experienced two distinct instances of severe downdrafts. During the second encounter, the plane dropped approximately 800 meters in a very short duration.
This sudden loss of altitude resulted in the aircraft striking the slope of the Lobo-Cebollera peak, situated to the east of the Somosierra region. Following the impact, a member of the crew managed to contact emergency services, allowing rescue teams to reach the crash site promptly. The accident resulted in 23 fatalities and left 10 individuals injured, a group that included 4 members of the flight crew.
Findings
Investigations into the incident suggest that the primary factor leading to the crash was the impact of severe downdrafts which caused the aircraft to lose necessary altitude during its descent.