What happened
During the final approach phase into Portel, the flight crew encountered significant crosswind conditions. These environmental factors led to the aircraft type impacting the surface of the water. The force of the impact was severe enough to shear the windshield from the cockpit area.
Following the breach of the windshield, water rapidly entered both the cockpit and the passenger cabin. This ingress caused the aircraft to begin partially sinking into the water. Despite the structural damage and the flooding of the interior, the crew managed to execute an emergency evacuation.
Findings
- The primary factor leading to the impact was the presence of strong crosswinds during the approach.
- The structural integrity of the cockpit was compromised when the windshield was removed by the force of the water impact.