What happened
The aircraft was conducting a routine training exercise in the waters near Donegal, Ireland. During the flight, the machine suffered a catastrophic failure when it exploded mid-air. The wreckage subsequently crashed into the sea. There were no survivors; all nine occupants of the aircraft lost their lives in the accident.
Findings
Investigations into the incident concluded that the explosion likely originated from ordnance stored within the aircraft's cargo compartment. Specifically, the official findings suggested that depth charges may have detonated, leading to the structural failure and subsequent crash. While the exact mechanism was not confirmed with absolute certainty, the presence of these explosives in the cargo area was identified as the primary potential cause of the disaster.