What happened
A special flight departing from Munich-Riem Airport toward RAF Northolt was carrying seven crew members and several British students returning for the Christmas holiday. Shortly after takeoff, while the aircraft type/model (not specified) was climbing to an altitude of 1,000 meters, the crew reported a failure in the left engine and requested clearance for an emergency return.
During the descent, the co-pilot notified air traffic control that the aircraft could no longer maintain its altitude. At the time, visibility was significantly reduced by fog, with horizontal visibility at 800 meters and vertical visibility at only 40 meters. The aircraft's left wing struck the top of St Paul church before the plane crashed into a busy commercial area of Munich.
The impact triggered a massive explosion upon striking a tramway, multiple cars, and various pedestrians. Debris was scattered across streets and through local shops. The accident resulted in 20 fatalities among the occupants of the aircraft and 33 fatalities on the ground, many of whom were passengers on the tram. Additionally, nine individuals sustained serious injuries.
Findings
Investigations into the engine failure identified several contributing factors related to fuel and environmental conditions. The fuel system, including the fuel pump, fuel tank, and fuel line, was found to be contaminated with water. Furthermore, icing conditions and low temperatures led to reduced performance within the carburetor. It was also noted that the crew had experienced engine issues prior to takeoff but proceeded with the flight anyway.