What happened
A cargo operation traveling from Santiago to Arica, with a scheduled stop in Iquique, encountered an emergency during its final approach. The aircraft was transporting a shipment of newspapers and was operated by a crew of five.
As the plane was descending toward Arica-Chacalluta Airport, an in-flight fire broke out on board. Despite the presence of flames, the pilot-in-command maintained control of the aircraft and successfully completed the landing sequence. Once the plane reached the runway, the pilot brought the vehicle to a halt.
All five occupants managed to exit the cabin safely before the fire intensified. Although there were no fatalities, the fire caused significant damage, leaving the aircraft partially destroyed.
Findings
The investigation into the incident focused on the origin of the flames. At this time, the specific reason for the fire occurring during the descent remains unidentified.