What happened
During the initial climb phase following departure from runway 25 at Paris-Le Bourget Airport, the aircraft encountered a bird strike. This impact resulted in the failure and subsequent explosion of the left engine. In response to the engine failure, the crew declared an emergency and received clearance to perform a return to the airport.
As the aircraft was on short final approach, the left engine became detached from the airframe. This loss of power caused the aircraft to pitch downward at a 15-degree angle. The aircraft struck the ground in the vicinity of the runway 21 threshold and slid for approximately 430 metres before coming to a halt. A post-impact fire broke out, which ultimately destroyed the aircraft. There were 10 fatalities among the occupants of the aircraft.
Findings
- The sequence of events began with a bird strike during the climb phase.
- The engine failure and subsequent explosion led to the detachment of the left engine during the final approach.