What happened
A flight operated by the local airline departed from Lenakel Airstrip on Tanna Island, destined for Ipao on Futuna Island, Vanuatu. During the transit, the aircraft encountered adverse weather conditions. After the plane failed to reach its intended destination, search and rescue operations were initiated.
Three days after the initial disappearance, investigators located the charred remains of the three-engine aircraft in a gorge on Mt Tokugently, which stands at an elevation of 1,084 meters in central Tanna Island. The accident resulted in eight fatalities, with no survivors reported among the occupants.
Findings
The wreckage was found in a remote, high-altitude area characterized by difficult terrain. The investigation noted that the flight was operating within poor weather conditions at the time of the disappearance.