What happened
During an operation conducted in the vicinity of the North Pole, an aircraft performed a landing on a surface covered in ice. Following the touchdown, one of the plane's skis penetrated the icy crust, causing the aircraft to come to a halt.
All nine people on board, which included seven passengers and two crew members, were able to exit the cabin without injury. While the occupants successfully evacuated, the aircraft remained in the unstable area and subsequently submerged into the water, resulting in the total loss of the airframe.
Findings
- The structural failure of the ice surface under the weight of the landing gear led to the immobilization of the plane.
- The breakage of the ice surface prevented the aircraft from being recovered and led to its eventual sinking.