What happened
Shortly after departing from Tadjoura Airport, an aircraft was performing a climb at an altitude of approximately 300 feet when it encountered a flock of cranes. The impact with the birds, which were reported to weigh at least six kilograms each, caused significant damage to the propulsion system. Specifically, the engine's propellers suffered blade detachment, and both carburetors became obstructed.
Following this powerplant failure, the crew was unable to maintain flight and was forced to perform an emergency ditching in the water roughly 14 km from Khor Ambulu. A merchant vessel operating in the vicinity responded immediately to the incident. The crew of the ship successfully rescued all four occupants of the aircraft. While everyone survived the ditching, the aircraft subsequently sank and remains lost.
Findings
Investigation into the accident determined that the primary cause was an in-flight collision with a flock of birds. This impact resulted in severe mechanical damage to the engines and propellers, making continued flight impossible.