What happened
While operating a flight from Bratislava to Košice, the crew encountered severe weather conditions. Following instructions from Air Traffic Control, the flight was diverted to Poprad. Shortly before reaching its estimated time of arrival at the diversion airport, the aircraft was cruising at an altitude of 1,300 meters through heavy weather. During this phase of flight, the plane struck trees and crashed into a snow-covered, forested region within the Tatra Mountain Range.
The accident resulted in 22 fatalities among the occupants. There were 4 injuries reported among the passengers, all of whom were successfully rescued from the site.
Findings
Investigations concluded that the crew initiated their descent toward Poprad too early because of an incorrect altimeter setting. This error led to the aircraft striking obstacles during its approach. Environmental conditions also played a significant role in the accident, as the area was experiencing heavy winds reaching speeds of 100 km/h and low visibility due to active snowfall.