What happened
During an approach to Pakse Airport, the flight crew encountered extremely poor meteorological conditions. Due to the severity of the weather, air traffic controllers directed the aircraft to enter a holding pattern as landing was deemed unfeasible at that time.
Shortly after receiving these instructions, the aircraft crashed a few kilometers from the airport perimeter. The impact occurred under circumstances that remain undetermined. There were 35 fatalities recorded in the accident, which included both crew members and civilian passengers.
Findings
- The flight was operating in very bad weather conditions during the descent phase.
- The aircraft was unable to complete its landing attempt due to visibility or weather constraints.
- The exact cause of the crash remains unknown at this time.