Incident Summary
A four-engine airplane departed N'Djamena Airport at 0530LT on a flight to Faya-Largeau. The aircraft carried a crew of five, 21 fuel drums, and various military equipment. While descending to Faya-Largeau and flying at a relatively low altitude, the airplane was struck by a SAM-7 missile that hit engine number 2. The engine caught fire and detached from the aircraft. Shortly thereafter, engine number 1 also detached.
Emergency Landing
Following the missile strike and loss of two engines, the captain reduced altitude and attempted an emergency landing in a desert area located approximately 55 kilometers west of Faya-Largeau. The aircraft performed a belly landing and slid for a few dozen meters before coming to rest in flames.
Aftermath
All five crew members escaped the aircraft with minor injuries. The aircraft itself was totally destroyed by a post-crash fire. The official investigation determined that the incident was caused by the aircraft being shot down by a SAM-7 missile.