What happened
During an approach to Nha Trang from Saigon, the pilot notified air traffic control of an explosion occurring on the aircraft and reported heavy flight controls. The incident resulted in a failure within the hydraulic system, necessitating the manual deployment of the landing gear. In coordination with controllers, the captain performed a low-altitude pass over the runway to verify that the undercarriage was properly extended.
Following this check, the crew executed a landing characterized by a high nose attitude and without the use of flaps. Immediately after touching down near the runway threshold, the crew engaged the reverse thrust systems, which caused the aircraft to lift off the ground again. The throttles were subsequently closed, leading to a second touchdown much further down the runway. Due to the insufficient remaining distance, the aircraft overran the runway, colliding with a concrete pylon and various obstacles. A post-crash fire broke out, destroying the aircraft and resulting in 34 fatalities, including ten passengers and 24 individuals on the ground.
Findings
Investigations concluded that an explosive device, placed within the front left lavatory, detonated during the flight. This blast created a 1.5-meter hole in the fuselage and caused significant damage to the aircraft's hydraulic lines.