What happened
During the landing phase at Chihuahua-General Roberto Fierro Villalobos Airport, the flight crew encountered extreme meteorological conditions characterized by heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and intense winds. As the aircraft type was on short final approach, just before the pilot could initiate the flare maneuver, the plane was impacted by powerful downdrafts.
This sudden atmospheric disturbance caused the aircraft to strike the runway surface. Following the initial impact, the plane bounced and subsequently drifted toward the right side of the runway. The aircraft continued to roll for several dozen meters before coming to a complete stop. Upon halting, the fuselage broke into two separate sections and caught fire.
The accident resulted in 32 fatalities, which included two members of the crew. Additionally, 34 occupants sustained various injuries during the event.
Findings
At the time of the incident, the approach path was experiencing active thunderstorms with heavy precipitation. Wind speeds were recorded as gusting up to 54 knots. The primary factor in the accident was the loss of control caused by downdrafts and turbulence immediately preceding the flare.