What happened
During the flight, the crew encountered worsening weather conditions that led to a complete loss of spatial orientation. As the situation progressed, the aircraft began to run out of fuel. Faced with imminent fuel exhaustion, the decision was made by all 18 individuals on board to exit the aircraft while it was still airborne.
Following the abandonment, the aircraft entered a dive and impacted the ground in a secluded area. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the airframe. Despite the severity of the crash, search and rescue efforts successfully located all 18 occupants, none of whom sustained fatalities during the incident.
Findings
- Deteriorating meteorological conditions contributed to the crew losing their sense of orientation.
- The primary driver for the emergency evacuation was the depletion of onboard fuel reserves.