Incident Overview
An aircraft undergoing a C-Check at Bratislava Airport was returning to its base in Kano, Nigeria, with an intermediate stop in Ghardaïa. While flying over Niger airspace, the crew was in contact with Niamey air traffic control when they encountered poor weather conditions described as a sandstorm. All communications were subsequently lost.
Emergency Landing
The exact circumstances of the accident remain unclear, but it is believed that the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing due to a shortage of fuel. The aircraft landed in a desert area located in the region of the Ganla beacon, south of Niger. Upon touchdown, the aircraft lost its undercarriage and slid for several dozen metres before coming to rest.
Aftermath
Both pilots evacuated the aircraft safely. The aircraft sustained damage beyond repair. The wreckage was later found approximately 190 kilometres north of Kano, Nigeria.