Accident Sequence
The flight was approaching Dhaka-Zia Ul-Haq Airport. The crew initiated an approach to runway 32. Poor weather conditions prevailed, with heavy rain and limited visibility. The captain abandoned the approach and executed a go-around.
Minutes later, the crew attempted a second approach, this time to runway 14. Again, poor conditions forced another go-around.
During a third landing attempt on runway 14, the crew descended below the minimum descent altitude (MDA). The aircraft continued descending until it struck the ground in a swampy area approximately 550 meters short of the runway threshold. The impact totally destroyed the aircraft. All 49 occupants on board were killed.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined the probable cause to be controlled flight into terrain after the crew decided to continue the approach below the MDA without any visual contact with the ground or runway.