What happened
Shortly after departing from Mogadishu Airport, a twin engine airplane encountered intense thunderstorm activity characterized by heavy precipitation and significant turbulence. During the initial climb phase, the aircraft entered a state of uncontrolled descent, transitioning into a spiral dive. The structural integrity of the plane was compromised when the right wing separated from the fuselage due to extreme gravitational forces. The wreckage was located in a field near Balost, situated roughly 38 km northeast of the departure airport. The accident occurred approximately eight minutes after the flight had taken off.
Findings
Investigations into the crash revealed that the aircraft encountered powerful vertical gusts while flying through the storm. These atmospheric conditions triggered a dive that subjected the airframe to loads reaching approximately 5.76 g, which exceeded the design stress limits of the aircraft and led to the wing separation. Additionally, it was noted that the decision to proceed with takeoff despite known thunderstorm conditions contributed to the sequence of events leading to the loss of the aircraft and the 50 fatalities sustained during the impact.