What happened
During an approach to Tidjikdja Airport, the flight crew encountered significantly reduced visibility resulting from an active sandstorm. After being unable to visually identify the runway, the captain performed a go-around maneuver. A subsequent attempt to land was made several minutes later; however, weather conditions remained hazardous.
While flying at an altitude of approximately 25 metres above the airfield, the aircraft's nose pitched downward, leading to a violent impact with the runway surface. The force of the collision caused the undercarriage to separate from the airframe. Following the initial impact, the aircraft veered off the runway and struck rocks, which subsequently triggered a fire. The accident resulted in 80 fatalities and the rescue of thirteen passengers.
Findings
Investigations concluded that the approach was conducted while weather conditions were below established minimums. Specifically, both visibility and the Runway Visual Range (RVR) were insufficient for safe operations. The crew proceeded with the descent without maintaining visual contact with the ground or the runway. The primary contributing factor was the decision to continue the approach despite being below weather minima, rather than diverting to an alternative airport.