What happened
The incident involved a three-engine aircraft operating a commercial cargo route from Valencia, Spain, to Paris. The flight carried two passengers and two crew members, along with a shipment of gold bullion. During the journey, the flight crew elected to make an unscheduled intermediate stop at an airport in the Aude region, likely Carcassonne.
Upon landing, the aircraft experienced a structural failure involving the landing gear collapse. This mechanical issue caused the plane to deviate from the paved runway surface. The airframe continued moving until it came to a complete stop off the designated landing area. Emergency procedures were initiated immediately following the event.
Findings
All four individuals on board, comprising the flight crew and passengers, successfully evacuated the wreckage without sustaining injuries. Despite the safe evacuation of all personnel, the structural integrity of the aircraft was compromised significantly by the gear failure and subsequent excursion. The damage sustained was assessed as irreparable, resulting in a total loss of the airframe.