What happened
During an approach to Copenhagen-Kastrup Airport, the flight crew encountered severe weather characterized by fog, low cloud cover, and restricted visibility. At 06:17 local time, the aircraft was flying at an altitude of 1,500 meters over the Kastrup Airfield when air traffic control directed the crew to begin a new approach toward runway 12. Communication issues arose during this period, as the crew struggled to comprehend certain instructions due to language barriers.
Four minutes after the initial instruction, the pilot began the approach to runway 12. In an effort to regain visual contact with the terrain amidst the low visibility, the captain lowered the aircraft's altitude. During this descent, the plane struck the chimney of the Ørsted Electric Factory, located approximately 6.7 km before reaching runway 12. The impact caused the right wing to be severed from the aircraft, leading to a crash into the Sydhavnen canal. The wreckage settled in water five meters deep. There were 23 fatalities among the occupants, which included citizens from Denmark, the United Kingdom, the United States, and West Germany.
Findings
Investigations concluded that the crew attempted to conduct an approach under visual flight rules (VFR) despite being in instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions. A primary factor was that the pilot-in-command descended below the minimum required altitude in an attempt to see the ground, which led to the collision with the obstacle. Additionally, investigators noted that air traffic control provided insufficient assistance and that weather updates were incomplete. It was also observed that landing clearance was granted prematurely, despite the crew having a two-hour fuel reserve that would have allowed for a delay until visibility improved.