What happened
During a flight over the Kiev region, the crew notified air traffic control regarding a fire involving the fourth engine. In response to this emergency, the crew requested an immediate diversion to Borispol Airport. Air traffic controllers provided vectors directing the aircraft type toward Zhulyani Airport instead.
As the aircraft was descending, the number four engine became detached from the wing, causing the fire to spread into the right-side wing structure. This sequence of events caused the plane to lose stability and enter a steep dive. The aircraft subsequently struck a wooded area in Tarasovichi, approximately 41 km north of Zhulyani Airport, in a near vertical orientation. The impact resulted in the disintegration of the airframe.
There were 34 fatalities among the occupants of the flight. The passengers included citizens from Yemen, Algeria, Uganda, and Afghanistan.
Findings
A leak originating from a fuel injector allowed fuel to escape into the engine nacelle. This fuel ignited upon contact with high-temperature components within the engine. The resulting fire reached the combustion chamber, which led to the total failure of the engine and its eventual separation from the wing.