What happened
On the day of the accident, flight CU9646 was operating as a charter service from Havana, Cuba, to Milan, Italy, via Cologne, Germany. The aircraft was transporting a group of Italian tourists when it prepared for departure from runway 05. Approximately one hour prior to the scheduled departure, a low-pressure system was identified roughly nine kilometers from the airport, characterized by winds reaching 40 km/h.
During the final moments before departure, wind speeds intensified. Despite these deteriorating conditions, the pilot proceeded with the takeoff. As the aircraft began its initial climb, the crew retracted the landing gear and adjusted the flaps from 30° to 15°. During this phase of flight, the aircraft struggled to maintain altitude. The plane subsequently collided with components of an ILS antenna situated 220 meters beyond the runway threshold. Following this impact, the aircraft struck a nearby hill and crashed into a residential neighborhood.
The impact caused the aircraft to disintegrate, leading to the destruction of several buildings and houses. Of the 126 occupants on board, 125 fatalities occurred immediately, leaving only one individual with serious injuries. The crash also claimed the lives of 45 people on the ground, with at least 59 others sustaining injuries. The sole survivor of the crash succumbed to his injuries eight days later.
Findings
Investigations revealed that wind gusts reached up to 100 km/h during the accident, and the flight path was impacted by downdrafts and windshear. The accident was attributed to the pilot's decision to proceed with takeoff despite the presence of hazardous weather near the airport, combined with the occurrence of undetected low-altitude windshear.