Incident
On the evening of October 19, a four-engine airplane departed Ayni Air Force Base (also known as Gissar AFB), located west of Dushanbe, for a transport mission with eight crew members aboard. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing, the crew reported an engine fire to air traffic control and received clearance for an immediate return to the airfield.
Sequence of Events
Following the engine fire report, the crew spent several minutes maneuvering over the area to dump fuel before initiating an approach to land. The airplane touched down on runway 08/26 shortly after midnight on October 20. After touchdown, the airplane veered off the runway and came to rest in a grassy area adjacent to the airfield. Upon stopping, the aircraft burst into flames.
Aftermath
All eight crew members evacuated the airplane safely and without reported injury. The fire consumed the entire aircraft, resulting in its total destruction. Preliminary information indicates that engine number four likely caught fire during the initial climb phase.