What happened
During a cargo operation flying from Tashkent to Kabul, an aircraft cruising at 7,700 meters over the Pagman Pass sustained significant damage. The aircraft was struck by a Stinger missile, which impacted the front left section of the fuselage. The force of the impact sheared off a three-meter square portion of the fuselage and caused the failure of both left-side engines.
As the aircraft was approximately 70 km from Kabul Airport, the crew initiated an emergency descent. Due to the severity of the damage, the crew was unable to reach the airport and instead attempted an emergency landing in a field located a few kilometers from the runway. The aircraft came to a stop with its undercarriage and flaps in the retracted position.
Findings
- The aircraft suffered structural failure and engine loss following a missile strike.
- All 10 occupants were successfully rescued from the wreckage, though two individuals sustained serious injuries.