What happened
On November 28, 2010, a cargo flight was scheduled to depart from Jinnah International Airport (JIAP) in Karachi, Pakistan, bound for Khartoum and Douala, Cameroon. The mission involved the delivery of humanitarian aid, specifically tents. Prior to the flight, the aircraft had arrived at the airport from Fujairah, UAE, following a previous leg from Kandahar.
Before departure, the aircraft was refueled to a total of 74 tons of fuel, and a cargo load of 30.5 tons was added. The total mass of the aircraft was recorded at 197 tons, with a center of gravity positioned at 30% Mean Aerodynamic Chord (MAC). The flight crew, consisting of an aircraft commander, second pilot, navigator, flight engineer, flight radio operator, and flight operator, arrived at the airport around 1900 UTC.
Following engine start, the crew taxied the aircraft to Runway 25L and notified air traffic control of their intention to depart within three minutes. The takeoff occurred at 2048 UTC. Shortly after liftoff, radar data indicated that the aircraft reached an altitude of 600 feet before beginning a descent. The aircraft then disappeared from radar surveillance. No emergency communications were transmitted by the crew to the air traffic controller. The aircraft crashed at approximately 2050 UTC, roughly 2 nautical miles from the airport at coordinates N24°53.651’, E 067°06.406'.
Findings
- The aircraft was operating a humanitarian aid mission.
- Weather conditions at the time of departure were reported as satisfactory.
- The aircraft disappeared from radar during the initial climb/descent phase shortly after takeoff.