What happened
During the initial climb phase immediately following takeoff, the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of power in two engines, which subsequently failed. In an attempt to manage the emergency, the crew sought a safe location for an emergency landing. However, a third engine failed during this maneuver. This sequence of mechanical failures led to an aerodynamic stall, causing the aircraft to pitch into a nose-down attitude. The plane ultimately impacted a swampy area located near the airport.
Findings
- The accident resulted in 159 fatalities, including both civilians and military personnel from Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.
- The primary factor in the crash was the simultaneous failure of multiple engines during the climb phase.