What happened
During the initial climb phase following departure, a catastrophic failure occurred involving the third engine. An explosion within the number three engine released significant debris, which struck the fourth engine and breached the aircraft's fuselage. This sequence of events led to a total loss of power in the fourth engine. Consequently, the aircraft entered a stall and descended into the ground, resulting in a massive explosion upon impact. There were nine fatalities among the occupants of the aircraft.
The flight was operating a route destined for Diego Garcia with a scheduled stop in Nairobi. The cargo on board consisted of various types of paint.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified that a fire originated within the cargo area. This fire released highly toxic fumes derived from the paint cargo, which contained cyanide-based components. These toxic vapors caused the rapid asphyxiation of the crew, preventing them from managing the mechanical failures occurring in the engines.