What happened
Upon completing its touchdown at Chania-Shoulda Airport, a four-engine aircraft experienced a loss of directional control. During the excursion, the plane drifted off the runway surface, which caused the landing gear to separate from the airframe. The aircraft eventually came to a halt after the structural failure of the undercarriage.
Despite the severity of the impact and the fact that the aircraft was written off, there were no casualties reported. All 26 occupants on board managed to evacuate the wreckage without sustaining any injuries.
Findings
Investigations into the incident identified that the loss of control during the landing phase was driven by two primary factors: an incorrect approach configuration and the aircraft maintaining an excessive speed prior to touchdown.