What happened
While performing a takeoff roll on runway 13 at Port Louis-Plaisance Airport, the four-engine airplane experienced a technical malfunction involving engine number three. The incident occurred when the aircraft reached a speed of 115 knots, shortly before reaching V1. In response to the failure, the captain initiated an aborted takeoff and applied emergency braking.
The aircraft was unable to halt within the available runway length, leading to a runway overrun. During the excursion, the plane lost its undercarriage and traveled approximately 100 yards beyond the runway surface, where it eventually caught fire. Although the aircraft was destroyed by the flames, all 50 occupants were successfully evacuated from the wreckage. The accident resulted in 20 injuries, including four members of the crew.
Findings
Investigations into the event did not establish a definitive reason for the mechanical failure of the third engine or why the braking maneuver failed to stop the aircraft before the end of the runway. However, it was noted that wet runway conditions caused by recent rainfall may have played a role in the inability to stop the plane during the aborted takeoff.