A four-engine aircraft operating a special humanitarian flight on behalf of the World Food Programme crashed into the slope of Mt Arey, located a few kilometers from Djibouti. The flight was en route from Djibouti City to Addis Ababa, carrying four crew members and a load of foodstuffs.
After departure from Djibouti City, while climbing, the pilot informed air traffic control about technical problems with the main landing gear and was cleared to return. The crew initiated a turn, during which the aircraft struck the mountain. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact, and all four occupants were killed.
Probable Cause
The official investigation stated that the probable cause was the crew's focus on the main landing gear problems and failure to adhere to standard approach procedures, causing the aircraft to descend prematurely and strike the mountain. Lack of crew coordination and lack of visibility were considered contributing factors.