What happened
On 2 July 2015, at approximately 1733 hrs, a Viking Air DHC-6-300 floatplane, registration 8Q-MAN, operated by Trans Maldivian Airways, crashed into the ocean roughly 3 km southeast of Kuredu. The aircraft was performing a charter flight from Komandoo to Kuredu, carrying 11 passengers and three crew members under visual flight rules.
During the final approach, the pilot flying selected the flaps to the fully down position. This action triggered an immediate pitch-up and intense vibration. The pilot flying was unable to maintain control and handed the controls to the pilot-in-command. Although the pilot-in-command attempted to recover the aircraft by applying left rudder, advancing the control column, and reducing power to idle, the aircraft failed to respond. The aircraft continued a right-hand turn while losing altitude, eventually impacting the sea.
Upon impact, the left float detached from the airframe. The aircraft bounced, causing the right float to also detach, though it remained momentarily trapped between the engine and the airframe. The crew and all 11 passengers successfully evacuated the aircraft before it sank.