What happened
During the early stages of flight following departure from Bouar Airport, an aircraft entered a period of altitude loss while performing its initial climb. The plane subsequently impacted the ground and caught fire.
There were 37 people on board at the time of the accident. The crash resulted in 18 fatalities and left 19 individuals rescued, several of whom sustained serious injuries. The deceased included passengers from France, Chad, and the Central African Republic.
Findings
Official reports indicate that the aircraft experienced a loss of control due to a strong gust of wind during the climb phase.