What happened
During the descent toward Recife-Guararapes Airport, the aircraft experienced a total loss of power as both engines ceased functioning at the same time. In response to the emergency, the pilot lowered the altitude of the plane and performed a ditching maneuver several dozen kilometers away from the coast in the Atlantic Ocean.
The incident resulted in three fatalities and two survivors. While two members of the crew were successfully rescued from the scene, one individual perished due to drowning. Following the impact with the water, the aircraft submerged into the ocean and remains lost.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified that the primary reason for the dual engine failure was fuel exhaustion. Several contributing elements were noted during the inquiry, including:
- Errors in navigation performed by the crew
- The depletion of available fuel
- Total loss of propulsion from both engines
- Incorrect course plotting on the navigational charts