What happened
The incident occurred during a nighttime approach to Bahrain. The crew executed a landing at the Marine Base with an indicated airspeed between 85 and 90 knots. Upon initial contact with the water surface, the seaplane exhibited a tendency to pitch its nose downward. In response, the pilot applied control inputs to counteract this motion while simultaneously increasing engine power.
These actions caused the aircraft to bounce off the water surface, remaining airborne for approximately one to two seconds. During this brief interval, the plane veered sharply to the left. The crew lost control of the aircraft, which subsequently plunged back into the water and came to rest in a submerged position. Ten people were killed in the accident, comprising three members of the flight crew and seven passengers.
Findings
Official investigations identified the primary contributing factors as an incorrect approach configuration and suboptimal landing technique employed by the crew. These errors resulted in a hard landing that precipitated the loss of control and subsequent crash.