What happened
Following its departure from Sofia-Vrazhdebna Airport, the flight crew notified air traffic control regarding an unforeseen emergency. In response to this notification, controllers authorized the aircraft to perform an emergency landing back at the departure airport.
While maintaining an altitude of approximately 4,900 meters, the aircraft experienced a complete loss of control. The plane subsequently entered a spin, leading to a crash in an open field situated in the vicinity of the village of Gabare. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the airframe and caused 73 fatalities.
Findings
- The aircraft lost controllability at an altitude of 4,900 meters.
- The sequence of events involved the aircraft entering a spin prior to impact.