What happened
Following its departure from Kiev-Borispol Airport, the flight crew notified air traffic control regarding a malfunction with the aircraft's landing gear. In response to this emergency, the crew was granted permission to perform a return to the departure airfield.
During the subsequent approach, the crew identified that the left main landing gear had failed to extend and remained trapped within the wheel well. Despite this mechanical issue, the decision was made to proceed with the descent. As the aircraft type made contact with the runway, the left side of the plane impacted the ground, causing the vehicle to tilt and slide several dozen meters along the pavement before coming to a complete stop.
While there were 0 fatalities and 0 injuries among the 147 occupants, the incident resulted in the total loss of the airframe, as the aircraft was determined to be damaged beyond repair.
Findings
- The primary issue involved the left main landing gear failing to deploy from its housing.
- The aircraft's structural integrity was compromised during the uneven touchdown, leading to the destruction of the airframe.