What happened
A cargo flight operating from Basel Airport toward Moscow was en route when the crew reported smoke infiltrating the cabin. While cruising at an altitude of 10,600 meters, the flight crew declared an emergency and initially intended to divert to Prague-Ruzyne Airport.
As the onboard situation worsened, the crew attempted an emergency descent and landing in an open area in Velichovská, situated near Jaroměř. The aircraft, configured without flaps, touched down in a marshy field at speeds ranging between 370 and 390 km/h. During the landing sequence, the plane struck a two-meter-high embankment, causing the airframe to break into multiple pieces and ignite. All six crew members on board managed to exit the wreckage and sustained only minor injuries.
Findings
The emergency was precipitated by smoke spreading through the cabin during the cruise phase of the flight.