What happened
During a scheduled maritime patrol mission, the flight crew reported an engine fire to ground controllers. A subsequent communication from the aircraft confirmed that the crew had successfully extinguished the flames. However, approximately seven minutes after this update, the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of control.
The plane entered a steep dive and impacted the surface of the Barents Sea, specifically in the waters off Bear Island, located south of the Svalbard Archipelago. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft. There were no survivors among the 12 crew members on board.
Findings
Investigations into the accident suggest that the primary factor leading to the crash was a mechanical failure involving the propulsion system. It is believed that a propeller blade detached during flight and struck the fuselage. This impact caused an intense rapid decompression of the cabin, which ultimately led to the loss of control and the subsequent crash.