What happened
During a night departure from Nouakchott, an aircraft transporting officials and military personnel experienced a catastrophic failure. The flight was returning to the capital following an official visit to the Hodh Ech Chargui Region by the President of the Republic of Mauritania. On board were 35 passengers, consisting of members of the Mauritanian Army fanfare, along with seven crew members.
As the aircraft entered its initial climb phase shortly after takeoff, it suffered a stall and impacted the ground near the end of the runway. The collision triggered a massive explosion upon impact. The accident resulted in 39 fatalities and left three passengers with serious injuries. The force of the impact and the subsequent post-crash fire led to the total destruction of the aircraft.
Findings
Investigations into the accident determined that the aircraft experienced a loss of control during the early stages of flight. This loss of control was precipitated by the failure of one engine for reasons that remain undetermined.