What happened
During the climb phase following departure from Neryungry Airport, the flight crew identified a critical malfunction involving the third engine. The captain notified Air Traffic Control that engine n°3 had experienced a failure and subsequently ignited.
In response to the fire, the pilot was granted clearance to perform an emergency return to the departure airfield. The crew executed a turn to reposition the aircraft and proceeded with a standard landing procedure.
Upon touchdown, the aircraft sustained damage that rendered it a total loss. Despite the severity of the mechanical failure and the resulting fire, all 28 occupants successfully evacuated the aircraft without any reported fatalities or injuries.
Findings
- The primary issue was the failure and subsequent fire of engine n°3 during the climb.