McDonnell Douglas MD-82

On final approach to Malakal Airport, the airplane was too low, causing both main landing gears to touch the ground about two metres short of runway 04 threshold. Upon impact, both landing gears sheared off and the airplane slid on its belly for few hundred metres before coming to rest in the middle of the runway. Both pilots escaped unharmed. According to locals, the airplane was en route from Juba to pick up returnees who had fled Sudan’s war from Malakal to Juba and had no passengers on board.

Following an uneventful flight from Santo Domingo-Las Américas Airport, the crew was cleared to land on runway 09 at Miami-Intl Airport. According to a video, it is believed that both main landing gear were not properly extended upon touchdown. The airplane rolled for few hundred metres then deviated to the left and departed the runway to the left. It collided with obstacles, lost its undercarriage and came to rest in a grassy area, bursting into flames. Fire was quickly extinguished. All 126 occupants evacuated safely, among them three passengers were taken to Jackson Hospital.