| Two BDF Aircrafts Collide |
|
By Goratileone Kgwadu LETLHAKENG - A Botswana Defence Force (BDF) pilot was badly injured when two aircrafts belonging to the force collided and caught fire yesterday morning. The two PC7 trainer planes, from Thebephatshwa Airbase near Letlhakeng in Kweneng District, are said to have been in routine formation training when the accident occurred at around 9 am. Four pilots were aboard. Eye witnesses said after the collision, the planes rotated and caught fire before they crashed to the ground. Three pilots managed to safely parachute to the ground while the other's parachute got hooked to the aircraft and failed to open, causing him to catch fire, fall and sustain serious injuries. "I was in my shop when I heard a bang in the skies and fire erupted," said Mr Moidul Islam, who also said the pilot had already caught fire and he rushed him to Letlhakeng clinic in his van. One plane fell on the top of Mr Shimanyanana Senyang's house and the house caught fire. The second aircraft crashed in the open area of Letlhakeng Primary School and damaged a parked van. At this point, school authorities had no choice, but to evacuate the students, all of whom were unhurt. Letlhakeng acting station commander, Inspector Daniel Katse said the two aircrafts were en route to their north west training area. He confirmed that no fatalities were recorded. He said the response to rescue the pilots was prompt because the accident happened in full view of the residents. Meanwhile, from MAUN, Omphile Ntakhwana reports that six passengers aboard a Cessna 206 operated by Delta Air Services that crashed on Wednesday have survived with minor injuries. The air crash was the second in the Okavango Delta in a space of four days. Last Friday, eight people perished and four others survived in an air crash involving another Cessna 208 aircraft operated by Moremi Air. According to a press release from the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the aircraft in yesterday's accident was flown by a South African pilot. The aircraft was ferrying five tourists comprising four French and one Namibian from Delta Airstrip in the Okavango Delta area. The release says an investigation into the cause of the accident has already begun and is being conducted by a team of experts from the Ministry of Transport and Communications. Ms Titi Nyadza, principal public relations officer at the Ministry of Transport and Communications said in an interview that they are concerned about the aircraft accidents. However, she said Botswana is safe when it comes to aircraft accidents. "These are isolated incidents and it was just a coincidence that they happened simultaneously", she said. She said they hope to identify the cause of the accidents. Ms Nyadza said as a ministry responsible for transport, their arm of Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana (CAAB) has been set up to monitor, inspect aircrafts and runways and ensure a safe and smooth running of the aviation industry. Source: BOPA - 21 October 2011 |
