Seven European tourists die in Botswana plane crash

Seven European tourists die in Botswana plane crash

2011-10-18 20:51:46 GMT+7 (ICT)

MAUN, BOTSWANA (BNO NEWS) -- A medium sized passenger aircraft crashed in the African country of Botswana on early Monday afternoon, killing seven European tourists and a pilot, officials said on Tuesday.

The accident happened at around 1.55 p.m. local time when the 15-seater Cessna 208 Caravan aircraft, operated by Moremi Air Charters, crashed during take-off at Xakanaka Airfield, which is located in the country's Okavango Delta region. The aircraft was headed toward the Pom Pom area in the Delta, the Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana (CAAB) said.

In Tuesday's CAAB statement, officials said there were nine passengers and two crew members on board. However, local media have reported that records showed that twelve people were on board the aircraft at the time of the accident.

Letsholathebe Hospital superintendent Dr. Maxwell Mungisi told a local newspaper that seven people suffered fatal burns, preventing them from being identified. Mungisi said the victims were four Swedish, two British and two French nationals but explained that only testing would allow them to be formally identified.

In addition to the victims who burned to death, one tourist was killed when he tried to escape from the crashing plane by jumping out while the aircraft was in mid-air. The tourist died at the airport after suffering serious injuries from the fall.

Among the four survivors are a French couple and the only two people from Botswana, two officials of the Department of Road Transport and Safety (DRTS). The French couple was airlifted to Milpark hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa, where they were both reported to be in a stable condition.

Local newspaper The Monitor interviewed one of the survivors, Bernard Lottering, who said that the aircraft came down shortly after take off. He was able to kick out a window after the crash and escaped. He then pulled out his colleague and the French couple.

When rescue workers and emergency teams arrived at the scene, the plane was already on fire and burnt bodies were seen hanging out of the aircraft from what seemed to be failed escape attempts.

Moremi Air Charters Chief Executive Officer Sue Smart, meanwhile, said that the pilot, who also died in the crash, was one of the airline's most experienced pilots with over 12,000 flying hours and was also Moremi's general manager. She also informed that their fleet has been temporary grounded as an investigation is being carried out.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-10-18