Aircraft crashed after crocodile on board escape and sparked panic

mzeiya

Elder Lister
Following last Sunday's accident in TZ, I did a little digging and found this bizarre incident that some of you, like me had never had about.


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A crocodile stashed in a duffel bag got loose on an airplane, frightened passengers and led to a crash that killed 20 people on board, according to inquiry into the accident.

A crocodile stashed in a duffel bag got loose on an airplane, frightened passengers and led to a crash that killed 20 people on board, according to an inquiry into the accident.
The lone survivor of the crash in the Democratic Republic of Congo told the story to investigators, the U.K.’s Telegraph reported on Thursday. A British pilot was among the dead.

The plane was on a routine domestic flight from the capital of Kinshasa to a regional airport in Bandundu when the bizarre tale unfolded on Aug. 25.
An unnamed passenger had hidden the crocodile in a large duffel bag with the intent of selling the reptile, according to the Telegraph. The animal escaped as the plane approached its destination.

Pandemonium ensued.

"The terrified air hostess hurried towards the cockpit, followed by the passengers," a report obtained by the Telegraph said. The plane then became unstable, "despite the desperate efforts of the pilot."

The plane crashed into a home a few hundred feet from the airport, though the people who lived in the residence were not in the house.


The crocodile reportedly survived the crash but was killed by a blow from a machete.

The aircraft belonged to Filair, a private carrier, and was a Czech-made Let L-410 twin turboprop.

At the time of the crash, media reports said the plane apparently ran out of fuel and couldn’t make a proper landing.
Congo’s domestic air service consists mainly of badly maintained Soviet-era aircraft with a dismal safety history, according to media reports. Air crashes are common in the Central African country.
 

bigDog

Elder Lister
Following last Sunday's accident in TZ, I did a little digging and found this bizarre incident that some of you, like me had never had about.


_____________
A crocodile stashed in a duffel bag got loose on an airplane, frightened passengers and led to a crash that killed 20 people on board, according to inquiry into the accident.

A crocodile stashed in a duffel bag got loose on an airplane, frightened passengers and led to a crash that killed 20 people on board, according to an inquiry into the accident.
The lone survivor of the crash in the Democratic Republic of Congo told the story to investigators, the U.K.’s Telegraph reported on Thursday. A British pilot was among the dead.

The plane was on a routine domestic flight from the capital of Kinshasa to a regional airport in Bandundu when the bizarre tale unfolded on Aug. 25.
An unnamed passenger had hidden the crocodile in a large duffel bag with the intent of selling the reptile, according to the Telegraph. The animal escaped as the plane approached its destination.

Pandemonium ensued.

"The terrified air hostess hurried towards the cockpit, followed by the passengers," a report obtained by the Telegraph said. The plane then became unstable, "despite the desperate efforts of the pilot."

The plane crashed into a home a few hundred feet from the airport, though the people who lived in the residence were not in the house.


The crocodile reportedly survived the crash but was killed by a blow from a machete.

The aircraft belonged to Filair, a private carrier, and was a Czech-made Let L-410 twin turboprop.

At the time of the crash, media reports said the plane apparently ran out of fuel and couldn’t make a proper landing.
Congo’s domestic air service consists mainly of badly maintained Soviet-era aircraft with a dismal safety history, according to media reports. Air crashes are common in the Central African country.
This story doesn't add up. Bandundu is a town that's approximately 250 km north-east of Kinshasa. It's located on the banks of the kwilu river just after the merger of Mai-ndombe and the smaller kwilu. This river then pours into the bigger Kasai river which is a major tributary of the mighty river Congo.

It's usual for game meat to be transported from the interior to Kinshasa using the river for two reasons. There is a bigger market in Kinshasa due to it's huge population. The other reason is that transport along the river is cheap. To maximize profits, game meat is usually transport after the animal has been killed and dried for preservation and easier handling.

This story doesn't make sense. It's like saying someone flew a goat from Wilson airport to Garissa or Isiolo! Total hogwash!
 

Tiiga Waana

Elder Lister
Negative. Never ever been. Which was why I asked @mzeiya.

Most airports in the world, and 100% in Kenya, luggage and passengers have to undergo scanning before boarding.
In Kenya, you could never have a crocodile being a fellow passenger.
 

mzeiya

Elder Lister
Negative. Never ever been. Which was why I asked @mzeiya.

Most airports in the world, and 100% in Kenya, luggage and passengers have to undergo scanning before boarding.
In Kenya, you could never have a crocodile being a fellow passenger.
What if I told you that KQ, the pride of Africa alongside EgyptAir and later on ET have ferried live game especially chimps from Africa especially the equatorial regions to the Arab World and former Soviet states?
Now, as a zealous Pan-African, I absolutely hope this tale isn't true but more bizarre things have happened. We should also be grateful for the strict aviation standards here in KE.
Here's a fact check on the same story: https://www.newsweek.com/fact-check-did-smuggled-crocodile-1738122
 

QuadroK4000

Elder Lister
What if I told you that KQ, the pride of Africa alongside EgyptAir and later on ET have ferried live game especially chimps from Africa especially the equatorial regions to the Arab World and former Soviet states?
Now, as a zealous Pan-African, I absolutely hope this tale isn't true but more bizarre things have happened. We should also be grateful for the strict aviation standards here in KE.
Here's a fact check on the same story: https://www.newsweek.com/fact-check-did-smuggled-crocodile-1738122
No.. Way

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Tiiga Waana

Elder Lister
What if I told you that KQ, the pride of Africa alongside EgyptAir and later on ET have ferried live game especially chimps from Africa especially the equatorial regions to the Arab World and former Soviet states?
Now, as a zealous Pan-African, I absolutely hope this tale isn't true but more bizarre things have happened. We should also be grateful for the strict aviation standards here in KE.
Here's a fact check on the same story: https://www.newsweek.com/fact-check-did-smuggled-crocodile-1738122
Good point @mzeiya.
Translocation of animals is ok. Happens every day. Mzungu airlines are always carrying dogs, cats and other weird pets.
The difference with DRC is that the international protocols are that those animals are quarantined before travel and are transported in a different chamber down below the plane not on overhead lockers next to passengers.

KQ has successfully transported many lions, elephants, Primates and sundry all from Europe to rehoming in Africa. But all translocations are humane and protocols are followed to the letter.
 

bigDog

Elder Lister
Negative. Never ever been. Which was why I asked @mzeiya.

Most airports in the world, and 100% in Kenya, luggage and passengers have to undergo scanning before boarding.
In Kenya, you could never have a crocodile being a fellow passenger.
I firmly believe that those are fake stories. This is one story that I think is doctored.

Bamindele balingaka biso Batu ya mwindu te! Chance ya mundele!

 
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