Airlines

Precision Air ATR 42 Accident In Tanzania, Fatalities Reported

Business aviation is among the most secure types of transportation, and accidents that result in fatalities are extremely uncommon. Sadly right now is an exception.

Turboprop crashes in Tanzania with fatalities

Right this moment (Sunday, November 6, 2022), a Precision Air ATR 42-500 crashed in Tanzania. For reference, Precision Air is Tanzania’s largest privately owned airline, and it’s partly owned by Kenya Airways (Air Tanzania is a bit bigger, however is owned by the federal government). The airline operates a fleet of roughly 10 ATR turboprop plane, together with each the ATR 42 and ATR 72.

The incident right now occurred on a flight working from Dar es Salaam (DAR) to Bukoba (BKZ) by way of Mwanza (MWZ). This was a complete of a 640-mile journey, with the primary flight protecting 529 miles, and the second flight protecting 111 miles. The aircraft had 43 individuals onboard, together with 39 passengers and 4 crew members (the ATR 42-500 has a capability for 48 passengers).

This flight was operated by a roughly 12 yr outdated turboprop with the license plate 5H-PWF. Precision Air names every of its planes after a vacation spot in Tanzania, and coincidentally this aircraft was named “Bukoba,” which can also be the place it crashed.

The route this Precision Air route was working

Whereas on strategy, the aircraft crashed into Lake Victoria, the biggest lake in Africa. The aircraft got here to a cease roughly 300 toes from the runway threshold. It’s not solely clear if the aircraft merely overran the runway, or if it someway missed the strategy. The runway on the airport is roughly 4,500 toes lengthy.

As of now particulars stay restricted, particularly as there was no ADS-B monitoring. Nonetheless, officers say that climate circumstances weren’t good within the space. Regardless, I’m going to go forward and guess that the beneath is a really unhealthy take, as I believe it’s too early to congratulate the airline on doing a terrific job with this touchdown.

Sophisticated rescue efforts are ongoing

For the reason that Precision Air ATR 42-500 crashed just a few hundred toes from land, native fisherman and rescue employees have been working laborious to avoid wasting the passengers.

Not solely have officers been attempting to get individuals off the aircraft, however they’ve additionally been attempting to carry up the plane out of the water, and convey it nearer to shore. At one level the fuselage was virtually utterly submerged, with solely the tail protruding. Luckily due to the rescue efforts, the aircraft is not totally submerged.

Based mostly on the newest replace, finally 26 individuals have been rescued, and sadly three our bodies have been recovered. There are clearly nonetheless over a dozen individuals unaccounted for. The 2 pilots had allegedly survived the crash, however remained trapped within the cockpit, however stayed in contact with officers. I assume meaning the cabin didn’t fill with water whereas submerged.

My ideas are with these onboard and their households, as these rescue efforts proceed…

Backside line

A Precision Air ATR 42 crashed in Tanzania right now, in a scenario that officers are blaming on unhealthy climate. The aircraft was just a few hundred toes from the airport it was presupposed to fly to, however ended up having an accident within the water.

Whereas 26 individuals have been confirmed to be rescued, there are three confirmed fatalities. With a complete of 43 individuals on the aircraft, rescue efforts are ongoing.

Whereas aviation is so extremely protected, sadly occasions like this are a reminder of how issues can go very flawed.



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