Crocodile causes crash in Congo
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: ?
Posts: 220
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Crocodile causes crash in Congo
Crocodile on plane kills 19 passengers
A STOWAWAY crocodile on a flight escaped from its carrier bag and sparked an onboard stampede that caused the flight to crash, killing 19 passengers and crew.
The croc had been hidden in a passenger's sports bag - allegedly with plans to sell it - but it tore loose and ran amok, sparking panic.
A stampede of terrified passengers caused the small aircraft to lose balance and tip over in mid-air during an internal flight in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The unbalanced load caused the aircraft, on a routine flight from the capital, Kinshasa, to the regional airport at Bandundu, to go into a spin and crash into a house.
A lone survivor from the Let 410 plane told the astonishing tale to investigators.
Ironically the crocodile also survived the crash but was later killed with a machete by rescuers sifting through the wreckage.
British pilot Chris Wilson, 39, from Shurdington, near Cheltenham, Glocs was acting as the plane's first officer alongside Belgian pilot Danny Philemotte, 62, who was owner of the plane's operator Filair.
The plane smashed into an empty house just a few hundred metres from its destination.
"According to the inquiry report and the testimony of the only survivor, the crash happened because of a panic sparked by the escape of a crocodile hidden in a sports bag,” news organisation Jeune Afrique reported.
"One of the passengers had hidden the animal, which he planned to sell, in a big sports bag, from which the reptile escaped as the plane began its descent into Bandundu.
"The terrified air hostess hurried towards the cockpit, followed by the passengers."
The plane was then sent off-balance "despite the desperate efforts of the pilot", said the report.
"The crocodile survived the crash before being cut up with a machete."
The plane was a Czech-made Let L-410 Turbolet, one of more than 1,100 produced as short-range transport aircraft and used mainly for passenger services.
A STOWAWAY crocodile on a flight escaped from its carrier bag and sparked an onboard stampede that caused the flight to crash, killing 19 passengers and crew.
The croc had been hidden in a passenger's sports bag - allegedly with plans to sell it - but it tore loose and ran amok, sparking panic.
A stampede of terrified passengers caused the small aircraft to lose balance and tip over in mid-air during an internal flight in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The unbalanced load caused the aircraft, on a routine flight from the capital, Kinshasa, to the regional airport at Bandundu, to go into a spin and crash into a house.
A lone survivor from the Let 410 plane told the astonishing tale to investigators.
Ironically the crocodile also survived the crash but was later killed with a machete by rescuers sifting through the wreckage.
British pilot Chris Wilson, 39, from Shurdington, near Cheltenham, Glocs was acting as the plane's first officer alongside Belgian pilot Danny Philemotte, 62, who was owner of the plane's operator Filair.
The plane smashed into an empty house just a few hundred metres from its destination.
"According to the inquiry report and the testimony of the only survivor, the crash happened because of a panic sparked by the escape of a crocodile hidden in a sports bag,” news organisation Jeune Afrique reported.
"One of the passengers had hidden the animal, which he planned to sell, in a big sports bag, from which the reptile escaped as the plane began its descent into Bandundu.
"The terrified air hostess hurried towards the cockpit, followed by the passengers."
The plane was then sent off-balance "despite the desperate efforts of the pilot", said the report.
"The crocodile survived the crash before being cut up with a machete."
The plane was a Czech-made Let L-410 Turbolet, one of more than 1,100 produced as short-range transport aircraft and used mainly for passenger services.
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 1,958
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Crocodile causes air crash?
The fatal crash of a Let 410 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was allegedly caused by a crocodile! According to the report, a three ft reptile escaped from a bag in the aircraft cabin causing passengers to panic and rush forwards, which in turn caused the aircraft to pitch down and crash with tragic consequences. Reported in Daily Mirror so it must be true,!
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: flyover country USA
Age: 82
Posts: 4,579
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yep - it's an exact duplicate of a 2010 crash - right? 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Kinshasa DRC
Posts: 146
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
UK Coroners report.....
In fairness to ShotOne this is the UK coroners report into the death of the co-pilot Chris Wilson and not a report on the accident which occurred 3 years ago. It is interesting and somewhat ironic that an official UK investigation into an African aircraft accident would reach such a bizarre conclusion as to the most probable cause..........the real reason is more complicated and speaks volumes on Aviation safety and general oversight on the part of local civil aviation authorities and operators alike...... A one meter long crocodile which can be seen in one of the photos (tied up) had nothing to do with the accident - fuel starvation is - following an on site investigation by two pilots and civil aviation inspectors a few hours after the crash, NO fuel was present on one side with the engine shut down and propeller feathered, while the other had just 100lts or 20 minutes with an unservicable fuel boost pump. Based on departure fuel(Which was recorded) route flown and specific fuel consumption for the LET - There would have been only around 80-100 lts remaining at the time of the accident when there should have been more than twice that amount for a similar flight. The only survivor changed his story 3 times in the week following the crash - and as the airline was paying for all his hospital and medical bills......it is not difficult to ascertain why he did so! The cockpit voice and flight data recorder were both removed the same day and brought to Kinshasa where they conveniently disappeared!
weekend mirror and a false Croc story-
Perhaps if 4runner had looked at the history of this LET he would understand the comment made by Mobotu about this aircraft having a CVR and a flight data recorder---not that Mobotu was suggesting that all aircraft in the Congo are so equipt--The sad thing is that the co pilot who happens to be British has been killed (along with many others)--The Coroner in Gloucester has apparently not been fully informed of all the facts from the post information made by Mobotu which means the family are not going to know the truth about the death--the posts made by this man from Kinshasa about african avaition provide an honest view from a Pilot ----
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Cheltenham
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I met Chris just before he went back to Africa.... not that he wanted to go as he said the aircraft were not being well maintained but was the only way he could get salary owed to him.... as was trying out one of his headsets (doing circuits at Glos) with a view to buy.
When I returned the headset, having decided to go ANR, he said that he'd popped over to the airfield to watch the proceedings. Thankfully landings were ok.
I then bought his spare knee board and electronic flight computer off him and he gave me one of his Environmental text books as I was midway through my dissertation on European Airparks for my MSc in European Rural Development.
A very nice guy who had just started a new relationship and was really happy. Such a shame and loss.
Personally I don't believe a word of an escaped croc.
When I returned the headset, having decided to go ANR, he said that he'd popped over to the airfield to watch the proceedings. Thankfully landings were ok.
I then bought his spare knee board and electronic flight computer off him and he gave me one of his Environmental text books as I was midway through my dissertation on European Airparks for my MSc in European Rural Development.
A very nice guy who had just started a new relationship and was really happy. Such a shame and loss.
Personally I don't believe a word of an escaped croc.
Chris wilson--L410 crash
The comments made by Mobotu about the real cause of this tragedy have been drawn to the attention of the Gloucester Coroners Court so the Family know the truth----and the the crocodile was innocent!!!
