IL-76 crash
Eleven killed in jet crash
From correspondents in Entenne, Uganda
Agence France-Presse
March 10, 2009 01:19am
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+ - Print Email Share Add to MySpace Add to Digg Add to del.icio.us Add to Fark Post to Facebook Add to Kwoff What are these? A SOVIET-era jet caught fire and crashed into Lake Victoria today after taking off from Uganda's main airport, killing 11 people, including three top Burundi army officers, officials said.
The burning Ilyushin 76 plunged into the nearby lake as it left for the Somali capital of Mogadishu at dawn.
Uganda's Information Minister, Kabakumba Masiko, said three Burundians, two Ugandans, one Indian and a South African as well as a crew of four were on board.
Russsian media reported two Russian and two Ukrainian crew members were among those killed.
Although Masiko said no bodies had yet been recovered, the country's Civil Aviation Authority spokesman, Ignia Igundura, said: "All people on board are feared dead.''
A rescue operation was launched with speedboats moving around the wreckage and civil aviation, military and Red Cross teams at the scene.
Teams of police and army divers took turns in the search but were yet to retrieve any bodies, media has reported.
Sheets of metal, a pair of aircraft wheels and other debris were washed ashore, but the body of the plane remained submerged.
"We will get a clear picture of the extent of the operation at the end of the day,'' said Vian Luddya, the deputy spokesman of the Ugandan Civil Aviation Authority.
Two boats were struck by the careering plane, injuring four fishermen, the minister said.