BDF down today
 

BDF down with fatalities. Weather playing a role? Anyone know what type?

What's BDF ?

Botswana Defence Force.

I heard it was a police squirrel.

Yeah, Police Chopper.

The rumour is they didn't want to overnight at the planned night stop and decided to fly back during the night.
Got into some trouble of some sort, and went down near Nxabega. Nothing left of the chopper at all after the post impact fire.

Sad news to hear for all those involved.

Correct Police. It was a few days ago but took some time to find the wreckage.

edit to add: Currently at Maun Lodge. Many BDF Pilots and senior police officers kicking around. I think that there is a big meeting going/has gone on.

I have just heard from a very reliable source that they are looking at various causes but interesting being shot down by poachers is being considered. It is a problem area for this activity.

It was two male and one female who died.

Unless the chopper was actively pursuing them... taking down a police helicopter that has come out of nowhere, at 500ft (give or take, but would be a brave man to fly lower at night over pitch black terrain), moving at nearly 200km/h, and being brought down with a rifle... would take some luck...
Would have to be a spur of the moment "Hey, lets shoot a helicopter" kind of deal.

I agree LB. I did say it was just one of many lines of investigation. They could have spotted lights and come to a hover. With poaching here you can shoot without asking any questions so a copper chopper is a bit of a threat to these gangs. Not that they have missiles hung from the skids - yet :eek:

You know as well as I do we will never see the investigation report. I do however have a good inside source but return to Greece on Tuesday so no more updates from me for 3 months.

I lied about no more updates for 3 months. Just see this in the Nagami Times on line:

http://www.ngamitimes.com/2014/05/cr...ing-blind-crew

Sounds a feasible cause.