Air Zimbabwe Boeing 767 "accident" at Harare is not an accident but an EMS drill
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: UK
Age: 48
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Air Zimbabwe Boeing 767 "accident" at Harare is not an accident but an EMS drill
BBC reporting an accident at Harare Airport of an Air Zimbabwe Flight from London. Any news
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Cardiff
Age: 48
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Guess whose nephew built the airport?
NewsTime reports as follows: -
"David Chawota, the head of Zimbabwe's Civil Aviation Authority said “I can confirm that a 767 plane coming from London has had an accident at Harare airport. We are trying to establish what has caused the accident. We have set up an emergency help line desk to assist.I am not at the site, but there are just injuries, no deaths"
The airport is operated by Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe and is the hub of Air Zimbabwe. It was constructed by an engineering Company called Integrated Contracting Engineers , which is owned by Leo Mugabe nephew of the President Robert Mugabe .The airport's runway, at 4,725 metres (15,502 ft), is one of the longest in Africa. It compares with OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, whose longest runway measures 4,418 metres (14,495 ft)"
"David Chawota, the head of Zimbabwe's Civil Aviation Authority said “I can confirm that a 767 plane coming from London has had an accident at Harare airport. We are trying to establish what has caused the accident. We have set up an emergency help line desk to assist.I am not at the site, but there are just injuries, no deaths"
The airport is operated by Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe and is the hub of Air Zimbabwe. It was constructed by an engineering Company called Integrated Contracting Engineers , which is owned by Leo Mugabe nephew of the President Robert Mugabe .The airport's runway, at 4,725 metres (15,502 ft), is one of the longest in Africa. It compares with OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, whose longest runway measures 4,418 metres (14,495 ft)"
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: somwhere over the rainbow
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
So what is it, a drill or an accident? News24 says that officials from SAA and Kenya were told it was a drill, but in the same article David Chawota says it was an accident.
FOXNews.com - Zimbabwe officials say report of Boeing 767 was false, only part of a training drill
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Zimbabwe officials now say that a report of plane accident at Harare's airport was false and only part of a training drill.
Earlier Thursday, aviation officials told news organizations that a Boeing 767 arriving from London had been involved in an accident. Ambulances headed to the scene, where smoke could be seen rising from one runway.
However, officials told reporters who arrived at the airport that it was only a drill.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Zimbabwean aviation officials say a Boeing 767 arriving from London has been involved in an accident at Harare's airport.
A witness says ambulances were headed to the scene, where smoke could be seen rising from one runway Thursday.
Earlier Thursday, aviation officials told news organizations that a Boeing 767 arriving from London had been involved in an accident. Ambulances headed to the scene, where smoke could be seen rising from one runway.
However, officials told reporters who arrived at the airport that it was only a drill.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Zimbabwean aviation officials say a Boeing 767 arriving from London has been involved in an accident at Harare's airport.
A witness says ambulances were headed to the scene, where smoke could be seen rising from one runway Thursday.
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: PDX
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
On the drill:
Here is a beautiful story with a named source [Edit: but not a named columnist] that even has an explanation for the smoke! It is well-written, but who can say if it is any more accurate than some of the less well-written stories.
"Accident" at Harare airport a spoof: airline official (1st Lead) - Monsters and Critics
"Accident" at Harare airport a spoof: airline official (1st Lead) - Monsters and Critics
Heh. This happened in New Zealand a few years back.
"NEWS FLASH! A Mt Cook Airlines aircraft has crashed on landing at Hokitika! Details to follow."
Some time later,
"Er, we regret to inform you that the report of a crashed aircraft was slightly exaggerated, it was just an emergency services drill."
"NEWS FLASH! A Mt Cook Airlines aircraft has crashed on landing at Hokitika! Details to follow."
Some time later,
"Er, we regret to inform you that the report of a crashed aircraft was slightly exaggerated, it was just an emergency services drill."
Just call me Rotty
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Rotty's Bar and Grill (@RJAF) Shinshu JP
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"Telling the media was part of the exercise. We wanted to see how the media would react," AP news agency quoted him as saying.
"In the event, the drill was a success because all our systems worked perfectly," he said.
"Police, security and hospital staff reacted swiftly."
"In the event, the drill was a success because all our systems worked perfectly," he said.
"Police, security and hospital staff reacted swiftly."
Manage the press, manage the situation.
Good to see a government have the News by the balls, instead of the other way 'round.
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: In transit
Age: 70
Posts: 3,052
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From two news reports :
BA don't fly LON-HRE. They only operate into ZW as a feeder from JNB.
Highly unlikely ..... hijacking a plane to leave Zim seems a more plausible scenario!
The only two airlines that ply the London-Harare route are British Airways and Air Zimbabwe. British Airways has denied any of its aircraft were involved.
David Mwenga, the Air Zimbabwe Europe and USA general manager said: "I am concerned that this incident led to many, many calls to us. People were frightened. No actual plane was involved, but there was a scenario involving a Boeing 767 plane that had been hijacked and forced down at Harare airport."
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Rockytop, Tennessee, USA
Posts: 5,898
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
No actual plane was involved, but there was a scenario involving a Boeing 767 plane that had been hijacked and forced down at Harare airport.
Mock hijack drill at Indore airport - Hindustan Times
The Chinese do these drills regularly and publicize them:
People's Daily Online -- Anti-hijack drill conducted in Chongqing
Anti-hijack drill in Nanjing
China conducts anti-hijack drill in Urumqi(21/10/04)
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: KwaZulu Natal
Age: 65
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sorry to disagree, rotated, but if you had a relative on board that flight you might just see the lack of forethought in that drill.
According to FLIGHT STATS.