Video shows passengers standing on top of Tanzania plane after deadly crash

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Video shows passengers standing on top of Tanzania plane after deadly crash | Secret Flying

Passenger plane plunges into Lake Victoria in Tanzania.

 

A Precision Air plane has crashed into Lake Victoria as it attempted to land in the lakeside town of Bukoba, killing at least 19 people.

 

The two pilots initially survived and managed to speak to local officials from the cockpit but reports suggest they have since died.

 

Regional commissioner Albert Chalamila said 43 people – including 39 passengers, two pilots and two cabin crew – were on board the plane.

 

Video footage from the scene of the accident shows the plane was left partially submerged in water, as rescuers tried to save those still inside.

 

Survivors were able to climb on top of the plane as they waited for boats to take them to land.

 

Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said officials believe all bodies have now been recovered from the airplane.

 

“We’re starting to pull out the luggage and personal items from the aircraft. A team of doctors and security agencies have started the process of identifying the dead and notifying the families,” Majaliwa said.

 

“All Tanzanians join you in mourning these 19 people.”

 

The tragedy, which occurred around 08:50 local time, has been blamed on bad weather.

 

Richard Komba, a survivor of the crash, told the BBC that when the plane was about to land, the weather had deteriorated, forcing the pilot to reroute the aircraft.

 

“We were then informed that we would be landing shortly, but there was heavy turbulence. We later found ourselves in the lake,” Komba said.

 

“Water then entered the plane and those sitting near the front were covered by it. I was in the back seat and most of us in the back of the plane struggled to get out.”

 

He said one cabin crew member was struggling to open the aircraft’s door, but he was eventually able to be freed.

 

“When we got out, no boat was there – it took quite long to get rescued but the boat that came was not so good, it was a canoe.”

 

Precision Air, which is partly owned by Kenya Airways, was founded in 1993 and operates domestic and regional flights as well as private charters to popular tourist destinations such as the Serengeti National Park and the Zanzibar archipelago.