Investigations have been instituted to ascertain the cause of a military plane that crash landed belonging to the Zambia Air Force (ZAF). Questions have arisen as to why ZAF was delivering fuel to Mukinge mission when all other missions don’t receive fuel rations from government.
A check with Mukinge mission revealed that the mission could not give details as to why they were receiving the fuel or indeed if they received any fuel. Mukinge mission could not state if they indeed were receiving fuel but referred the matter back to ZAF for details.
And ZAF confirmed that they has instituted an investigation in the crash that happened in Kasempa district at Mukinge Mission Hospital airstrip where a ZAF plane crash-landed. ZAF Director of Public Relations Colonel Peter Zimba said the air force has constituted a body of inquiry to determine what led to the accident.
Speaking in an interview with the Zambian Business Times-ZBT, Zimba said the investigation, which will take a week, will provide the details of what led to the accident. When asked the worth of the plane and whether it was insured, Colonel Zimba said the airforce will be able to provide all that information once the investigation is concluded.
A Zambia Air Force plane crash-landed at Mukinge Mission Hospital airstrip on Tuesday, the 26 January around 08:50 hours, with the initial report indicating that the plane was delivering fuel to Mukinge mission. The mission has however declined to either confirm or deny receiving any fuel consignment.
A preliminary report indicates that the five-sitter plane which crash landed had five crew members on board. The crash left three (who include the pilot and copilot) unhurt, while the two complained of general body pains were admitted to Mukinge mission hospital.
The aircraft registration number AF 222 was reported to have been flying from Lusaka to Kasempa. The crash left a shattered front window screen and a damaged front nose, raising questions of whether it was insured and what the replacement costs would be.
