Escaped crocodile sparked panic which brought down airliner killing British pilot and 19 others
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 1:08 AM on 22nd October 2010
An escaped crocodile caused a plane crash that killed a British co-pilot and 19 others on board, it emerged yesterday.
The small plane was thrown off balance by a stampede of passengers trying to avoid the reptile.
First Officer Chris Wilson, 39, from Shurdington, Gloucestershire, died alongside Belgian pilot Danny Philemotte, 62, when the twin-engined plane crashed into a house a few hundred metres from its destination in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
It has only now emerged that a lone survivor apparently told investigators about the crocodile.
The Let L-410 Turbolet came down despite no apparent mechanical problems during an internal flight from the capital, Kinshasa, to Bandundu regional airport on August 25.
A report by news organisation Jeune Afrique stated: 'According to the inquiry report and the testimony of the only survivor, the crash happened because of a panic sparked by the escape of a crocodile hidden in a sports bag.
'One of the passengers had hidden the animal, which he planned to sell, in a big sports bag, from which the reptile escaped :gasp: as the plane began its descent into Bandundu.
Crash: The Let 410 turbo prop plane hit the ground just short of the regional airport of Bandundu (file picture)
'The terrified air hostess hurried towards the cockpit, followed by all the passengers.'
The plane was then sent off-balance 'despite the desperate efforts of the pilot', said the report.
'The crocodile survived the crash before being cut up with a machete.'
The occupants of the property the plane crashed into were away.
The plane was a Czech-made Let L-410 Turbolet, one of more than 1,100 produced as short-range transport aircraft and used mainly for passenger services.
Read more: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...rought-airliner-killing-20.html#ixzz132mZlI8o
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 1:08 AM on 22nd October 2010
An escaped crocodile caused a plane crash that killed a British co-pilot and 19 others on board, it emerged yesterday.
The small plane was thrown off balance by a stampede of passengers trying to avoid the reptile.
First Officer Chris Wilson, 39, from Shurdington, Gloucestershire, died alongside Belgian pilot Danny Philemotte, 62, when the twin-engined plane crashed into a house a few hundred metres from its destination in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
It has only now emerged that a lone survivor apparently told investigators about the crocodile.
The Let L-410 Turbolet came down despite no apparent mechanical problems during an internal flight from the capital, Kinshasa, to Bandundu regional airport on August 25.
A report by news organisation Jeune Afrique stated: 'According to the inquiry report and the testimony of the only survivor, the crash happened because of a panic sparked by the escape of a crocodile hidden in a sports bag.
'One of the passengers had hidden the animal, which he planned to sell, in a big sports bag, from which the reptile escaped :gasp: as the plane began its descent into Bandundu.
'The terrified air hostess hurried towards the cockpit, followed by all the passengers.'
The plane was then sent off-balance 'despite the desperate efforts of the pilot', said the report.
'The crocodile survived the crash before being cut up with a machete.'
The occupants of the property the plane crashed into were away.
The plane was a Czech-made Let L-410 Turbolet, one of more than 1,100 produced as short-range transport aircraft and used mainly for passenger services.
Read more: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...rought-airliner-killing-20.html#ixzz132mZlI8o
