Six passengers flying on a chartered flight to the island district of Likoma on Lake Malawi survived a would be fatal crash over the weekend after the plane's front tyre burst, police have confirmed.
The ZQ Fox flight belonging to Nyasa Air Taxi was flying from Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe to the island when upon landing at Likoma airstrip the tyre burst forcing its propeller shaft to break down.
Likoma Police Officer Charles Bunya confirmed the accident but could not give further details referring this reporter to Department of Aviation officials.
"All six passengers escaped unhurt after the pilot successfully managed to land the aircraft and stop without any danger," he said.
Despite being one of Malawi's major foreign tourists' destinations, Likoma Island has one of the worst airstrips. Residents from the area, particularly those in the hospitality industry, have continuously complained of the condition of the landing area.
The airstrip requires an urgent attention as it harbors a lot of potholes with long grasses and most of the times goats use to graze on the airstrip.
Last year, the country witnessed two light plane crashes.
One involved a South African chartered aircraft which crashed in Dowa shortly after taking off at Kamuzu International Airport and two investors from Paladin Africa Limited, an Australian mining company, died.
Up to now results of the cause of the crash is not yet known.
The other plane crash occurred at Nyika National Park in Rumphi killing on the spot five tourists who were visiting one of Malawi's main tourists' attraction areas.
Wednesday, 30 July 2008
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