The Aviation Herald reports on how two of the same aircraft had accidents at the same airport on the same day, and it was seemingly unrelated… huh?
In this post:
Two EMB-120s have accidents at Tanzanian airport
These incidents happened today (Tuesday, November 28, 2023), at Kikoboga Airstrip, located within Mikumi National Park, Tanzania.
The first incident involves a 22-year-old Unity Air Zanzibar Embraer EMB-120 with the registration code 5H-MJH. The flight was operating from Zanzibar to Kikoboga with 30 passengers and three crew onboard.
While the plane was on approach to the airport, the crew reported problems with the landing gear. When the plane touched down, both of the main landing gear collapsed, causing the plane to veer off the runway, and come to a stop on the grass. The aircraft sustained serious damage, though fortunately there were no injuries.
The second incident happened around six hours later, and involves a 27-year-old Sindbard Air Embraer EMB-120 with registration code 5H-FLM. The flight was operating from Kikoboga to Zanzibar, with 30 passengers and three crew onboard.
While the plane was accelerating for takeoff, the aircraft suffered a nose gear collapse, causing it to veer off the runway and collide with a building, at which point it came to a stop. The aircraft sustained serious damage, though there were no injuries.
Below you can watch the surreal video that captures both of the damaged aircraft at the airport, with one still on fire. Based on this video, you’d almost think that this airport was attacked in some military operation.
What an incredibly strange story
This has to be one of the strangest aircraft accident situations we’ve seen… ever? The incidents happened at the same airport, involve flights between the same pair of airports, involve the same kinds of aircraft, happened on the same day, and involve the same issue. Heck, the accidents were almost complementary, with the first plane suffering a rear gear collapse, and the second plane suffering a nose gear collapse.
Was this just a total coincidence, or could there have been some link between the two accidents? Could the plane involved in the first accident have left some debris on the runway that impacted the second aircraft? Do the planes have some common maintenance link that could explain gear issues? Those are only two possible things that these accidents could have in common…
Bottom line
Two Embraer EMB-120s had accidents at the same airport in Tanzania today. The first aircraft suffered a landing gear issues while on approach, while the second aircraft suffered a landing gear collapse during takeoff. Very, very strange…
What do you make of this accident situation?
Makes me wonder if there was a maintenance person who was either incompetent or deliberately sabotaging these planes.
Glad no one was seriously hurt
Without specifically commenting on these two accidents, it should be noted that operations on gravel runways like Kikoboga are brutal on the undercarriage. These are not the first gear failures in such situations and are unlikely to be the last.
This is like Tanzania’s own mini version of the two Malaysia Airlines incidents in 2014.
Paging Sean M. Sean M to the comments section please.
@Sean Omaat Africa specialist ?
Coincidence? I THINK NOT.
Airport reopened 6 HOURS (maximum) after a severe accident? Seems difficult to believe - clean up and repair not done right of the airport grounds, debris and foreign objects likely on the runway damaging the second aircraft reuslting in this! A piece of metal debris on the runway could easily do this.
As for same airplane - embraer 120s are amongst the MOST COMMON prop aircraft in northern afrcia so this isn't too shocking
It could theoretically be connected, if during the first accident the aircraft left some debris on the runway and the second aircraft on takeoff ran into those. But that's for the investigators to find out.
Very weird situation indeed.
I would be looking at service records of both aircraft to see if there is some common link - person, place, parts supplied, etc. Both experienced landing gear malfunction - could even be a sabotage by some disgruntled mechanic. Coincidences are rarely coincidences.