2010 Filair Let L-410 crash

Aviation accident in the Democratic Republic of Congo September 2019 Crash-avion-FIL-AIR1.jpg The Let L-410 crash site Accident 2010 08 25 yes Loss of control for undetermined reasons (possibly a crocodile entering cabin during final approach, leading to sudden center of gravity shift) Near Bandundu Airport, Bandundu, Democratic Republic of the Congo 3 18 40 S 17 22 24 E type:event inline,title Airest LET L-410UVP-E20C ES-LLB.jpg The aircraft involved in the accident, pictured in 2004 while still in service with Airest Let L-410UVP-E20C Filair 9Q-CCN N'Dolo Airport, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Basango Mboliasa Airport, Kiri, DRC Bokoro Airport, Bokoro, DRC Semendua Airport Semendwa, DRC Bandundu Airport, Bandundu, DRC N'Dolo Airport, Kinshasa, DRC 21 18 3 1 20 1 On 25 August 2010, a Let L-410 Turbolet passenger aircraft of Filair crashed on approach to Bandundu Airport in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, killing all but one of the 21 people on board. From a statement by the sole survivor, the accident was possibly the result of the occupants rushing to the front of the aircraft to escape from a crocodile smuggled on board by one of the passengers. The move compromised the aircraft's balance to the point that control of the aircraft was lost. However, some sources doubt this claim. Background NationalityPassengersCrewTotalDemocratic Republic of Congo18119Belgium11United Kingdom11Total18321 The aircraft was operating a round-robin domestic flight from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, stopping at Kiri, Bokoro, Semendwa and Bandundu. At 13:00 local time (12:00 UTC). The flight was piloted by 62-year-old Belgian Daniel Philemotte, who was also the owner of Filair, and his first officer, 39-year-old Briton Chris Wilson.12 July 2014 British Pilot Died When Crocodile On Plane Caused Congo Crash https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/british-pilot-died-when-crocodile-plane-caused-congo-crash-1456386 16 November 2024 International Business Times The crew also consisted of a single flight attendant.https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna39781214 Crocodile blamed for Congo air crash NBC News 21 October 2010 22 October 2010 All perished in the accident. Accident While on final approach to Bandundu Airport, the aircraft crashed into a house approximately 1kilometer (1 km 1 out) short of the runway. According to most sources, no one was injured on the ground, but 19 people were killed instantaneously, with two survivors being taken to hospital, one of whom later died from their injuries.2010-08-26 20 killed in DRC plane crash https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/2010/08/killed-in-drc-plane-crash/ 2022-06-04 Capital News en-US Of the 21 people on board, only one, a passenger, survived.25 August 2010 DR Congo plane crash in Bandundu 'kills 20' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-11087817 live https://web.archive.org/web/20100825200538/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-11087817 25 August 2010 25 August 2010 BBC News25 August 2010 Dix-neuf morts dans un accident d'avion dans l'ouest de la RDC Nineteen dead in a plane crash in western DRC http://www.lesoir.be/actualite/monde/2010-08-25/dix-neuf-morts-dans-un-accident-d-avion-dans-l-ouest-de-la-rdc-789465.php live https://web.archive.org/web/20100828102720/http://www.lesoir.be/actualite/monde/2010-08-25/dix-neuf-morts-dans-un-accident-d-avion-dans-l-ouest-de-la-rdc-789465.php 28 August 2010 25 August 2010 Le Soir French Most of the dead were Congolese. Aircraft The aircraft was a 1991-built Let L-410 Turbolet, with Congolese registration 9Q-CCN, construction number 912608.Ranter Harro ASN Aircraft accident Let L-410UVP-E20C 9Q-CCN Bandundu Airport https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20100825-0 live https://web.archive.org/web/20150502135630/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20100825-0 2 May 2015 25 August 2019 Aviation Safety Network Flight Safety Foundation It normally carries up to 19 passengers.25 August 2010 DR Congo air crash 'kills many' http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2010/08/2010825152435678238.html live https://web.archive.org/web/20100825200904/http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2010/08/2010825152435678238.html 25 August 2010 26 August 2010 Al Jazeera English The aircraft involved was previously registered ES-LLB, and was operated by Airest, an Estonian airline, until 2007. It was stored until Filair bought it in 2009.News from the World of L410 http://l410.planes.cz/en/?win_res=1024 18 September 2010 Planes.cz 3 March 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160303174138/http://l410.planes.cz/en/?win_res=1024 dead Investigation The Congolese Ministry of Transport opened an investigation into the accident. There was no post-impact fire, a circumstance that led to initial speculation that the aircraft may have suffered fuel exhaustion.https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jlsgE2eRJ5v-2Ntn8FoAY5KUcfKg Plane crashes in DRCongo, 20 dead: deputy governor 25 August 2010 Agence France-Presse 27 August 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100829234933/https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jlsgE2eRJ5v-2Ntn8FoAY5KUcfKg 29 August 2010 dead However, the aircraft was later determined to have 150 l USgal of fuel remaining in its fuel tanks.27 August 2010 Crash de Bandundu ville, la version de Fil Air Bandundu city crash, Fil Air's version https://www.radiookapi.net/actualite/2010/08/27/crash-de-bandundu-ville-la-version-de-fil-air/ 16 November 2024 Radio Okapi fr The only survivor of the crash stated to the investigators that a crocodile smuggled in a duffel bag by one of the passengers had escaped shortly before landing, sparking panic among the passengers. The flight attendant rushed towards the cockpit, followed by all passengers, and the resulting shift in the aircraft's centre of gravity led to an irrecoverable loss of control. The crocodile reportedly survived the crash, only to be killed with a machete by authorities.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/democraticrepublicofcongo/8078612/Aircraft-crashes-after-crocodile-on-board-escapes-and-sparks-panic.html Aircraft crashes after crocodile on board escapes and sparks panic The Telegraph 21 October 2010 22 October 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101022104719/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/democraticrepublicofcongo/8078612/Aircraft-crashes-after-crocodile-on-board-escapes-and-sparks-panic.html 22 October 2010 live An Air Accidents Investigation Branch investigator stated that the claim was "extremely unlikely" but that they "wouldn't rule it out completely".22 October 2010 Escaped crocodile may have caused Congo plane crash https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/oct/22/escaped-crocodile-congo-plane-crash 15 November 2024 The Guardian 0261-3077 They later stated that they were unable to draw any definitive conclusions due to not being in possession of the flight recorder data.12 July 2014 Croc On A Plane: Reptile 'May Have Caused Crash' https://news.sky.com/story/croc-on-a-plane-reptile-may-have-caused-crash-10397037 16 November 2024 Sky News The inquest into the death of the British first officer resulted in an open verdict, with the coroner stating that issues with obtaining black box data, and witness unreliability had only led to "vague guesses" and that further information wasn't able to be obtained. See also List of accidents and incidents involving airliners in the Democratic Republic of the Congo List of unusual deaths in the 21st century References Aviation Democratic Republic of the Congo Modern history Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in 2010 Category:Aviation accidents and incidents involving the Let L-410 Turbolet Filair Let L-410 Crash, 2010 Category:August 2010 in Africa Category:2010 disasters in Africa Category:2010s disasters in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Category:Aviation accidents and incidents caused by loss of control Category:Wildlife smuggling Category:Crocodilian attacks