1993 Zambia national football team plane crash

Zambian Air Force plane crash off the coast of Gabon Zambian Air Force AF-319 Accident De Havilland Canada DHC-5D Buffalo AN2223057.jpg 1.16 A DHC-5D Buffalo similar to the accident aircraft 27 April 1993 Crashed after shut down of operational engine Atlantic Oceanoff Gabon 0.618135 N 9.312716 E dms type:event_scale:50000_region:GA inline,title de Havilland Canada DHC-5D Buffalo Zambian Air Force AF-319 Lusaka, Zambia Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo Libreville, Gabon Abidjan, Ivory Coast Dakar, Senegal 30 25 5 30 0 On the evening of 27 April 1993, a de Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo transport aircraft of the Zambian Air Force crashed into the Atlantic Ocean shortly after taking off from Libreville, Gabon. The flight was carrying most of the Zambia national football team to a 1994 FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Senegal in Dakar. All 25 passengers and five crew members were killed. The official investigation concluded that the pilot had shut down the wrong engine following an engine fire. It also found that pilot fatigue and a faulty instrument had contributed to the accident. Accident The flight had been specially arranged by the Zambian Air Force for the football team. The journey was scheduled to make three refuelling stops; the first at Brazzaville, Congo, the second at Libreville, Gabon, and the third at Abidjan, Ivory Coast.http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19930427-2 ASN Aircraft accident de Havilland Canada DHC-5D Buffalo AF-319 Atlantic Ocean, off Gabon Aviation Safety Network Flight Safety Foundation 19 December 2010 5 December 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20131205233719/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19930427-2 live thumb|left|300px|Flight route At the first stop in Brazzaville engine problems were noted. Despite this, the flight continued and a few minutes after taking off from the second stop in Libreville the left engine caught fire and failed. The pilot, who had also flown the team from a match in Mauritius the previous day, then mistakenly shut down the right engine, causing the plane to lose all power during the climb out of Libreville Airport and fall into the water 500 m ft yd out offshore. A Gabonese report released in 2003 attributed the pilot's actions to a faulty warning light and fatigue.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3247006.stm 'Faulty plane' killed Zambia team 28 November 2003 BBC News British Broadcasting Corporation 17 December 2010 5 December 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20131205110240/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3247006.stm livehttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1138563/1/index.htm Triumph On Sacred Ground Montville Leigh 18 October 1993 Sports Illustrated 17 December 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20180427000000/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1138563/1/index.htm 27 April 2018 Time Inc. Alt URL Aircraft The aircraft entered service in 1975. The plane had been out of service for five months from late 1992 until 21 April 1993. Test flights were carried out on 22 and 26 April. Prior to the departure for Senegal, checks revealed defects in the engine: carbon particles in oil filters, disconnected cables and trace of heating. However, the flight went ahead as scheduled. Passengers The Chipolopolo were the Zambia national team. At the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, their 4–0 victory over Italy included a hat-trick from Kalusha Bwalya, who won the African Footballer of the Year later that year. They aimed to win the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations trophy, having finished third in the 1990 edition, and to qualify for their first World Cup.2012-02-12 Zambia's remarkable journey makes them winners regardless https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/zambias-remarkable-journey-makes-them-winners-regardless fourfourtwo.com en All 30 passengers and crew, including 18 players, as well as the national team coach and support staff, died in the accident. Three players of the "Chipolopolo" were playing with UEFA clubs, and each made separate travel plans from their clubs in Europe to Senegal. Captain Kalusha Bwalya— later national team coach and president of the FAZ — was playing for PSV Eindhoven. Charles Musonda, a player for Anderlecht, was previously injured, staying in Belgium for rehabilitation at the time.Berti Christophe 2026-02-24 Charly Musonda, l'homme au sourire éternel Charly Musonda, the man with an eternal smile https://www.dhnet.be/archives-journal/2004/01/23/charly-musonda-lhomme-au-sourire-eternel-D7ME32N5MRAVZKTXJGTMRK3KN4/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20250602053309/https://www.dhnet.be/archives-journal/2004/01/23/charly-musonda-lhomme-au-sourire-eternel-D7ME32N5MRAVZKTXJGTMRK3KN4/ June 2, 2025 2026-02-24 DHnet fr Johnson Bwalya played for FC Bulle, and would have traveled from Switzerland.Turner Graham 1993-04-28 La selección de fútbol de Zambia muere en un accidente aéreo Zambian football team dies in plane crash https://elpais.com/diario/1993/04/29/deportes/736034405_850215.html 2021-09-21 El País es 1134-6582 21 September 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210921015813/https://elpais.com/diario/1993/04/29/deportes/736034405_850215.html live Bennett Mulwanda Simfukwe, who had been seconded to the FAZ by his employers (ZCCM) for 5 years and was supposed to be on this flight, wasn't on it because his employers demanded that he should immediately be removed from the list of those who were officially scheduled to travel to Senegal. Andrew Tembo and Martin Mumba almost boarded the flight, however they were asked not to board at the last minute.14 August 2024 The air crash and the underdogs - a triumph for a lost generation https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/czrgm6grxvlo 17 August 2024 BBC News Investigation A campaign to have the Gabonese crash investigation publicly released continued into the 2000s.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/1956551.stm Air crash families threaten legal action Gondwe Kennedy 28 April 2002 BBC Sport Online British Broadcasting Corporation 17 December 20102002-03-28 Zambian MPs demand air crash report en-GB BBC https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/1899139.stm 2021-09-20 In November 2003 a preliminary crash investigation report was released by the Gabonese government, which claimed that the left engine had caught on fire, and in an attempt to control the fire the pilot thought he had shut down that engine, when in reality he shut down the right engine due to a faulty warning light. Despite this, relatives of the victims continue to lobby the Zambian government to produce a report on how the aircraft was allowed to leave Zambia, and why the players were transported on a military plane.http://www.znbc.co.zm/media/news/viewnews.cgi?category=5&id=1209391449 Gabon crash victims remembered 17 December 2010 dead Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation https://web.archive.org/web/20110727235646/http://www.znbc.co.zm/media/news/viewnews.cgi?category=5&id=1209391449 27 July 2011http://www.goal.com/en/news/1863/world-cup-2010/2010/01/23/1757347/football-united-zambia-making-new-history-after-tragic-past Football United: Zambia Making New History After Tragic Past Duerden John 23 January 2010 Goal.com 17 December 2010http://www.southerntimesafrica.com/article.php?title=Zambian_plane_disaster_report_still_not_out_17_years_later&id=4035 Zambian plane disaster report still not out 17 years later Kapembwa Jeff 30 April 2010 Southern Times 17 December 2010 dead NAMZIM Newspapers (Pty) Limited Windhoek, Namibia https://web.archive.org/web/20110716112845/http://www.southerntimesafrica.com/article.php?title=Zambian_plane_disaster_report_still_not_out_17_years_later&id=4035 16 July 2011http://www.daily-mail.co.zm/media/news/viewnews.cgi?category=24&id=1272526106 Red tape delays Gabon report Kunda Robinson 27 April 2010 Zambia Daily Mail 19 December 2010September 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes In May 2002, $4 million was given to families of the deceased players in compensation.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/1984849.stm $4m for Zambian air crash families 13 May 2002 BBC Sport Online British Broadcasting Corporation 17 December 2010 15 February 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120215230631/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/1984849.stm live Aftermath A week long period of mourning was declared by the government after the crash.Burstyn Varda The Rites of Men: Manhood, Politics, and the Culture of Sport January 1999 University of Toronto Press 978-0-8020-7725-7 https://books.google.com/books?id=Vys1oqERxbIC&dq=Zambia+national+mourning&pg=PA24 The members of the national team killed in the crash were buried in what became known as "Heroes' Acre", just outside the Independence Stadium in Lusaka.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/2974099.stm The day a nation cried 24 April 2003 BBC Sport Online British Broadcasting Corporation 19 December 2010 A new side was quickly assembled, and led by Kalusha Bwalya, faced up to the difficult task of having to complete Zambia's World Cup qualifiers (narrowly missing qualification by finishing one point behind Morocco) and then prepare for the upcoming African Nations Cup which was only months away to be hosted in Tunisia. The resurrected team defied the odds, and displaying an attacking playing style, reached the 1994 African Cup of Nations final against Nigeria. They took the lead in the first half, but the Super Eagles quickly equalised and followed up with the winner in the second half. In spite of the loss, the Zambian side returned home as national heroes.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/8477655.stm Zambia's Kalusha Bwalya relives 1994 Nations Cup final Mungazi Farayi 24 January 2010 BBC Sport Online British Broadcasting Corporation 22 December 2010 30 April 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110430062828/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/8477655.stm live In 2012, Zambia won the Africa Cup of Nations in Libreville, only a few hundred metres inland from the crash site; the victory was dedicated to the ones who lost their lives in the tragedy. Zambia beat Côte d'Ivoire 8–7 in a penalty shoot out after the game ended 0–0 after normal and added time.Losnegård Aleksander 2016-07-28 How Zambia restored their fortunes a year after the fatal plane crash of 1993 https://thesefootballtimes.co/2016/07/28/how-zambia-nearly-restored-their-fortunes-a-year-after-the-fatal-plane-crash-of-1993/ 2021-09-20 These Football Times 21 September 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210921015815/https://thesefootballtimes.co/2016/07/28/how-zambia-nearly-restored-their-fortunes-a-year-after-the-fatal-plane-crash-of-1993/ live 27 April 2018 Tragedy spurs fairytale story for Zambia https://www.fifa.com/news/tragedy-spurs-fairytale-story-for-zambia-2064751 2021-09-21 FIFA.com en 21 September 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210921015801/https://www.fifa.com/news/tragedy-spurs-fairytale-story-for-zambia-2064751 liveDjazmi Mani 10 February 2012 Zambian footballers remember a lost generation of players en-GB BBC Sport https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/16991481 2021-09-21 17 October 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20131017082808/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/16991481 live The accident was the subject of the 2015 Spanish–Zambian documentary film Eighteam, directed by Juan Rodriguez-Briso. Victims All thirty people on board died in the crash. 24 bodies were recovered, but only 13 could be identified.http://www.lusakatimes.com/2012/04/27/today-marks-19th-anniversary-gabon-air-disaster/ Today marks 19th Anniversary of Gabon Air disaster Lusaka Times 27 April 2012 25 April 2013 24 June 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130624121117/http://www.lusakatimes.com/2012/04/27/today-marks-19th-anniversary-gabon-air-disaster/ live Crew Colonel Fenton Mhone (pilot) Lt Colonel Victor Mubanga (pilot) Lt Colonel James Sachika (pilot) Major Edward Nhamboteh (flight engineer) Corporal Thomas Sakala Coaching staff Godfrey "Ucar" Chitalu (coach) Alex Chola (assistant coach) Footballers Source:Sang Kiplagat FAZ's Kamanga: Zambia can honour 1993 Gabon plane crash victims at Afcon 2023 https://www.goal.com/en/news/faz-s-kamanga-zambia-can-honour-1993-gabon-plane-crash-victims-at-afcon-2023/blt070cade6c23f01cd goal.com 14 December 2023 28 April 2022 14 December 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231214192754/https://www.goal.com/en/news/faz-s-kamanga-zambia-can-honour-1993-gabon-plane-crash-victims-at-afcon-2023/blt070cade6c23f01cd live GK David Chabala 1993 4 27 1960 2 2 yes 115 0 Mufulira Wanderers ZAM 1964 GK Richard Mwanza 1993 4 27 1959 5 5 yes 8 0 Kabwe Warriors ZAM 1964 DF Whiteson Changwe 1993 4 27 1964 10 19 yes 31 1 Kabwe Warriors ZAM 1964 DF John Soko 1993 4 27 1968 5 5 yes 25 0 Nkana ZAM 1964 DF Samuel Chomba 1993 4 27 1964 1 5 yes 21 2 Dynamos RSA 1982 DF Robert Watiyakeni 1993 4 27 1969 10 18 yes 4 0 Dynamos RSA 1982 DF Winter Mumba unknown 2 0 Power Dynamos ZAM 1964 DF Kenan Simambe 1993 4 27 1974 8 23 yes 1 1 Power Dynamos ZAM 1964 MF Derby Makinka 1993 4 27 1965 9 5 yes 98 10 Al-Ettifaq KSA MF Wisdom Mumba Chansa 1993 4 27 1964 4 17 yes 34 4 Dynamos RSA 1982 MF Eston Mulenga 1993 4 27 1961 8 7 yes 34 1 Nkana ZAM 1964 MF Moses Chikwalakwala 1993 4 27 1969 8 28 yes 7 3 Nkana ZAM 1964 MF Numba Mwila 1993 4 27 1972 3 18 yes 4 1 Nkana ZAM 1964 MF Godfrey Kangwa unknown 1 0 Olympique de Casablanca MAR FW Timothy Mwitwa 1993 4 27 1968 5 21 yes 16 2 Nkana ZAM 1964 FW Kelvin Mutale 1993 4 27 1969 9 20 yes 10 12 Al-Ettifaq KSA FW Patrick Banda 1993 4 27 1974 1 28 yes 6 3 Profund Warriors ZAM 1964 FW Moses Masuwa 1993 4 27 1971 7 30 yes 1 0 Kabwe Warriors ZAM 1964 See also List of accidents involving sports teams References 30em External links Zambia Association football Aviation 1990s BBC – Famous Air Crash Victims – Part 3: Sportsmen 19930427-2 September 2019 Category:1993 in Gabon Category:Aviation accidents and incidents involving professional sports teams Zambia national football team air disaster Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in Gabon Category:Aviation accidents and incidents involving the de Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo Category:Aviation accidents and incidents involving military aircraft Category:Airliner accidents and incidents caused by in-flight fires Category:Airliner accidents and incidents caused by wrong engine shutdown Category:Accidental deaths in Gabon Category:1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF) Category:Zambia national football team Category:1993–94 in Zambian football Category:April 1993 in Africa Category:20th century in Libreville