A passenger plane operated by Sindbard Air, carrying 26 passengers and four crew members, made an emergency landing at Kilimanjaro International Airport in Tanzania on Sunday after colliding with a wild donkey during takeoff. The plane, an Embraer EMB-120, was flying from Seronera Airport in the Serengeti National Park to Zanzibar when the incident occurred. The pilots changed course and headed to Kilimanjaro International Airport after the collision.
The plane's landing gear malfunctioned after the collision, making the emergency landing challenging. Footage of the incident showed smoke rising from the plane's underside as it scraped against the runway before coming to a stop. Despite the dramatic landing, all 30 people on board, including passengers and crew, escaped without injuries. The donkey, however, was killed in the collision.
The incident caused a five-hour disruption to operations at Kilimanjaro International Airport, with flights suspended while emergency teams attended to the damaged plane. The airport resumed operations at around 4:30 pm local time. The Tanzania Airports Authority reported that the plane took off from Seronera Airport bound for Zanzibar before diverting to Kilimanjaro Airport due to the collision with the wild animal.
The animal involved in the collision was identified as a wild donkey, also referred to as a "ungulate" by the Tanzania Airports Authority. The incident is being investigated by the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority, but it is unclear whether the collision with the donkey directly caused the landing gear malfunction. The plane, registered as 5H-HLL, sustained significant damage in the incident.
Seronera Airport, where the incident occurred, is a key access point for tourists visiting the Serengeti National Park. The airport is not fenced, allowing wildlife to move freely in the surrounding area, which poses an unusual challenge to planes operating within the national park. According to Aviation Safety Network, the Embraer EMB-120 plane involved in the incident was manufactured in 1990.
The emergency landing was praised as a success, with all on board escaping unharmed. The incident highlights the risks associated with flying in areas with wildlife, particularly in national parks. The investigation into the incident is ongoing, with authorities working to determine the cause of the landing gear malfunction and the circumstances surrounding the collision with the wild donkey.
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of safety measures and emergency preparedness in aviation. The Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority's investigation is expected to provide insights into the incident and potentially lead to improvements in safety procedures for planes operating in areas with wildlife.
Key points
- A passenger plane made an emergency landing in Tanzania after colliding with a wild donkey during takeoff.
- The incident caused a five-hour disruption to operations at Kilimanjaro International Airport.
- All 30 people on board escaped without injuries, but the plane sustained significant damage.
