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DRC plane 'had engine trouble'
16/04/2008 12:48 - (SA)
Albert Kambale
Goma - A plane that crashed into a market in the Democratic Republic of Congo, killing at least 37 people, developed engine trouble after going through water on the runway, aviation sources said on Wednesday.
As rescuers battled to put out the final flames of the DC-9 jet crash in Goma, capital of the eastern province of Nord-Kivu, airport sources said the troubles started as the jet hurtled toward its take-off.
The sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, reported the Hewa Bora Airlines crew as saying the plane developed mechanical problems after going through a puddle on the runway. They said the pilot decided to carry on before suddenly braking and losing control.
The runway at Goma airport was damaged by lava during a 2002 eruption of a nearby volcano. It was in disrepair with broken tarmac all over.
Bodies 'trapped' under burning metal
The lava flow had reduced the runway by a third and aviation officials said planes now had to make short takeoffs.
The rescue effort resumed on Wednesday with some 20 members of the national Red Cross gathered at the Birere market with buckets, collecting rainwater from potholes to try and douse the flames.
Bodies were still trapped under the mangled and burning metal, an AFP photographer said, adding that an overpowering stench permeated the area.
Stavros Papaioannou of Hewa Bora Airlines said also told of problems as the plane took off. He said the crew had heard an explosion in the rear as the plane built up speed.
"It needed to reach 126 knots to take off," the Hewa Bora chief said. "The pilot braked, but the runway was wet, the aircraft skidded and he lost control."
53 passengers 'had been accounted for'
Papaioannou said there were 79 passengers and six crew on board. He said the crew and 53 passengers had been accounted for.
"We know that there were seven expatriates on board including four Americans, none of whom was killed," he added.
On Wednesday, a middle-aged survivor of the crash, told reporters he heard an explosion before the crash, which he thought could be a burst tyre.
Another survivor, a woman who was also taken to hospital in Goma's Heal Africa health facility, praised the pilot, saying he had opened all the emergency exits just after the crash, thereby saving a lot of lives.
Two wards in the Heal Africa hospital were full of victims with burn injuries and broken limbs. A high-level government delegation was expected in Goma on Wednesday to start a probe ordered by President Jospeh Kabila.
Passenger Desire Buhendwa, a 36-year-old Congolese computer engineer, said: "There were flames coming from the left wing. There was panic in the plane. I ran to the front. Crewmembers opened a door and I jumped. I fell onto the ground and saw the plane continue to move forward, then catch fire."
The plane was heading for the capital Kinshasa, but it was not clear how many passengers had already disembarked at Goma.
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