Arrest after Motlanthe mishap
2009-09-03 09:20
Pretoria - An air traffic controller has apparently been arrested after a plane carrying Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe had to make an emergency landing this week.
The air traffic controller on duty in the control tower at the airport in Bangui, capital of the Central African Republic (CAR) supposedly told the crew of Motlanthe's plane that visibility was 100% and that they could land.
In actual fact, the airport was covered by clouds, and the crew were unable to see the landing strip.
Motlanthe was on his way back from Libya. His plane would have landed at Bangui on Tuesday night to refuel.
Short of fuel
CAR dignitaries and South African diplomatic representatives were at the airport, ready to receive Motlanthe.
The crew was forced to redirect to Gbadolite in the north of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as the plane had only enough fuel for about 45 minutes of flight.
According to international guidelines regarding airports, this particular airport did indeed have the required lights, fuel and a control tower manned 24 hours per day.
On the approach at Gbadolite, however, there was no sign of light at the airport or in the town.
Everything was pitch black, without electricity, said Beeld's source.
The crew could only locate the landing strip because it was a slightly different colour to the rest of the area in the darkness.
Braai alongside landing strip
Both pilots were also experienced at flying with only basic facilities on the ground.
After the plane landed, it became clear that the airport was deserted.
The crew managed to get a braai fire going alongside the landing strip.
Motlanthe reportedly shrugged off the unexpected change in plans, and enjoyed the braaied meat along with the crew.
The next morning, another plane was sent to bring him back to South Africa, while fuel for the stranded DC-9 airplane was also flown in.
The DC-9's crew then returned to Bangui in order to properly refuel for their return to South Africa.
Problematic air traffic controller
Once they arrived at Bangui, a storm erupted around the air traffic controller - not only because he gave the crew an incorrect weather report - but also because he apparently made a habit of this.
Two weeks ago, he also told the crew of an Air France passenger plane that they could land, while weather conditions were actually dreadful.
That plane had enough fuel to fly to Kinshasa, capitol of the DRC.
The embarrassment Motlanthe's flight caused the CAR authorities, along with a fuss made by the South African authorities, probably meant the end of that particular air traffic controller's career, Beeld reporters were told.