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Precision Air Flight 494

Coordinates: 01°20′07″S 31°49′33″E / 1.33528°S 31.82583°E / -1.33528; 31.82583
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Precision Air Flight 494
5H-PWF, the aircraft involved in the accident, in 2011
Accident
Date6 November 2022
SummaryCrashed while on approach
SiteLake Victoria, near Bukoba Airport, Bukoba, Tanzania
01°20′07″S 31°49′33″E / 1.33528°S 31.82583°E / -1.33528; 31.82583
Aircraft
Aircraft typeATR 42-500
Aircraft nameBukoba
OperatorPrecision Air
IATA flight No.PW494
ICAO flight No.PRF494
Call signPRECISION AIR 494
Registration5H-PWF[1]
Flight originDar es Salaam International Airport, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
StopoverMwanza Airport, Mwanza, Tanzania
DestinationBukoba Airport, Bukoba, Tanzania
Occupants43
Passengers39
Crew4
Fatalities19
Injuries24
Survivors24
Precision Air Flight 494 is located in Tanzania
Precision Air Flight 494
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Crash location on a map of Tanzania

Precision Air Flight 494 (PW494) was a scheduled domestic passenger flight within Tanzania, from Julius Nyerere International Airport to Bukoba Airport via Mwanza Airport. On 6 November 2022, the ATR 42–500 plane crashed in Lake Victoria while attempting to land at Bukoba during bad weather and low visibility. Nineteen people were killed, including both pilots who drowned before rescue workers could reach them.[1][2][3][4]

Crash

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Flight 494 took off from Dar es Salaam around 06:00 East Africa Time and was scheduled to land at Bukoba around 08:30 after a stopover at Mwanza. A survivor stated that the pilots had to reroute the aircraft due to the deteriorating weather and that the aircraft had to fly towards the Tanzania–Uganda border before turning back towards Bukoba. The passenger further stated that during their approach, they encountered heavy turbulence after being informed that they were to land shortly, eventually finding themselves in the lake with the plane beginning to take on water.[3][5]

The aircraft crash-landed in Lake Victoria at 08:45, 500 metres (1,600 ft) short of the runway.[6] Survivors stated that the front portion of the aircraft was immediately filled with a large amount of water, causing panic inside the cabin.[failed verification] The flight attendants then opened the emergency exits and passengers began to escape from the sinking aircraft. Photos and videos spread on social media showed the plane almost fully submerged, with only its tail section visible above the water line.[2][7]

Aircraft

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5H-PWF, the aircraft involved, seen at Toulouse–Blagnac Airport in 2010, while still wearing its test registration, F-WWLA.

The aircraft involved in the accident was a 12-year-old ATR 42–500 named "Bukoba," with serial number 819, registered as 5H-PWF. It was delivered to Precision Air in August 2010. The aircraft was powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127 turboprop engines.[8]

Passengers and crew

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There were 39 passengers and 4 crew members on board, including one infant. The majority of those were Tanzanians, and local media stated that at least two were Kenyans, including the first officer. The pilot of the aircraft was identified as Captain Buruhani Rubaga; the co-pilot was First Officer Peter Odhiambo.[9] Of the 43 people on board, 19 died, including both pilots, who drowned before rescue workers could reach them.[2][10][3][11]

Passengers and crew by nationality
Nationality Passengers Crew Total
Tanzania 38 3 41
Kenya 1 1 2
Total 39 4 43

Rescue and recovery

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Local fishermen were the first to arrive at the scene of the crash. They broke the rear door by smashing it with a rowing oar, successfully rescuing those who were seated at the back. Both pilots were still conscious and alive as there was no water leakage inside the cockpit. A fisherman tried to break the cockpit windows with an axe but was advised to stop by those in communication with the pilots. He then tied a rope to the cockpit emergency door and tried to pull it open by using other nearby boats. The rope snapped, however, knocking him unconscious.[12]

Rescue workers arrived at the scene to rescue those still trapped inside the aircraft.[13] According to Albert Chalamila, the chief administrator of Kagera Region, emergency workers were in touch with the pilots in the cockpit and attempted to pull the plane closer to the shore using ropes and cranes.[13]

Investigation

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During the funeral service of the victims in Kagera's Kaitaba Stadium, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa ordered an inquiry into the crash. The Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) would be involved in the probe. The French Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety (BEA) confirmed that their members would travel to Tanzania to assist with the investigation. Technical advisers from ATR would also join the investigation effort.[14][15]

In 2023 the CAA released their preliminary report. It stated that the approach was conducted under visual flight rules in poor weather and that the flight crew ignored alerts from the Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS).[16]

Response

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Bukoba Airport was closed until November 9.[17][18]

President Samia Suluhu Hassan tweeted: "I have received with sadness the information of the crash of the Precision Air flight at Lake Victoria, in the Kagera region, I send my condolences to all those affected by this incident. Let's continue to be calm as the rescue operation continues and we pray to God to help us."[19][10] Majaliwa visited the site and said that an extensive investigation would be carried out to determine the full causes of the crash.[3]

On 7 November, a funeral service was held at Kagera Kaitaba Stadium. Prime Minister Majaliwa, along with Muslim and Christian clerics, led prayers for the victims at Kaitaba Stadium, where hundreds of mourners had gathered.[20][21] He later stated that the funeral cost would be covered by the government, adding that an additional 1,000,000 shillings would be provided for the relatives of the victims.[22]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "ASN Aircraft accident ATR 42–500 5H-PWF Bukoba airport (BKZ)". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Dausen, Nuzulack (6 November 2022). "Passenger plane crashes into Lake Victoria in Tanzania". Reuters. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d "Tanzanian Precision Air plane crashes into Lake Victoria". BBC News. BBC. 6 November 2022. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  4. ^ Hradecky, Simon (6 November 2022). "Accident: Precision AT42 at Bukoba on Nov 6th 2022, overran runway on landing and ended up in Lake Victoria". avherald.com. The Aviation Herald. Archived from the original on 11 November 2022. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  5. ^ "Precision Air crash: Tanzanian NGO loses 5 employees". 7 November 2022.
  6. ^ "PW 494 Landing Accident" (PDF). Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority. 6 November 2022. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  7. ^ "Precision Air crash survivor narrates last moments before the plunge". The Standard. The Standard Group. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  8. ^ "5H-PWF Precision Air ATR 42". www.planespotters.net. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  9. ^ "Precision Air crash: Kenyans in list of 19 killed". Nation. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  10. ^ a b "19 dead after commercial aircraft crashes into Lake Victoria in Tanzania". CNN. 6 November 2022. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  11. ^ "Precision Air Crash: Three dead, 28 rescued". The Citizen. 6 November 2022.
  12. ^ Mtulya, Athuman (7 November 2002). "Tanzania Precision Air crash: 'I tried to save pilots but was knocked unconscious'". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  13. ^ a b "At least 19 people dead after plane crashes into Lake Victoria". The Guardian. 6 November 2022. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  14. ^ "French investigators head to Tanzania to help probe plane crash". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  15. ^ Sands, Leo. "Tanzania investigating crash landing into Lake Victoria that killed 19". Washington Post. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  16. ^ "Preliminary report" (PDF). Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority. Retrieved 17 March 2023 – via The Aviation Herald.
  17. ^ Flightradar24. "Live Flight Tracker - Real-Time Flight Tracker Map". Flightradar24. Retrieved 13 November 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ Mtulya, Athuman; Lasteck, Alfred (6 November 2022). "Tanzanian Precision Air plane crashes into Lake Victoria". BBC News. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  19. ^ Samia Suluhu Hassan [@SuluhuSamia] (6 November 2022). "Nimepokea kwa masikitiko taarifa ya ajali ya ndege ya Shirika la Precision katika Ziwa Victoria, mkoani Kagera. Natuma salamu za pole kwa wote walioathirika na ajali hii. Tuendelee kuwa watulivu wakati huu zoezi la uokoaji likiendelea huku tukimuomba Mwenyezi Mungu atusaidie" [I have received with sadness the information of the crash of the Precision Air flight at Lake Victoria, in the Kagera region, I send my condolences to all those affected by this incident. Let's continue to be calm as the rescue operation continues and we pray to God to help us.] (Tweet) (in Swahili). Retrieved 8 November 2022 – via Twitter.
  20. ^ "Tanzania pays tearful tribute to plane crash victims". 7 November 2022.
  21. ^ "Tanzania's PM leads mourning for plane crash victims". Deutsche Welle.
  22. ^ "Tanzania pays tearful tribute to plane crash victims". The Hindu. N. Ravi. Agence France-Presse. 8 November 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
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