Air Zimbabwe plane seconds from disaster

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By Lebo Nkatazo

AN AIR Zimbabwe plane was seconds from a runway crash at the country’s main airport on Wednesday night due to a power cut, it was confirmed Thursday.

Zanu PF’s national chairman and the speaker of the House of Assembly John Nkomo was among the passengers who were travelling from Bulawayo to Harare.

At the time the incident occurred some parts of Harare, including the Harare International Airport, were experiencing heavy rains.

The plane, a Chinese-built MA60 which has a capacity of 60 passengers, was saved from crashing on a blacked-out runway when the pilot was notified of a power cut shortly before landing.

Air Zimbabwe’s corporate communications manager Pride Khumbula said: “Upon approach to land at Harare International Airport, Air Zimbabwe flight UM232 from Bulawayo to Harare on Wednesday 14 November 2007 was advised by Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) Air Traffic Control that there was a power outage at Harare International Airport. The flight was asked to hold back from landing for 10 minutes, and landed on back-up.”

She added that questions regarding supply of power to the airport must be referred to CAAZ.

A New Zimbabwe.com reader who was on the plane wrote on our discussion forums: “On the MA60, from Byo, on the descent into Harare Airport, suddenly (from what we were told later) the pilot it seems realises there is insufficient light on the runway.

”We circle for a few moments, but the pilot has to put the bird down because of strong winds.

”Not a smooth landing at all, bumping up and down and nearly sliding off to the side of the south runway. Except for one minor injury, everybody safe. Not once have I've ever felt so helpless. I am to travel to Byo again next Monday for some seminar, but just the thought gives me the jeepers!”

Our reader added: “But I can say one thing: We do have some damn good pilots around.”

Zimbabwe is experiencing daily black-outs. The country's regular cuts in power and water supplies are blamed on acute shortages in hard currency, gasoline and imported spare parts.

The country imports around 40% of its power from South Africa, DR Congo and Mozambique.
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