Angolan aircraft crashes, killing 48

Airline Industry Information, Nov 1, 2000

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2000 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

A Russian-built Antonov 26 aircraft has crashed in north eastern Angola, killing all 48 people on board.

The aircraft, operated by Angolan company Guicango exploded in the air shortly after taking off from the town of Saurimo en route for Luanda. It was carrying 42 passengers and six crew members and all are believed to have died.

Angola's Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement that the crash happened 'in an area which is difficult to reach.' The crash site is in one of Angola's main diamond-mining regions, an area of thick jungle. The region has also been the focus of fighting between the army and Unita rebels who are engaged in a long-running civil war.

The crew of the aircraft was reportedly Ukrainian, but the nationality of the passengers is not yet known.

There is speculation that the aircraft may have been shot down by Unita rebels operating in the area, while other reports note that several crashes in recent years have been blamed on poor aircraft maintenance at Luanda airport.

((Comments on this story may be sent to aii.feedback@m2.com))