The missing Cessna Caravan
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MEDIA RELEASE
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28 April 2006
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On Friday 28 April, the SACAA reported a missing CESSNA
CARAVAN aircraft. At the time the
aircraft was believed to have left Goma aerodrome on Friday 28 April 2006 and
was headed towards Bunia aerodrome.
According to the Convention on International Civil Aviation
1944, the “State of Registry”
(RSA) is entitled to participation status from the “State of Occurrence” (Uganda). A letter was sent to request participation
status and due to the internal procedures relating to accident investigations
in Uganda
our request has not yet been granted.
The investigators will leave for Uganda once the request is granted.
The SACAA has received information from its Ugandan
counterparts to the effect that at 8:45am
on Sunday 30 April 2006
a Cessna Caravan was identified in the Ugandan side of the border area between Uganda and the
DRC. No survivors were visible. Unsuccessful attempts were made on 01 and 02 May 2006 to climb the
mountain in an effort to reach the accident site and 03 May 2006 the attempt to reach the
accidents site was said to be going well.
However by 22h00 on the same day there were no reports as yet from the
climbing team. The report also stated
that the missing aircraft was flying under a UN banner with 3 occupants. As per our latest reports the occupants of
the aircraft have not yet been accounted for.
On 5 May
2006 the SACAA received additional information to the effect that
the search team came closer to the scene the previous day but due to the ridges
around the scene it became impossible to reach the scene. They turned back. Today they will use helicopters to attempt to
get the rescuers on top of the mountain.
Contact:
Ms Phindiwe Gwebu
Senior Communications
Manager
SA Civil Aviation
Authority
011 545 1086
083 635 0069