Many passengers on Air Zimbabwe aircraft on Sunday were thrown into a state of panic after fire broke out on the flight.
Officials of the airline said the plane had hit birds after takeoff in mid-air. The bird strike caused fire in the jet’s engine unsettling some passengers.
One of those who panicked on the plane is Zimbabwe’s deputy minister of Land, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement.
Vangelis Haritatos was aboard the Air Zimbabwe plane when the mid-air mishap happened.
He narrated the incident to local news outlet Bulawayo24.com that “We were all visibly shaken as blowing sounds and sparks came from the affected engine on impact, but the pilot Captain Chiwara and his crew were true professionals.”
Air Zimbabwe assures
In a statement, Air Zimbabwe said the incident did not threaten the safety of passengers and crew.
“Air Zimbabwe wishes to inform the public that their Boeing 767-200ER servicing flight UM462 (JNB/HRE) on 28 April 2019 experienced a malfunction on one of its engines resulting in a brief tail pipe fire.
“However, the malfunction did not threaten the continuation of the flight and safety of the crew and passengers on board and it landed safely in Harare at 2035hrs,” the company said in the statement.
Statement RE: UM462/28/04/19. pic.twitter.com/9PN9i59Qs4
— Air Zim Official (@FlyAirZimbabwe) April 28, 2019
Bird strikes occur during take-off and landing and can pose a significant risk to aviation.
In 2009, Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger successfully landed US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River off Manhattan after both engines of the jet were hit by birds.
The pilots and crew of Air Zimbabwe are honestly some of the best in the world. With all challenges, the airline still has an impeccable safety record. After landing today’s flight safely, one can only believe they are consummate professionals. Thank God for journey mercies ??
— Vimbai Mutinhiri (@The_Vimbai) April 28, 2019
We thank god we survived this flight. It’s true the engine blew right after take off #airzimbabwe
— Bruce Taruvinga (@brucetar) April 28, 2019
We eventually flew to harare on one engine I guess. Scariest day of my life.
— Bruce Taruvinga (@brucetar) April 28, 2019
Source: Africafeeds.com
