Gaborone-Seretse Khama

Earlier in the afternoon the pilot was an uninvited guest at a private function that was held at the Matsieng Flying Club facility at Matsieng Aerodrome. In a statement, the Matsieng Flying Club reported that it was rumored that the pilot was involved in a domestic dispute earlier in the afternoon. At 2015LT the aircraft approached Matsieng Aerodrome from the direction of Sir Seretse Khama Airport and made a number of low level fly passes from different directions past the Club facilities next to the Air Traffic Control tower. An immediate evacuation of the club premises was ordered. The final extreme low level run by the aircraft along runway 36 resulted in an impact with the Matsieng Flying Club facility at ground level. The Club facility and Matsieng ATC tower was destroyed on impact. The post impact fire destroyed 13 parked vehicles. The emergency services of the Kgatleng District Council were on the scene within minutes to attend to the post-impact fire and distress. These response actions are to be commended. It is believed that the pilot had no permission to fly the aircraft involved. Sole on board, he was killed.

Upon landing at Gaborone-Seretse Khama Airport, the twin engine aircraft went out of control, flipped over and crashed, coming to rest upside down on the runway edge. All five occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed. The aircraft type is not confirmed.

In the early morning, an Air Botswana captain boarded a parked ATR42 and took off without permission. While circling over the Gaborone-Seretse Khama Airport, the pilot contacted ATC and wanted to talk to several people, among them the company's President who was not available at this time. Negotiation started between the pilot and local authorities but after two hours, he decided to crash the aircraft on the apron where two others ATR42 of the same operator were parked. The aircraft crashed at a speed of 200 knots and exploded on impact. The pilot was killed and all three aircraft were destroyed. The two other ATR42 were registered A2-ABC and A2-AJD. There were no casualties on the ground as the airport was evacuated.

Just after liftoff from Lanseria Airport, the twin engine airplane sank back onto the runway. It slid on its belly and came to rest. There were no casualties.

Shortly after a night takeoff from Gaborone-Seretse Khama Airport, the crew encountered problems with all four engines that lost power and backfired. Unable to gain sufficient height, the aircraft struck tree tops, stalled and crashed in flames 3,600 meters past the runway end, two minutes after liftoff. A crew member and five passengers were rescued while 78 other occupants were killed. Most of the passengers were employees of South African Mining Company returning home.