Africa

The aircraft departed Kinshasa-N'Djili Airport on a cargo flight to Goma, carrying five passengers, three crew members and a load consisting of telecommunications equipment for the Company Celtel. While approaching Goma, the crew was informed by ATC about the deterioration of the weather conditions at destination and a landing was not possible. Following a holding circuit, the crew was low on fuel and decided to divert to Gisenyi Airport, Rwanda. After landing on runway 01/19 which is 1,000 metres long, the aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest, bursting into flames. All eight occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

The twin engine aircraft departed Goma on a cargo flight to Walikale, carrying two passengers, one pilot and a load of ores. About 10 minutes after takeoff, while flying in limited visibility due to poor weather conditions, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Nyiragongo located about 15 km north of Goma Airport. The wreckage was found at the altitude of 2,590 metres. The minimum safe altitude was fixed at 3,400 metres.

Due to poor weather conditions in Freetown, the flight was delayed for hours. Finally, the crew was cleared for takeoff from runway 12/30 which is 3,200 metres long. During the takeoff roll, the captain decided to abort for unknown reasons. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran, lost its right main gear and right engine before coming to rest in a grassy area located 100 metres past the runway end. All 127 occupants were rescued, among them 50 passengers were injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

The twin engine aircraft crashed upon landing, lost its right and came to rest. There were apparently no casualties.

The aircraft was refuelled to capacity at Polokwane Airport, South Africa on 28 June 2004 with 1750 litres of Jet A1 fuel where after it flew to São Sebastião, near Vilanculos, Mozambique. Later the day on 28 June 2004 the crew attempted to take off on a non-scheduled flight from Sao Sebastiao (near Vilanculos) to Vilanculos Airport (VNX). The purpose of the fight was to airlift an injured man to a hospital at an unknown destination. The crew did not use the full runway length available but attempted the takeoff run with only 870ft (265 m) of runway available. The aircraft failed to become airborne and overran the runway, colliding with a sandbank, the perimeter fence and trees and erupted in fire. Calculations, using the takeoff performance graphs in the POH (Pilot Operating Handbook), showed that the aircraft would have required a ground roll distance of 2000 ft (610 m) with 40° flap and 2100 ft (640 m) with no flap selected.

Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the aircraft collided with a flock of birds. Engines n°3 & 4 failed and the crew elected to make an emergency landing in an open field. The aircraft crash landed in a field and came to rest, bursting into flames. All five occupants were injured along with a young boy in the nearby field.

The aircraft departed Libreville-Léon Mba Airport at 0911LT on a flight to Franceville with an intermediate stop in Port Gentil with 26 passengers and four crew members on board. Few minutes after takeoff, the crew informed ATC about technical problem and was cleared to return to Libreville. In excellent weather conditions, the aircraft overflew the runway then crashed in the sea about 100 metres offshore. Eleven occupants were rescued while 19 others were killed, among them one crew member.

After landing, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, crossed an unpaved road and some ditches before coming to rest 250 meters further. All 16 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

The aircraft was performing a cargo flight from Beni to Goma with 8 Congolese passengers and 4 Russians crew members on board. After takeoff from Beni, the captain reported technical problem with the left main gear but continued towards Goma. While descending to Goma Airport, he decided to divert to Kigali International Airport to make an emergency landing because of the gear problems. Upon landing, the aircraft bounced then veered off runway and came to rest. All 12 occupants were seriously injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

The twin engine aircraft departed Nairobi-Wilson Airport on a cargo flight to Mogadishu, carrying two pilots and a load of 1,500 kilos of khat. About an hour into the flight, while in cruising altitude, the aircraft collided with a second Let L-410UVP also operated by Bluebird Aviation and registered 5Y-VVA. While the crew of 5Y-VVA was able to complete an emergency landing and the aircraft suffered small damages, 5Y-VVD entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed 30 km south of Mwingi, killing both pilots.