Crocodile blamed for fatal Congo air crash...

[stratofreighter]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39781214/ns ... ews-africa

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... panic.html

http://www.hln.be/hln/nl/959/Bizar/arti ... loot.dhtml

It would have been so funny if the eventual result/ outcome hadn't been so serious...

[regi]

The croc got killed by the rescue team.
I am thinking about the reality:

• compare a crash in Western Europe or in the jungle of the Equator
  retrieving the remains of relatives ( temperature, transport, identification etcetera )
  insurance

And in this crash where there was only human survivor, the croc wandered around freely. I just hope that the croc didn't nourish on the remains...

[luchtzak]

Strange story

[Ice]

The story is unreal. These flights are usually full. The Let 410 has no overhead racks or binns, there is simply no space for a reptile and knowing the captain/owner of the aircraft it would have been impossible to bring it on board without him noticing. Don't make up stories, the aviation world in the DRC is already enough upside down.

[smokejumper]

I guess airlines will now need to revise passenger safety cards to include a new warning. Will airport security now start checking passenger luggage for crocodiles?

Perhaps now crocodile-loving passengers can get an X-Ray of their pets (at security) so they can plan dental visits.

[HighInTheSky]

I guess airlines will now need to revise passenger safety cards to include a new warning.

Please do not use your crocodile during take-off and landing.

And in case of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, be sure to put on your mask first, before assisting your crocodile.

[joyraider]

And in case of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, be sure to put on your mask first, before assisting your crocodile.

[regi]

The story is unreal. These flights are usually full. The Let 410 has no overhead racks or binns, there is simply no space for a reptile and knowing the captain/owner of the aircraft it would have been impossible to bring it on board without him noticing. Don't make up stories, the aviation world in the DRC is already enough upside down.

So you say that there was no croc on board, that the story by the survivor was a lie, that the press statements from DRC are untrue ?
In that case, can you tell us what happened? What did that survivor tell to you ?

[jan_olieslagers]

The story is unreal. These flights are usually full. The Let 410 has no overhead racks or binns, there is simply no space for a reptile and knowing the captain/owner of the aircraft it would have been impossible to bring it on board without him noticing. Don't make up stories, the aviation world in the DRC is already enough upside down.

So you say that there was no croc on board, that the story by the survivor was a lie, that the press statements from DRC are untrue ?
In that case, can you tell us what happened? What did that survivor tell to you ?

Well, the survivor did not tell me anything, nor did those who were less lucky. So I cannot say what is true and what not. Nor would I want to. Far less would I apply such a big word as "lie". But a story emerging two months after the crash, with not a single mention in the initial reports, does not convince me. Least of all am I convinced by the Belgian who claims to have been on site less than three hours after the crash, and now suddenly comes confirming the crocodile story that he said nothing about initially. I remain sceptical, and will await the official report. Yes, I know, I might have to wait long. Perhaps even an eternity. Up till then, "si non é vero, é ben trovato". And it will certainly help sell a lot of printed paper.

[regi]

So from now on we cannot believe anymore eye witness's report ? Just see the recent TK incident at Brussels. We can put the report by our member in the bin because it is not an official report ?

I do agree that many statements of eye witnesses , especially of emotional happenings, have been completely the opposite of the reality.
But that doesn't mean we can can just ignore anything being said by eye witnesses.

Animals in the cabin? Ask me. I endured a 1.5 hour flight SGN-BKK on a AF 747 with a pretty large frantic bat in the cabin, flying up and down the aisle. The crew tried to catch it with blankets and the passengers joined in. But we failed to catch it. Well, I was wielding my old Yashica reflex camera with a bulky fash light on top, but a stewardess forbid me to take a photograph, probably because it would be bad publicity for AF. But you probably will say this statement is untrue untill you have seen the official report as well.

[jan_olieslagers]

Sigh. Read my message. Read it again. READ IT AGAIN.

I cannot say what is true and what not.
Nor would I want to.

[Ice]

Bandundu "ville" is not in the middle of the bush, but the capital city of Bandundu province. The aircraft ran out of fuel after he did not get the expected fuel at destination, could have made it back to Bandundu but had to make an overshoot on his first approach (bad visibility) and ran out of fuel on his second attempt.

[jan_olieslagers]

And other reports say 150 litres of kerosene were pumped out of the wreckage. Rumours, rumours...

[regi]

Sigh. Read my message. Read it again. READ IT AGAIN.

I cannot say what is true and what not.
Nor would I want to.

Okay okay, got that, calm down, we don't want to lose another member by heart failure or what.

But...out of respect for the victims and their relatives, has there emerged other serious news ( less bizar perhaps ) about this crash?

[sn26567]

Aircraft crashes after crocodile on board escapes and sparks panic

A small airliner, a Czech-made Let L-410 Turbolet, crashed into a house, killing 20 people after a crocodile smuggled into the aircraft escaped and started a panic. The plane was on a routine flight from Kinshasa to the regional airport at Bandundu when the incident unfolded, on August 25, 2010. It crashed into a house just a few hundred feet from its destination. The plane came down despite no apparent mechanical problems.

It has now emerged that the crash was caused by the concealed reptile escaping as the plane began its descent into Bandundu, causing a stampede in the cabin, throwing the aircraft off-balance. One of the passengers had hidden the animal, which he planned to sell, in a big sports bag.

A lone survivor apparently relayed the bizarre tale to investigators.

The crocodile survived the crash, only to be dispatched with a blow from a machete.

Danny Philemotte, the Belgian pilot and 62-year-old owner of the plane's operator, Filair, struggled in vain with the controls, with Chris Wilson, his 39-year-old First Officer from Shurdington, near Cheltenham, Glocs.

A report of the incident said: "The terrified air hostess hurried towards the cockpit, followed by the passengers." The plane was then sent off-balance "despite the desperate efforts of the pilot", said the report.

Details in The Telegraph.

[hbervoets]

This was covered by : viewtopic.php?f=7&t=43265&p=239373

[sn26567]

This was covered by : viewtopic.php?f=7&t=43265&p=239373

Oops! Yes, indeed. Topics merged.