By Petronella Sibeene
WINDHOEK – Six people sustained minor injuries during the weekend after a Cessna 210 aircraft they were travelling in crashed a kilometre from the Swakopmund airport.
Chief Fire Officer from the Swakopmund Municipality, Tony Moller, confirmed the accident to New Era yesterday.
Moller said the pilot, who sustained injuries on his right knee, said the plane lost power upon coming for the final approach. The pilot tried to make an emergency landing but the nose wheel was lost, leading to the plane somersaulting.
The plane, belonging to Pleasure Flights & Safari, carried three female and two male passengers and the pilot.
Pleasure Flights & Safari declined to comment on the accident, saying they were busy with investigations.
All the passengers were rushed to the Cottage Hospital in Swakopmund, Moller said.
The accident took place at about 16h45 on Saturday.
A team from Civil Aviation travelled to Swakopmund to commence investigations into the crash.
This is the third aircraft accident in the country this year.
The last accident took place in Windhoek almost a month ago, when a Cessna 210 aircraft belonging to a Swakopmund tour operator, Scenic Air, rammed into an electric pole above the Trans-Namib Gammams Training Centre opposite Pionierspark cemetery.
All the five people on board – an American couple, a French couple and the pilot – were rushed to the MediCity and the Roman Catholic hospitals.