By Anna Shilongo
WINDHOEK
The two people who died two days ago in a plane crash, south of Windhoek, have been identified.
Family members identified the pilot as 39-year-old Giacomo Alexandre Salvodeli from Namibia, and the passenger as 60-year-old Alessandro Paci, an Italian national who was visiting Namibia.
The accident occurred on Monday when, shortly after take-off, the plane nose-dived into a thick thorn bush near the Trade Centre Shopping Complex south of Windhoek just before 18h00.
Both the occupants are reported to have died instantly.
The aircraft, a single engine Beechcraft registration number V5-KLB, belonged to Salvodeli.
Wife, Nadia Salvodeli, and two children aged two and four survive Salvodeli, while Paci is survived by his wife in Italy.
Speaking to New Era at the wreckage scene yesterday, Salvodeli’s cousin, Sabrina Gubiani, said the deceased were on their way to Okuruti Farm near Midgard when the accident happened.
“When they left the house they said they were going to hunt at the farm and we were shocked when we heard the news,” she said trying to contain her grief.
The visibly shaken and traumatised Gubiani was at a loss for words as she watched the wreckage removed from the accident scene.
“Is it possible for me to listen to the recorded communication between my husband and the air traffic controller?” asked the pilot’s wife, with tears streaming down her cheeks.
The wreckage was yesterday morning taken to the Eros Airport where it will be kept until investigations are complete.
According to the Acting Director of Aircraft Accident Investigation/Prevention in the Ministry of Works Transport and Communication, Ericsson Nengola, investigations into the plane crash would not be completed any time soon.
“The investigations can take four to five months to conclude because there are a lot of factors we have to consider,” said Nengola.
He said it’s not easy to conclude an investigation into a plane crash, especially where two people were involved.
The investigation team will also look at the communication between air traffic controllers and the pilot and whether there was lost communication or not.
According to the spokesperson of the Namibia Airport Company, Sikongo Haihambo, the aircraft had taken off at 17h48 and at 17h50 an emergency alert was radioed to the airport to report that the plane had developed problems.
The Minister of Works, Transport and Communication, in a press statement, said shortly after the plane took off, at approximately 17h48, two loud bangs were heard from the engine. A wing appeared to have sheared off the plane and it sharply turned to the left while descending and hit the terrain at a steep angle in a near vertical position.
The aircraft was extensively damaged.
The cause of the accident is yet to be determined.
Meanwhile, the Minister, Joel Kaapanda, has sent his condolences to the bereaved families.