A small airliner crashed into a house, killing a British pilot and 19 others after a crocodile smuggled into the aircraft escaped and started a panic, it was reported today.
The Let 410 plane came down despite no apparent mechanical problems during an internal flight in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
It has only now emerged that the crash was caused by the concealed reptile escaping and causing a stampede in the cabin, throwing the aircraft off-balance.
A lone survivor apparently relayed the bizarre tale to investigators.
Ironically the crocodile survived the crash, only to be dispatched with a blow from a machete.
Belgian pilot Danny Philemotte, the 62-year-old owner of the plane's operator, Filair, struggled in vain with the controls, with 39-year-old First Officer Chris Wilson, from Shurdington, near Cheltenham, Gloucs.
The plane was on a routine flight from the capital, Kinshasa, to the regional airport at Bandundu when the incident unfolded, on August 25 this year.
At the time, Mr Wilson's mother Jean, 78, paid tribute to her son in her local paper.
She said: 'He loved flying and he worked hard to fulfil his dream of becoming a pilot. He had three jobs at once just to pay for his training. He absolutely adored flying.
'I’m very proud of him for working so hard. He loved life and did everything he could to achieve his dream.
The plane crashed into a house just a few hundred metres from its destination. Fortunately the occupants of the property were outside at the time.
Crash: The Let 410 turbo prop plane hit the ground just short of the regional airport of Bandundu (file picture)
A report by news organisation Jeune Afrique stated: 'According to the inquiry report and the testimony of the only survivor, the crash happened because of a panic sparked by the escape of a crocodile hidden in a sports bag.
'One of the passengers had hidden the animal, which he planned to sell, in a big sports bag, from which the reptile escaped as the plane began its descent into Bandundu.
'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.
'The crocodile survived the crash before being cut up with a machete.'
The plane was a Czech-made Let L-410 Turbolet, one of more than 1,100 produced as short-range transport aircraft and used mainly for passenger services.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...rought-airliner-killing-20.html#ixzz131wSa8lm
The Let 410 plane came down despite no apparent mechanical problems during an internal flight in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
It has only now emerged that the crash was caused by the concealed reptile escaping and causing a stampede in the cabin, throwing the aircraft off-balance.
A lone survivor apparently relayed the bizarre tale to investigators.
Ironically the crocodile survived the crash, only to be dispatched with a blow from a machete.
Belgian pilot Danny Philemotte, the 62-year-old owner of the plane's operator, Filair, struggled in vain with the controls, with 39-year-old First Officer Chris Wilson, from Shurdington, near Cheltenham, Gloucs.
The plane was on a routine flight from the capital, Kinshasa, to the regional airport at Bandundu when the incident unfolded, on August 25 this year.
At the time, Mr Wilson's mother Jean, 78, paid tribute to her son in her local paper.
She said: 'He loved flying and he worked hard to fulfil his dream of becoming a pilot. He had three jobs at once just to pay for his training. He absolutely adored flying.
'I’m very proud of him for working so hard. He loved life and did everything he could to achieve his dream.
The plane crashed into a house just a few hundred metres from its destination. Fortunately the occupants of the property were outside at the time.
Crash: The Let 410 turbo prop plane hit the ground just short of the regional airport of Bandundu (file picture)
A report by news organisation Jeune Afrique stated: 'According to the inquiry report and the testimony of the only survivor, the crash happened because of a panic sparked by the escape of a crocodile hidden in a sports bag.
'One of the passengers had hidden the animal, which he planned to sell, in a big sports bag, from which the reptile escaped as the plane began its descent into Bandundu.
'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.
'The crocodile survived the crash before being cut up with a machete.'
The plane was a Czech-made Let L-410 Turbolet, one of more than 1,100 produced as short-range transport aircraft and used mainly for passenger services.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...rought-airliner-killing-20.html#ixzz131wSa8lm
