Tanzanian officials have disclosed the names of the 19 people who died in the Precision Air tragedy in Lake Victoria on Sunday, November 6, 2022.
Two Kenyans are among the deceased, one of whom served as the co-pilot of the doomed aircraft PW 494 -5H-PWF. Precision Air was flying from Dar es Salaam to Mwanza through Bukoba when it crashed into the lake.
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According to the company, the ATR 42-500 aircraft, built by the French-Italian company ATR in Toulouse, carried 43 passengers, including a baby, and four crew members.
Rescuers, including fishermen, waded through the water to pull victims to safety, according to video footage shown by local media. Residents also tried to help as rescue workers used ropes and cranes to raise the airplane out of the lake.
The plane encountered bad weather as it approached Bukoba, according to a witness who was on board.
“As we approached Bukoba, the pilot alerted us that the weather was not fine and that it was raining heavily so we went past Bukoba towards the border with Uganda before we could turn back,” said Richard Komba.
The survivor also described how the pilot informed them that they would be flown back to Mwanza if the bad weather persisted.
“Soon we began our descent on Bukoba Airport, there was so much turbulence and it was still raining heavily, and soon without any warning we found ourselves in the water,” he added.
According to the company Precision Air, there were 24 survivors out of the 43 passengers on board. Albert Chalamila, the area regional commissioner, has announced that the prayers will take place at the Bukoba football stadium.
Tanzania Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa will today Monday, November 7, 2022, preside over the memorial service for 19 who perished. Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu has asked for calm as inquiries into the cause of the disaster continue. She praised the fishermen and the emergency personnel for saving lives.
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