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By Warom Felix Okello & Tabu Butagira Monday, December 12 2011 at 16:12
A plane carrying UPDF officers and three whites burst into flames shortly after crash-landing in a remote part of Arua district, bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo. The military carrier identified by security sources as an Antonov An-2 nosedived shortly after lifting off from Arua Airfield en route to Nzara airfield in north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Witnesses say the plane failed to gain altitude after take-off. It hit a tree during the fall and crash-landed on two huts in Ayivuni Sub-county before exploding into flames 5 minutes later, according to our Reporter, Felix Warom, who is at the scene.
None of the affected household members was at home.
Only three of the seven plane occupants, four UPDF officers and 3 foreign nationals, sustained minor injuries. One of the white men, believed to be an American citizen, was piloting the plane when it came down Monday afternoon.
Police fire-fighters, who arrived about 40 minutes after the crash, are trying to put out the embers, but the huts have already gone up in smoke.
UPDF Air Force Spokesman, Cap. Kiconco Tabaro, confirms the incident but says the ill-fated plane does not belong to Ugandan military.
He says: “It is not a UPDF Air Force aircraft and I am not better placed to comment on an asset that does not belong to us.”
Preliminary reports suggest the plane was hired by an American Company and flying in on a yet undefined business. UPDF and their American counterparts are in parts of eastern DRC on the hunt for LRA leader, Joseph Kony, and his fighters.
http://www.monitor.co.ug
http://www.monitor.co.ug
Military plane crashes in Arua, no deaths
Publish Date: Dec 12, 2011
By Vision Reporter
A military plane ‘Dakota’ has burnt to ashes after it crash-landed in Arua district. A military source confirmed to the New Vision that the plane crashed after 3pm in a village called Mingoro, about 8 km from the Arua airfield.
Mingoro is close to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
An eye witness said 2 white people were rushed to Arua referral hospital. It is not clear how many were on board but no death has been reported.
Police fire fighters have rushed to the scene.
Army Spokesperson Felix Kulaigye said he was in a meeting and had not been briefed about the accident.
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