A Sindbard Air Embraer Emb-120 aircraft, with 26 passengers and 4 crew members, made an emergency landing at Kilimanjaro International Airport due to a technical failure in the landing gear system. According to the specialized website Aviation Herald, the aircraft hit and killed a zebra during take-off from the Seronera runway, inside the Serengeti National Park, in Tanzania.
Landing without gear
Headed to Zanzibar, the plane still managed to take flight, but after the impact the crew decided to turn towards Kilimanjaro airport. During landing, the main landing gear did not open and the aircraft landed “belly” on runway 09. There were no injuries, but the aircraft suffered extensive damage. A video posted on YouTube documents the landing phases.
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The Tanzania Airports Authority said in a statement that it regrets the inconvenience caused “and thanks the passengers, airlines and all operators involved for their patience and collaboration”. Investigations are underway to clarify the causes of the accident.