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Chopper carrying presidential staff crash lands

By editor
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A ZAMBIA Air Force crew and senior government officials that included President Michael Sata’s secretary for Press George Chellah escaped unhurt after the helicopter they were in,crash landed in Shiwangandu area of Muchinga Province.

President Sata’s helicopter which was already airborne flew back and landed so he could ascertain they were no casualties.

A bystander was however, hurt in the aftermath of the crash.

Others on board included Muchinga Province minister Charles Banda and his permanent Secretary Charles Sipanje.

The officials were in Shiwangandu to witness the commissioning of a mini hydro power station by the head of state.

It is not clear what caused the ZAF aircraft AF 746 to crash land as air force’s head public relations referred all querries to the Ministry of defence

Defence minister Geoffrey Mwamba when contacted said he would issue a statement later in the day after investigations are carried out.

Eye witnesses however, said the aircraft seemed to develop what could be described as power failure and failed to ascend before spiralling out of control towards a tree and then coming to rest near a tent erected to provide shelter.

People under the tent scampered for safety from the malfunctioning aircraft whose propellers tore off part of the marquee.

Another helicopter in the entourage was reported to have failed to take off.

editor
editorhttp://www.lusakatimes.com

123 COMMENTS

  4. THE PHOTO TELLS IT ALL. THESE ARE OLD CHOPPERS INHERITED FROM UNIP DAYS. I HEAR SATA ALSO FLIES THIS CHOPPER FROM KK INT’L AIRPORT TO STATE HOUSE AFTER ARRIVING FROM ABROAD INSTEAD OF GOING BY ROAD. NXAAA.

    • Don’t lie that Presidential Chopper was bought by LPM. Why should we always have our daily routines disturbed by VIP Motorcades when they can be avoided when necessary? 

    • Flying from State House to the airport is the way to go, and not closing all the roads to other motorists for endless hours so that the President can drive through in 20 minutes. People who leave in the east were forced to leave at 5:30 in the morning wach time the President is going to the airport. So, looking at a broader picture if you factor in all the security costs of shushus and policemen manning the road, and the lost man hours of motorists waiting on the side of the road until the President passes it is cheaper for him to fly than drive.

    • LUSAKA TIMES HAVE INDICATED THAT IT IS A ‘FILE PHOTO’ POSSIBLY TAKEN IN RUPIAH BANDA’S ERROR, WHY THEN CAN THE PHOTO TELL IT ALL?

  5. ZAF/GRZ please invest in a fleet of new military hardware…the choppers not only help ferry VIP’s but are useful in disaster relief efforts and during elections ferrying material/people to inaccessible areas…no wonder Sata is always shooting at armed forces! where does all that budgetary allocation go, subsidies (free mealie meal) for soldiers?  

  7. Oh my ! Thank God nobody was not hurt.I shudder thinking what could have had happened had it happened while sky high.Muletasha na Lesa bane…mune Chellar mwapusukeni.

  8. Oh my ! Thank God  that nobody was hurt.I shudder thinking what could have had happened had it happened while sky high.Muletasha na Lesa bane…mune Chellar mwapusuken

  10. Ba LT,you are reporting about top officials from PF but you display a picture of cadres belonging to the dead MMD (MHSRIP) why now,improve.

  11. power failure in homes, in the air power failure ….under pf failure. everything is failing…water failure, agriculture failure….

    • How about Zambia lifting the AFCON, how about Zambia hosting the zone 6 games, how about link Zambia, how about rebasing the kwacha etc. Don’t always look on the negative side of things always just because you don’t like the president. He has done something good as well.

  18. RIP 
    He was a great man

    Will there be 7 day national mourning?

    Someone update some of us. Will there be elections now?

    I am so sorry for all people of zambia, this keeps happening to you again

    Thanks

  19. Ba seleni mwa pusuka you would have seleni to the next realm hell. choppers are been over worked despite old age i hope someone will think twice before boarding and retain to the minibus mode of transport.

  20. Wow,Sata may not be my cup of tea or my type of president but i’m so glad he and his entourage escaped unhurt.Lets always check and service these choppers regularly.

  23. Funny how the president’s Helicopter has to fly back with the president on-board that’s a security flaw on OP security right there.I just hope they were not taking orders from the president. 

  29. Was it THE HOUR OR A NEW FIST? what a slogan for the PRESIDO?

    Revolution started in Chinsali and probably this could be the beigning of the END. What do you think GUYS? INE NAKAMBAKO CHABE. NAYOBOYA KWAMALA MAYO.

  33. Some people could be so heartless.How can you surely wish death upon another persons father/husband and grandfather..all just because you differ with him politically ? People will never cease to amaze me.

  35. Zambian journalism awe sure sivinthu, showing MMD symbols at PF launch??? Big lesson for not servicing equipment. Mwapusekeni ba seleni, kaili nga ni state funerals, we thank God for his intervention.

  37. Iwe Zebige #33, mechanical failure has those possibilities. What is wrong with projecting? If they don’t do anything about those choppers it will come to pass. Technology knows no VIP…

  39. Thank God no one was injured and all those passing rudimentary sily comments should just shut up! ZAF should seriously consider purchasing some military hardware in form of choppers & jet fighter planes. As one of the bloggers has observed choppers are also useful in disaster management & elections. Even those used for flight parades at independence & other national days will one day end in disaster. That is exactly what happened to our national team in1993, off the coast of Garbon. BE WARNED ZAF! Mushota you are a real B!tch indeed! Which state funeral are you wishing us? Chanting, crazy & brainless embec!le.

  41. Father in the Blessed Name of Jesus, we thank you for protecting the lives of our leaders. We know you shall keep protecting them in Jesus Name. Please bless all the bloggers in Jesus Name and forgive fools like #39. Amen

  44. There has been alot of road canages from the time PF won. I wish bamwine was on the copter too feel the effect of Satanism

  45. Bad news and very unfortunate. ZAF Technicians and Engineers must make sure that the Air crafts are all in good condition.

  46. This is an omen for all the lies and evil deeds done by this government……..karma is watching you. You may decide to drive but there are careless drivers on the road………

  49. Mushota I know you love being satirical but sometimes you go too far. Instead of being funny it gets to be grinding

  50. I not one to take aircraft incidents lightly. Every single incident is one t oo many. Professionally this incident requires of us to do the following as minimum:
    1, Ground the chopper and carry out full investigation of state of operation of every component.
    2, Note any anormally
    3, Attempt to reproduce that malfunction again.
    4, Contact the chopper manufacturer and share all findings
    5, Check the crew for recent proficiency 
    6, Check crew for sicknes, fatigue and sobriety

      :-w  in this game there are no big boys. I will be very annoyed if I hear that may be even the President said iyo its Ok. It is not Ok.

  51. Why are you wishing our leaders evil (for PF) ? God is going to protectthem whether you like it or not.Tigress comment has no truth and substance.

  52. How many ‘copters and how many staff were on this entourage? Can Zambia really afford flying up to 3 aircraft on a presidential tour? Are there resources to support this? Is it really necessary?

  53. #46 Tigress – Let he who is without sin cast the first stone or to use your lingo, karma is watching you too!

  54. Heey guys, really we praise the Lord God that no one was hurt. Now buy new plane and Helicopters.

    Peace and Prosperity to Mother Zambia.

  55. All those wishing the demise of our President and his officials will be so surprised, your Fathers and yourselves might be the first to pass on. Death comes to all at our own appointed day, watch your thoughts.

  56. MY ONLY ADVICE IS THAT DON’T USE ZAMBIA AIR FORCE CHOPPERS. THEY ARE NOT WELL MAINTAINED. ZAMBIA AIRWAYS WAS THE BEST NOT ONLY IN ZAMBIA BUT EVEN COMPARED TO SAA IN ALL AREAS OF AVIATION ACTIVITY. THIS IS A SERIOUS ADVICE. DON’T IGNORE IT. IGNORING IT WILL BE TO YOUR OWN PERIL. REMEMBER THE ZAF PLANE THAT KILLED ALL 30 PASSENGER IN LUSAKA AFTER TRAVELING WHOLE THE WAY FROM MBALA AND A MASS BARRIAL GRAVE DUG AT LEOPARDS HILL CEMETERY? IT WAS THROUGH NEGLIGENCY. REMEMBER THE NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM? HAVE THEY TOLD YOU THE CAUSE? IT WAS THROUGH GROSS NEGLIGENCE. BRING BACK ZAMBIA AIRWAYS WHERE MANY SIGNATURES WHERE APPENDED AFTER MAINTENANCE BEFORE THE AIRCRAFT FLIES. QZ STAFF IN WHATEVER CAPACITY WERE EXTREMELY GOOD. IT’S THE GOVERNMENTS (UNIP AND MMD) THAT FINISHED QZ. BACK TO THE WARNING.

  57. from #55…PLEASE, DON’T USE ZAF PLANES OR ELSE YOUR FAMILIES WILL SOON BE MOANING. MY BEST FRIEND EVADED THAT ACCIDENT AND I DON’T WANNA HEAR ANYTHING SIMILAR, AGAIN. I REPEAT. PLEASE BRING BACK QZ AND IN THE MEANTIME DON’T USE ZAF PLANE. YOU WILL SOON LEAVE YOUR WIFE AND CHILDREN MOANING. DO IT AT YOUR OWN PERIL. THERE’S TOO MUCH CORRUPTION IN OUR SECURITY AND DEFENSE FORCES. UULI NAMATWI OMFWE.

  60. Ya ba what a miss nga twa cikwata ka bye election na ka state funeral, why are they misusing our resources they could have just driven there.. Sha!!

  62. Whatever evil wishes you have 4 the President will never work in Jesus’ name.Tho i may not know what exactly caused that sometimes it happens.Even new ones can develop some faults. Jesus’blood is covering the President.

  65. I am not catholic but i can’t agree with some of the pente who think they are better than others.God is a GOD of justice. You are misbehaving when pipo seek correct you u say,’Do not touch the annoited one’.Nosense!That’s not biblical.

  66. If you are really a christian you can’t wish anyone evil .I don’t see any verse in the new testement that tells u to kill. 0 those prayers u make,’Back to the sender are demonic.’ What sin has the President committed that you wish him evil?

    • Tiyeni uko naimwe. Why have you decided to ignore the old testament. What about the book of Psalms, written by David the apple of God’s ey, the book of Ezekiel and many more in the old testament. Sit down and let the devil ravish your entire famil that’s your choice. Will you still say I chose to be quiet. As for me any bond man or woman, or strongman in my father or mother house and my foundation planning or scheming evil for my me and my entire family be paralysed by the fire of the Holy Ghost.

  68. And these are the choppers he wants to use against the Barotse Liberation Army, ones prone to crash landing before getting airborne. This man has a defeatist complex, conceiled mu kaumoya kan kulimonesha ta!

  71. Those are MMD waving at the helicopter. I think thats why Sata was shouting at the people, there were no PF supporters waiting for him.

  73. Breaking News…….Its been reported from the City of Lukulu that the One legged Commander of the Barotse Liberation Army General Mwendanjangula can neither confirm nor deny that his forces brought down a Zambian VIP helicopter in Northern Zambia, “We do not comment on operational matters” he said when pressed for comment!

  78. As the chopper spinned out of control, you bet a sticky stinky lump made exit from ka George Chellah’s rotten back side where it never ever shines. For all I care, both choppers could crash and there would be no single tear from me shed. All the tears in my skull are reserved for my long suffering fellow Zambians cheated by these ba makaka everyday.

  79. We lost the entire national soccer team because of such. There will be a report soon about this failure since no one died. But for Gabon the report will never come out.Ba LT you mean you cant get a current photo? MC has been flying in a chopper but you put one for RB when he arrived in Isoka long time ago.

  81. disheartening to read Zambiains wishing death upon brothers,Shem.Govt lets learn from the Gabon event and avoid taking chances,Litunga ,#70 and others your blogging is a dissapointing,The barotseland story should not be included at every turn please…..

  83. Actually that was one of the new choppers acquired from China recently. I remember seeing them in one of the newspapers when the air force commander took the defense minister for a tour at one of the bases. Could be that the Pilots are not yet proficient and accustomed in flying them. Am sure they are modern choppers with sophisticated computer systems on board. Those ZAF pilots flying them are probably too old to quickly grasp the on board computerized instruments. Its actually a case of selfishness. Let them train young fresh minds.

    • Imwe naimwe osa nyoza maningi. The chinese will give you cast off’s or gonga’s they would not use themselves. Have you ever seen or heard of anything genuine made fro china?

  84. Its time for PF to realize that the god`s and people are not happy with you, look at Winter he is behaving like a stray dog? you will start dieing one by one.

  85. In some countries and our country such kind of coppers are owned by farmers,businessmen and individuals.Some even have BOEING 707 in there back yard.Am suprised this is for the state.

  87. 85, Who has a Boeing 707 in the backyard. These planes have been phased out and most of them were owned by the military. Only a hand full are still being flown today. My point is, don’t just waffle before knowing facts because you will mislead the masses

  88. T
    rue that was a near miss but afew other things should not have happened
    1. Much as I dont like Sata as a person as my president no one should have turned his chopper round for what ever reason the primary corncern should have been to get the guy back to state house ‘ 2.The landing zone should have been abit futher away from the meeting place 3 120kg by 8 plus luggage and if prof Chirwa saw how the chopper came down indicates to me the thing was overloaded ZAF commander prove me wrong ok Meanwhile ZAF Crew job well done you are on my list for medals

  89. I was at the scene and oh my!!! What a close shave with death. The President plus KK showed tremendous courage as they came round to comfort the survivors… I halve some photos of the chopper seconds after crash landing…:-?

  90. Nostradamus No. 70, why should you wish George Chellah’s left foot cut off? You are just jealous of George becasue he is young and handsome, married to a pretty wife and with a good job. He could actually pay your salary just talk to him nicely! Get a life chikubabe…………..

  93. We thank the lord that no life was lost. country men let us not lead a type of live where we insult one other like that in the media.

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