Bilal, Magufuli escape death in copter crash

Dar es Salaam. Vice President Mohammed Gharib Bilal and several top government officials narrowly escaped death yesterday when the military helicopter carrying them slammed into a hanger and crashed as it took off.

 Dr Bilal, Works minister John Magufuli, Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Said Mecky Sadick and Dar es Salaam Special Police Zone Commander Suleiman Kova were pulled unhurt from the wreckage of the helicopter at the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) Air Wing section of Julius Nyerere International Airport.

The Chief of Defence Forces, General Davis Mwamunyange, told The Citizen by telephone that the helicopter hit a wall and crashed as it was about to take Dr Bilal and his entourage on a tour of Dar es Salaam areas hit by floods following three days of heavy rains.

He described the accident as an “unfortunate incident”, adding that an investigation would be conducted to establish the cause of the crash.

Asked whether the helicopter had developed a mechanical problem, General Mwamunyage said the aircraft was inspected and tested on Saturday and yesterday morning before it was cleared to fly.

He said the Augusta Bell 412 was a reliable helicopter, adding that TPDF and other relevant agencies would carry out an investigation to establish whether the crash was caused by pilot error or mechanical failure.

The TPDF said in a statement late  yesterday that others who escaped unhurt were the pilot and three journalists and an aide to Dr Bilal. It said the accident happened at 9.30am as the helicopter was taking off.

An investigation into the accident was underway, said the statement issued by the TPDF Directorate of Information and Relations.