AIR ZIM ZHING ZHONG CRASHLANDS

The official explanation was that the plane had struck a warthog, which was dismissed by traumatised passengers as hogwash, suspecting that the plane had a mechanical fault. The Chinese manufactured planes have largely been met with scepticism by the generally conservative Zimbabwean flying community. The M60s, derisively referred to as Zhing Zhongs were bought at a bargain with and addition plane expected to be added on. Fambai Ngirande, an official with the National Association of Non Governmental Organisations, Nango, was one of the passengers in the plane.

The plane was taxing on the runway and just as it was taking off, there was a big bang and the plane started swerving from side to side while people were screaming in fear. It veered off the runway and landed on one of its wings. I was so afraid amid the commotion and confusion that some of the things happened in a blur, said Ngirande. Other passengers who spoke to The Zimbabwean said when the plane finally came to a standstill, the evacuation doors would not open.

The doors would not open and when they finally did open, some people who had panicked and thought the plane would explode into a ball of fire started to compete to escape and in the process sustained injuries while jumping out of the plane. The reaction from airport staff was shockingly inadequate as the traumatised passengers walked to one of the lounges to await further instructions.

There was nobody who came to talk to and reassure the passengers or to find out if they had sustained any injuries. After about two hours, we were told by airport officials that we would have to board another plane the following day. However, our sources who caught the morning flight to Bulawayo on Wednesday morning said less than 10 people turned up from those who had survived from the ordeal the previous night.

From the people who intended to travel the previous night, I only recognised about seven only. I think the rest were so afraid of a similar experience that they opted to travel by road. Meanwhile, three passengers who filmed the plane after evacuation were arrested and detained by airport security. Their fate could not be ascertained at the time of going to print.