Military plane crash kills 17 lives

Padang Express • Saturday, 09/17/2011 12:17 pm • (cak) Luanda - Angolan military plane crash took the lives of soldiers and civilians. Local authorities said 17 people died in the crash at the airport in Huambo, yesterday (16 / 9) local time. Initially, some media reported at least 30 of the 36 passengers who were on board were killed. But the report was revised after rescue teams found a number of passengers that can be saved. The military said 11 soldiers, including three generals were killed in the crash. Added, six civilians, including two women and two children were also on the list of victims. The accident occurred at the airport Albano Machando in Huambo city, about 550 km north-west of the capital city of Luanda. The new airport was reopened last month after a three-month closed due to repairs. Embraer-120 aircraft carrying 23 people made in Brazil as he fell around 11:30 am Wednesday (14 / 9) local time. In it there are three military delegations and six civilians. The aircraft normally used to bring senior government and military. Two men held the rank of lieutenant general, respectively Leitao Bernardo and Francisco Diogo Malungo Elias da Costa Pedro Bravo. While the other one held the rank of Brigadier General, Demosthenes Katata. All three were identified as victims were killed. Two pilots and crew were reported safe. While almost all passengers confirmed dead. Previously, pilots and some passengers survived immediately rushed to the hospital due to burns. "I do not know what happened. The plane is fine when walking on land to take off. So I really do not know what happened," said Captain Jose Goncalves who survived the incident, while in the hospital. A hospital officials said the five victims suffered second-degree burns. While one other person suffered burns, more serious, level three. Angolan Air Force has conducted an investigation to determine the cause of the accident. Aviation authorities declared that the province is estimated to be the cause of technical problems. "It's too early to determine the cause of accidents. A commission formed to investigate," explains Ernesto Dos Santos, who is responsible in the field of transport Angolan Air Force, told AFP. He added that the investigation will take about 1-2 months. One witness claimed to see a plane flying low and burned before hitting the airport runway. A picture Angopla news agency reported, Angop show, the plane split into two due to the lacing