A Beechcraft 1900C aircraft, belonging to the private Mozambican company Kaya Airlines, crashed at Maputo International Airport shortly before midnight on Friday.According to a report on the independent television station STV, the plane had flown from the northern Mozambican city of Nampula. All 17 people on board – five crew members and 12 passengers – survived the crash, but some were injured and are undergoing treatment in Maputo hospitals. Those with the most serious injuries were later evacuated to South African clinics.The plane crashed as it attempted to land, and came to rest about 600 metres from the runway. The causes of the crash are not yet known, but at the time a severe storm was affecting Maputo with heavy rain and strong winds.According to a report in Monday’s issue of the independent newsheet “Mediafax”, the pilot of the Beechcraft ignored instructions from the Maputo control tower advising against an attempt to land. The plane circled the airport twice and then made its ill-fated approach to the runway.“Mediafax” also claims that some of the plane’s equipment was not working, notably its altimeter, so that the pilot was not aware of how low he was as he came in to land.Kaya used to be called Transairways, but changed its name when it was purchased by the company Tiko. This is owned by former Foreign Minister Leonardo Simao (with 50 per cent of the shares), his business partner Fausto Cruz (49 per cent), and the latter’s wife (one per cent).Cruz was on board the plane and suffered serious head injuries in the crash. He is among those evacuated to South Africa.
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