An investigation has begun into the fatal crash of an Equatair Antonov An-24B in Equatorial Guinea, on the west coast of Africa, according to the government. The aircraft was on a 16 July domestic flight from the capital Malabo to the coastal town of Bata when it came down soon after take-off. Officials say none of the six crew and 49 passengers survived.
Malabo is on Equatorial Guinea’s offshore territory, the island of Bioko, and the aircraft crashed near Baney, less than 20km (11nm) south of the capital. Air services are the principal means of travel between the island and the mainland. There is no clue so far about what may have caused the accident, says information minister Alfonso Nsue Mokuy.
Witnesses, however, say they saw flames coming from one side of the aircraft, then it appeared to be unable to maintain height and ploughed through trees for some distance before hitting the ground in forested hills. It took almost a day to find the wreckage.
Source: Flight International
