Four pilots die in chopper crash

 The breakage of a helicopter that crashed at Moshi Bar area in Kipunguni B, Dar es Salaam, killing four trainee pilots and their instructor yesterday

Four pilots died yesterday after a chopper with which they were conducting training crashed at Mazizini (famously known as Moshi bar), Ukonga area in Dar es Salaam after hitting an electric pole, plunging into a nearby house.

The chopper with registration number 5H-TWA is said to be the property of the ministry of natural resources and tourism.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police of Airports, Hamis Seleman named the deceased as Superintendent (SP) Jidai Singano, Inspector (Insp) Simba Mutta, Police Constable (PC) Jossu Selestine and Captain Joseph Alfayo.

He said the remains of the deceased have been preserved at the Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH).

According to him, the cause of the accident has not yet been established, despite other sources claiming that the engine had jammed during training.

An eye witness at the scene Beatrice Kamwera whose house was also partly destroyed said she witnessed the chopper falling without the sound of the engine.

“I think the engine had jammed. No sound was heard while the chopper was still in the skies as I saw it failing. We only heard the sound as it crashed onto my house” she said.

Beatrice said fortunately, there was no one in the house at the time of the crash. “We were just metres away from the house and soon we rushed for help after seeing one of the victim’s limbs hanging out from the chopper”

He said parts of the choppers cockpit were cut off to rescue the victims; unfortunately they had already lost their lives.

The extent of the damage to both the chopper and the house where it plunged could not easily be established. Police were conducting further investigations into the accident.