Angola Helicopter Crash Kills 30: unspecified technical problems cited

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Reporter suspects overlaoding and poor maintenance may have caused this crash...government is investigating cause...

Angola Helicopter Crash Kills 30

LUANDA, Angola (AP) -- An overloaded military helicopter crashed and burst into flames shortly after taking off from southern Angola over the weekend, killing 30 people, officials said Monday.

Hospital sources in Lubango said three Roman Catholic nuns were among the fatalities. Twelve people survived the crash, including the aircraft's crew and a 3-year-old child.

The MI-8 transport helicopter took off Saturday from an air base at Lubango en route to the Angolan capital of Luanda, 620 miles to the north, officials said.

Airport officials in Lubango said the pilot contacted the control tower minutes after takeoff to say he would try to land again because of technical problems. The pilot also reportedly asked for a firefighting team to be placed on standby.

Soon after, the helicopter crashed at the Lubango base. The survivors managed to step out of the flaming helicopter after it slammed into the airstrip.

The nationalities of the victims were not immediately available. Their identities were not released, and no passenger list was drawn up before the flight.

The Defense Ministry said Monday it had opened an inquiry to determine the cause of the crash. The helicopter apparently was overloaded: It had a capacity for 35 people and was carrying 42.

Poor aircraft maintenance during two decades of fighting between the government and UNITA rebels has led to dozens of plane and helicopter crashes in Angola. The overall death toll is not known.

Link:

http://www.newsday.com/ap/rnmpne1e.htm

-- Carl Jenkins (Somewherepress@aol.com), February 07, 2000

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-- (kb8umw@yahoo.com), February 07, 2000.

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