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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Britons die in Malawi plane crash | Britons die in Malawi plane crash |
| (1 day later) | |
| Five British tourists and a Canadian pilot have died in a plane crash in northern Malawi, authorities said. | Five British tourists and a Canadian pilot have died in a plane crash in northern Malawi, authorities said. |
| The Cessna aircraft had been heading from the capital city, Lilongwe, to the north of the country. | The Cessna aircraft had been heading from the capital city, Lilongwe, to the north of the country. |
| "The wreckage of the plane was found by villagers in a ravine, and there were no survivors," police spokesman Willie Mwaluka said, Reuters reported. | "The wreckage of the plane was found by villagers in a ravine, and there were no survivors," police spokesman Willie Mwaluka said, Reuters reported. |
| Investigators were trying to find the reason for the crash, he said. The next of kin are yet to be notified. | Investigators were trying to find the reason for the crash, he said. The next of kin are yet to be notified. |
| 'Bad weather' | 'Bad weather' |
| "The five Britons were on a cycling tour in the northern part of Malawi and they took a plane yesterday (Saturday) with a Canadian pilot for sight-seeing," Mr Mwaluka was quoted by Reuters. | "The five Britons were on a cycling tour in the northern part of Malawi and they took a plane yesterday (Saturday) with a Canadian pilot for sight-seeing," Mr Mwaluka was quoted by Reuters. |
| "The plane was expected back at camp after 45 minutes but never returned." | "The plane was expected back at camp after 45 minutes but never returned." |
| Raymond Phesele, the government's chief aviation officer, said one of the British tourists killed was a woman. | Raymond Phesele, the government's chief aviation officer, said one of the British tourists killed was a woman. |
| An investigation has been launched into the cause of the incident, which reportedly happened in bad weather. | An investigation has been launched into the cause of the incident, which reportedly happened in bad weather. |
| A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We were informed by the Malawian authorities that a plane crashed in Malawi and that there were British fatalities. | A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We were informed by the Malawian authorities that a plane crashed in Malawi and that there were British fatalities. |
| "We are still establishing the facts with the authorities and informing the next of kin." | "We are still establishing the facts with the authorities and informing the next of kin." |
| He added that no further details would be released at this stage. | He added that no further details would be released at this stage. |
| Remote north | Remote north |
| Shadreck Chibinga, duty air traffic controller at Lilongwe International Airport, said the aircraft crashed in a river valley on Saturday. | |
| He added that there were no indications of any problems with the plane before it took off. | |
| He said: "On the previous day this aircraft had flown from Zambia into Malawi without a problem. The pilot had flown this aircraft for quite a long time. He had been flying around the country taking tourists to different areas." | |
| The plane is understood to have been operated by Nyika Safari Company which offers access to two reserves in the remote north of the country - Nyika National Park and Vwaza Marsh Game Reserve. | The plane is understood to have been operated by Nyika Safari Company which offers access to two reserves in the remote north of the country - Nyika National Park and Vwaza Marsh Game Reserve. |
| "Covering a total of 4120 square kilometres these two reserves contain the finest scenery, wildlife and wilderness areas to be found in the country," its website says. | "Covering a total of 4120 square kilometres these two reserves contain the finest scenery, wildlife and wilderness areas to be found in the country," its website says. |
| The company apparently has its own Cessna 206, which seats four to five passengers. | The company apparently has its own Cessna 206, which seats four to five passengers. |
| It offers charter flights to and from the two reserves to any other destination in Malawi. | It offers charter flights to and from the two reserves to any other destination in Malawi. |
| Flights can also be arranged to regional destinations such as the Luangwa Valley in Zambia, the Mozambique coast or the great parks of southern Tanzania. | Flights can also be arranged to regional destinations such as the Luangwa Valley in Zambia, the Mozambique coast or the great parks of southern Tanzania. |
| Malawi, one of the poorest countries in southern Africa, has a small tourist industry, concentrated mainly in the scenic north of the nation. | Malawi, one of the poorest countries in southern Africa, has a small tourist industry, concentrated mainly in the scenic north of the nation. |