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ARUSHA Seven people severely injured after a charter plane crashed on Tuesday in Merugwayi village of Longido district in Arusha Region, northern part of Tanzania, police said yesterday. Eye-witnesses said the plane crashed a few minutes after taking off from the village’s airstrip on Tuesday evening. The plane is used by a Catholic Church to carry doctors who always provide medical services in the remote district. Pilot and his co-pilot were among the seven injured in the accident, which came just three months following a similar accident in Arusha which killed one person.

Acting Arusha Regional Police Commander, Japhet Lusingu confirmed the accident, saying a Cessna plane crashed soon after taking off 120 kilometers from the airstrip.

Lusingu said the plane was heading to Arusha, Tanzania’s safari capital.
“The plane landed safely at the Merugwayi airstrip, with the aim of taking a patient. Pilots attempted to take off, they failed because of poor weather.

“They made the last attempt, but failed to withstand with a strong wind, and ended the plane clashing in the wilderness,” the police officer said, adding no one died in the accident as the plane never caught fire.

The accident’s victims were rescued and have been hospitalised at the Arusha Lutheran Medical Center.
A pilot was badly injured.

Lusingu stressed that the charter plane always used by church doctors who provide medical services at a hospital located in Enduleni area, which is close to Ngorongoro Crater. — Xinhua.