TANZANIAN ELECTION CAMPAIGN’S LAST DAYS OVERSHADOWED BY HELICOPTER CRASH
(Posted 18th October 2015)
(A helicopter used in the Tanzanian election campaign painted in ruling party colours)
A Eurocopter AS350B3, shown above after receiving a campaign paint job, crashed during a flight from Dar es Salaam to the South West of Tanzania, killing all four on board as it came down in the Selous Game Reserve enroute to the town of Ludewa. The Kenyan registered helicopter 5Y-DKK had the manufacturer’s serial number 7027. The aircraft was chartered alongside many other Kenyan registered planes to support the election campaigns and take presidential and parliamentary candidates around the country and their constituencies.
On board, besides the pilot Capt. William Silaa, were a candidate standing for parliamentary re-election for a second term of office, Hon. Deo Filikunjombe and members of his team.
The crash occurred late afternoon on the 15th of October and a search and rescue mission dispatched at first light the next morning only discovered the charred remains of the helicopter but no survivors.
An air accident investigation is already underway and debris from the crash is being transported to Dar es Salaam for closer inspection to try determine the cause of the accident.
Initially conflicting information received from several sources in Tanzania and beyond has since been corrected in regard to the ownership of the stricken craft and apologies are offered for putting out the wrong owners in the first place.
Condolences are expressed to the family of Hon. Deo, the other passengers and the family of Capt. William.
