Eagle Air plane crash lands in Arua

One of the security men seen near the plane Eagle Air Plane that crash landed at Arua Airfield on May 14, 2018. PHOTO BY FELIX WAROM OKELLO

What you need to know:

  • In 2011, a plane carrying UPDF soldiers heading to Garamba in DR Congo for operations against the Lord's Resistance Army rebels crashed in a remote village of Okuleamvuku in Kubo County in Arua District after taking off from Arua Airfield.
  • The Antinov-2 was heading to Nzara UPDF airbase in Eastern DR Congo with the soldiers and some food items.
    In 2010, a plane carrying Uganda Wildlife Authority also crash landed at Adjumani District.

Five passengers have survived an accident after the Eagle Air crash landed on the runaway in Arua District.
A security officer who was at the airport at the time of the incident and spoke to Daily Monitor on condition of anonymity because he is not allowed to talk to press said: “I saw the plane landing well but while it touched the runaway, it suddenly swerved off and entered into a hole that was beside the runaway. But the passengers were safe.”

Security operatives from the District Internal Security Organization, the police and the UPDF have gathered at the airport to investigate the cause and provide security.

The manager of Eagle Air, Mr Robert Mwanika, says: “There were no causalities reported and the passengers are safe and left for their destinations. But we are waiting for our technical team from Entebbe who are already on their way. I cannot give any more information other than this.”

The plane was from Entebbe. The crash scene has been cordoned off with the pilots seen moving about but were not able to explain what caused the accident by press time.
Security officers have also blocked journalists from accessing the crash scene.

The Civil Aviation Authority senior public relations officer, Ms Jackline Kiyingi told Daily Monitor on phone that: “The aircraft had a technical problem on landing and this forced it to veer off the runaway. But there were no injuries registered.”

In 2011, a plane carrying UPDF soldiers heading to Garamba in DR Congo for operations against the Lord's Resistance Army rebels crashed in a remote village of Okuleamvuku in Kubo Parish, Ayivu County in Arua District after taking off from Arua Airfield.

The Antinov-2 was heading to Nzara UPDF airbase in Eastern DR Congo with the soldiers and some food items.
In 2010, a plane carrying Uganda Wildlife Authority also crash landed at Adjumani District. Four UWA staff were injured in the four-seater Cessna C206 plane crash that occurred few minutes after takeoff from Openzizi Airstrip.