Dar es Salaam. French air accident investigators are expected in Tanzania anytime from now to help probe the plane accident involving flight PW-494, property of Precision Air, which crashed at Lake Victoria in Bukoba, killing 19 people, Reuters reported on Monday.
The media outlet referred to a spokesperson for France’s BEA air accident investigation agency who said that it was bringing a team to the country along with technical advisers from Franco-Italian planemaker ATR, which built the ATR 42-500 turboprop.
The aircraft, 5H-PWF, ATR42-500, was flying from Dar es Salaam to Bukoba when the accident occurred around 08:53 am. According to a statement by Precision Air released on Sunday, there were 39 passengers (38 adults and one infant) and four crew on board the crew.
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Reuters reported that under international rules, the locally-led investigation would usually include the participation of authorities in France, where the plane was designed, and Canada, where its Pratt & Whitney engines were developed.
The media outlet quoted ATR as saying that it was “fully engaged to support the customer and the investigation.”
In another development, Tanzanians on Monday paid their last tribute to the 19 people killed in the accident, where the bodies of the victims were handed to their families.
Majaliwa Jackson, the heroic fisherman who is credited for saving the lives of the survivors, was also awarded an Sh1 million prize and offered a job in the Fire and Rescue Brigade for his efforts.
Speaking during the funeral ceremony held at Kaitaba Stadium in Kagera, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said the Rescue Force needs courageous men just like Mr Jackson.
“Immediately after this ceremony, the Minister of Home Affairs will meet this young man, take his address, follow all formalities and let us witness him going to the rescue force at once,” the government-owned Daily News newspaper quoted Mr Majaliwa as saying.
On Sunday, Mr Majaliwa said that an investigation into the accident has been ordered into the accident that has put Tanzania in the headlines.
