Bodies, wreckage elude search team
Mar 10, 2009
THE wreckage of a plane that crashed into Lake Victoria has eluded a search team 30 hours after the Monday morning accident.
By Herbert Ssempogo
and Catherine Bekunda
THE wreckage of a plane that crashed into Lake Victoria has eluded a search team 30 hours after the Monday morning accident.
For over eight hours, a joint team of the Police and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) experts backed by two Americans, yesterday sought for the fuselage in vain.
The men scrutinised several parts of Magombe, a point that fishermen loathe due to the rocks that spoil their nets.
Characterised by deep water, Magombe, loosely translated as graveyard, is said to be about 25 metres deep.
The team recovered the plane’s tail, door, a chair and a mattress.
A cargo plane enroute to Somalia from Entebbe Airport plunged into Lake Victoria, instantly killing all the 11 people on board.
CAA public affairs manager Ignie Ingundura yesterday said the search was “energy-consuming†due to the rugged nature of the lake’s bottom and reduced visibility.
He told the press at the Kigungu landing site that moments after the plane plunged into the water, it could have moved several metres on the lake’s bed, making it hard to locate.
On whether Uganda would seek assistance, Igundura stated: “We need to know what kind of assistance we need before we can request for it.â€
American experts reportedly promised to fly in divers from Djibouti if the Government formally appealed for help.
Explaining why the names of the deceased have not been disclosed, internal affairs state minister Mathias Kasaija told MPs that authorities were still informing the next-of-kin.
Pledging that the list would be publicised by yesterday evening, Kasaija said three bodies had been retrieved by 8:00am yesterday.
However, Igundura refuted Kasaija’s claims and said the search would continue today.
and Catherine Bekunda
THE wreckage of a plane that crashed into Lake Victoria has eluded a search team 30 hours after the Monday morning accident.
For over eight hours, a joint team of the Police and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) experts backed by two Americans, yesterday sought for the fuselage in vain.
The men scrutinised several parts of Magombe, a point that fishermen loathe due to the rocks that spoil their nets.
Characterised by deep water, Magombe, loosely translated as graveyard, is said to be about 25 metres deep.
The team recovered the plane’s tail, door, a chair and a mattress.
A cargo plane enroute to Somalia from Entebbe Airport plunged into Lake Victoria, instantly killing all the 11 people on board.
CAA public affairs manager Ignie Ingundura yesterday said the search was “energy-consuming†due to the rugged nature of the lake’s bottom and reduced visibility.
He told the press at the Kigungu landing site that moments after the plane plunged into the water, it could have moved several metres on the lake’s bed, making it hard to locate.
On whether Uganda would seek assistance, Igundura stated: “We need to know what kind of assistance we need before we can request for it.â€
American experts reportedly promised to fly in divers from Djibouti if the Government formally appealed for help.
Explaining why the names of the deceased have not been disclosed, internal affairs state minister Mathias Kasaija told MPs that authorities were still informing the next-of-kin.
Pledging that the list would be publicised by yesterday evening, Kasaija said three bodies had been retrieved by 8:00am yesterday.
However, Igundura refuted Kasaija’s claims and said the search would continue today.