Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi has survived a potential helicopter crash in the country’s second largest city Francistown after his chopper ride was aborted following an engine fire.
Botswana Defence Force and the Office of the President has issued a statement stating that the presidential helicopter was forced to make an immediate precautionary landing while taxiing at Francistown airport upon arrival from Mathangwane.
“While taxying for landing at Francistown Airport, the pilots reported an engine fire indication where upon they promptly executed an engine shut down and landing on runway 13 at the airport,” said the statement, adding that the emergency response at Francistown Airport also responded to provide assistance with fire retardant foam.
The statement further said all five passengers including Mokgweetsi Masisi and the three aircrew members are safe and without injuries.
“The BDF wishes to assure the nation that all required maintenance and safety procedures are taken to assure the safe passage of His Excellency the President as well as any other principles in their care.
The same care is taken for the safe operation of all BDF flights regardless of who is on-board.”the statement said.
Full Statement by the Botswana Defence Forces reads as follows:
PRESS RELEASE ON BDF PRESIDENTIAL HELICOPTER
The office of the President and the Botswana Defence Force wishes to inform the public that a BDF presidential helicopter carrying His Excellency the President was forced to make an immediate precautionary landing while taxiing at Francistown airport upon arrival from Mathangwane at 1730hrs today 20th July 2019.
While taxying for landing at Francistown Airport the pilots reported an engine fire indication were upon they promptly executed an engine shut down and landing on runway 13 at the airport.
The emergency response at Francistown Airport also responded to provide assistance with fire retardant foam.
All five (5) passengers and the three (3) aircrew members are safe and without injuries.
The BDF wishes to assure the nation that all required maintenance and safety procedures are taken to assure the safe passage of His Excellency the President as well as any other principles in their care.
The same care is taken for the safe operation of all BDF flights regardless of who is on-board.
With regard this incident the Commander BDF has ordered an investigation through a Board of Enquiry to determine the cause of the engine fire the actions of the aircrews and all other circumstances surrounding this incident.