Fisherman declared a hero after Tanzanian crash efforts
After a plane crashed in Tanzania’s Lake Victoria on November 6, one fisherman who nearly lost his life trying to save the trapped pilots has spoken about his efforts.
The passenger plane was carrying 43 people when the pilots attempted to land at Bukoba airport after encountering problems and enduring bad weather.
Majaliwa Jackson, who was officially declared a hero and awarded 1 million Tanzanian shillings ($AU 665 or $NZ 725), told the BBC from hospital of the panic he felt when he saw the passenger plane approaching from the wrong direction before crashing into the lake.
Mr Jackson told the outlet that he rushed to the scene with three other fishermen, helping to open the rear door by smashing it with a rowing oar and allowing passengers seated towards the back of the plane to be rescued.
After moving to the front of the plane and diving into the water, Mr Jackson said he and one of the other pilots communicated by making signs through the cockpit window.
"He directed me to break the window screen. I emerged from the water and asked airport security, who had arrived, if they have any tools that we can use to smash the screen,” he said.
"They gave me an axe, but I was stopped by a man with a public announcement speaker from going down and smashing the screen. He said they were already in communication with the pilots and there was no water leakage in the cockpit.”
But, when he dived back in and waved goodbye to the pilot after he was stopped from smashing the screen, the pilot then indicated he wanted to be rescued.
Mr Jackson then attempted to pull the cockpit emergency door off by tying a rope from it to other boats, but he was knocked unconscious when the rope broke and struck him in the face.
“The next thing I knew I was here at the hospital,” he said.
In addition to his monetary reward, Mr Jackson was offered a job with the firefighting and rescue brigade, as well as training in rescue operations to sharpen his skills.
The pilots were among 19 confirmed fatalities from the crash.
Emergency crews used ropes to pull the plane, which had been completely submerged, closer to shore.
Airline Precision Air previously said that 26 passengers had been rescued and taken to hospital, but has since said there were only 24 survivors.
Kagera police commander William Mwampaghale said that the crash occurred at around 8.50am local time on Sunday.
“When the aircraft was about 100m mid-air, it encountered problems and bad weather. It was raining and the plane plunged into the water,” he said.
Tanzania’s Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa has said an extensive investigation would be conducted to determine the cause of the crash, and that the government would cover the costs of funerals for the 19 victims.
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