Two Embraer EMB-120ER Brasilia twin turboprops suffered similar accidents at the same airstrip in Tanzania only hours apart in a bizarre set of circumstances.
Despite both aircraft carrying passengers and crew neither of the incidents ended with serious injuries although the accident investigators will be keen to understand what went wrong.
The first accident on November 28, 2023, involved an Air Zanzibar Embraer EMB-120, registered 5H-MJH, which according to Tanzania National Parks had a technical issue when landing at Kikoboga Airstrip in the Mikumi National Park.
According to the Flight Safety Network, the Embraer had 33 people on board when the aircraft suffered a rear gear collapse on landing.
Hours later a Sindbard Air Embraer EMB-120, registered 5H-FLM, was due to take off from Kikoboga Airstrip for Zanzibar-Kisauni Airport (ZNZ).
As the aircraft began accelerating down the runway the front gear collapsed, and the aircraft veered from the airstrip into a building. The Sindbard Air flight had 30 passengers on board, two pilots and two flight crew members.
Um Embraer 120 da Unity Air Zanzíbar saiu da pista durante o pouso, a empresa mandou outro para buscar os passageiros, o outro se acidentou durante a decolagem. A empresa tinha 3 aviões. pic.twitter.com/O6rEUQHJ4V
— Mochilando na Aviação (@MocAviacao) November 29, 2023
It is understood that both aircraft were mainly filled with tourists visiting Tanzania for its world-leading wildlife.
The incident is being investigated by the Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation Branch (AAIB), part of the Tanzanian Ministry of Transport.