A third aircraft left the runway in Africa today, but this time an Embraer regional jet in Mozambique.
Earlier in the day, a Dash 8 turboprop left the runway in Ethiopia and later another turboprop, this time a Fokker 50 model, also left the runway, but in a tragic way: a house was destroyed and one of the pilots died.
Another runway departure took place in the early afternoon, this time in Mozambique with an Embraer ERJ135 from the South African airline Airlink.
The aircraft landed at Pemba Airport but failed to stop due to aquaplaning and left the runway after the end of the threshold and got stuck in the dirt of the grassy region. Despite the horror, no one was injured and all passengers were able to leave the plane:
Third of the day!
Airlink's Embraer ERJ135 jet left the runway after landing in Pemba, Mozambique
Previously a Dash 8 left the runway in Ethiopia (no injuries) and then a Fokker 50 in Somalia hit a house after boost and one of the pilots died
AEROIN (@aero_in) January 18, 2024
In an official statement, Airlink said it regrets to have confirmed that one of its aircraft was involved in a runway departure while landing in Pemba, Mozambique this afternoon on a wet runway. The Embraer E135 regional jet, registration ZSSJX, operating from Johannesburg as flight 4Z 204, was carrying 32 passengers and three crew members. Everyone on board exited the aircraft through the front main entrance. No injuries have been reported so far.
Airlink has notified the relevant authorities in Mozambique and South Africa. The airport operator has closed the runway, but once it reopens we will send a replacement aircraft to Pemba and a recovery team to assist in removing the aircraft that was thrown off the track by aquaplaning.