In a tragic event in the Congo, 20 people died in a plane crash, which could have been prevented if not for the unexpected presence of a crocodile. Although the story might sound like the plot of a movie such as “Snakes on a Plane,” it is unfortunately a true incident.
The incident occurred in 2010 involving a Filair Let L-410 aircraft that departed from Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The plane was scheduled to stop at several destinations including Kiri, Bokoro, Semendwa, and Bandundu. Tragically, just over a mile from Bandundu’s runway, the aircraft crashed into a nearby house, killing 18 passengers and two pilots, with only one survivor.
Initially, it was suspected that the crash was due to the plane running out of fuel, as there was no explosion upon impact. However, the true cause was far more unexpected.
The sole survivor of the crash attributed the disaster to a crocodile that had been smuggled onto the plane in a duffle bag. Initially hidden from both passengers and crew, the crocodile escaped during the flight and roamed the cabin.
The presence of the crocodile caused panic as everyone rushed towards the cockpit for safety. The survivor recalled, “The frightened flight attendant ran to the cockpit, with passengers following.”
This sudden movement created an imbalance in the aircraft’s weight distribution, disrupting its center of gravity and leading to the crash.
First officer Chris Wilson, 39, and 62-year-old Danny Philemotte, the airline’s owner, struggled to manage the aircraft’s weight imbalance caused by the chaos. Their efforts to stabilize the plane failed, leading to a crash landing.
Interestingly, the crocodile reportedly survived the crash but was later killed by authorities using a machete. Aviation safety expert John Cox, in a conversation with ABC News, noted that while rare, a crash can occur due to an off-center gravity point.
He explained, “If you shift the center of gravity forward beyond control, it’s conceivable. Imagine twenty individuals each weighing 200 pounds; such a scenario is possible.”