Sullivan’ chopper crashed in Arusha

A military helicopter was crashed near Materesi village, Kisongo area in the suburbs of Arusha town, killing all crew and passengers on board. Arusha Regional Police Commander Mr Basilio Matei told the ‘Daily News’ that the ill-fated helicopter was among those that were taking aerial patrol during the Sullivan Summit that ended in Arusha,Tanzania. He added that the cause of the crash were not established the following day, and that police and military officials were investigating on the cause of the mishap. News from the scene of accident said that the plane – Registration Number JWTZ 95007 – was headed for Dar es Salaam via Dodoma where it was expected to drop some of the passengers. Speaking to police officers who visited the scene of the accident, Maj. Nkambi of the Tanzania People's Defence Forces (TPDF) identified the dead as Col. Waketi, Maj. Sinda, Lt. Kihungu and Private Mahumba. He added that a woman and her child, both of whom also died, were not identified immediately. The Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Davis Mwamunyange, who was in Arusha on official duty visited the scene of accident an hour after the incident, where he expressed his condolences to the bereaved families. Gen. Mwamunyange also thanked the Kisongo area residents, who tried their best to save the accident victims but could not do so under the circumstances. He said burial arrangements would be made once necessary arrangements were made.