What happened
During a night cargo operation from Luanda to Lucapa, an aircraft operated by Hellier International Ltd was transporting 12.6 tons of fish along with thirteen passengers and six crew members. Upon arriving at Lucapa Airport, the aircraft successfully touched down on the runway. However, as the crew initiated braking maneuvers, the airport's runway lighting system malfunctioned.
Following the loss of visibility due to the lighting failure, the pilot lost control of the aircraft, causing it to overshoot the runway. The vehicle traveled approximately 60 meters beyond the end of the pavement before colliding with a nearby residence. This accident resulted in seven fatalities, including six passengers who were trapped within the cargo compartment and one individual located inside the house. There were no other reported injuries among the crew or remaining passengers.
Findings
Investigations into the incident highlighted that the runway lighting at Lucapa Airport had been experiencing intermittent functionality. Additionally, it was noted that the airport was not authorized for nighttime operations at the time of the accident.