Incident Overview
In the early morning hours, a captain employed by Air Botswana boarded a company ATR42 aircraft that was parked at Gaborone-Seretse Khama Airport. Without authorization, he initiated engine start and departed on an unauthorized flight. The aircraft subsequently entered a holding pattern over the airport.
Communication and Negotiation
During the circling, the pilot made contact with air traffic control. He expressed a desire to speak with several individuals, including the President of Air Botswana, who was not available at that time. Negotiations commenced between the pilot and local authorities, lasting approximately two hours. Despite these efforts, the pilot ultimately decided to terminate the situation by crashing the aircraft.
Crash and Destruction
The pilot directed the ATR42 toward the apron where two other ATR42 aircraft belonging to the same operator were parked. The aircraft impacted the ground at a speed of 200 knots, resulting in an explosion upon impact. The crash destroyed all three aircraft: the one piloted by the captain and the two parked ones, which bore registrations A2-ABC and A2-AJD. The pilot was killed in the crash. There were no casualties on the ground, as the airport had been evacuated prior to the impact.
Official Findings
The investigation into the accident determined the probable cause. According to the official findings, the pilot committed suicide after being grounded by the operator until February 2000 due to medical reasons.