What happened
A charter operation traveling from Fíngoè to Tete was cruising at 4,700 feet when the right engine of the aircraft was struck by a surface-to-air missile. The impact caused an immediate fire within the right engine. Following the strike, the pilot began a rapid descent to lower altitude and attempted to divert the flight toward Songo Airport for an emergency landing.
During the emergency descent, the right engine became detached from the airframe. Despite the loss of the engine and the ongoing fire, the pilot successfully guided the aircraft to the runway at Songo Airport and brought it to a halt. Although the aircraft was destroyed by the resulting flames, there were zero fatalities among the five people on board, consisting of one pilot and four passengers. All occupants managed to evacuate the wreckage safely.
Findings
Investigations concluded that the engine fire and subsequent structural failure were caused by a surface-to-air missile strike. The projectile was launched by Frelimo rebels who incorrectly identified the aircraft as being from Rhodesia.