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2 fatalities

Twin-Engine Aircraft Shot Down Over Rhodesia (OA-2)

Botswana, BotswanaFlight

On August 9, 1979, a Britten-Norman Islander (registration OA-2) operated by Botswana Defence Force - Air Wing was involved in an aviation accident near Botswana, Botswana in flight. 2 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Shot down by an Alouette III helicopter from the Rhodesian Army. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

A twin-engine aircraft on a delivery flight from the UK to Botswana was shot down by a Rhodesian Army Alouette III helicopter over northeastern Rhodesia, killing both occupants.

Incident Overview A twin-engine aircraft departed the United Kingdom on a delivery flight destined for Botswana. While flying over the northeastern part of the country, the aircraft was shot down by the crew of an Alouette III helicopter from the Rhodesian Army and crashed. Both occupants were killed. ## Official Findings The official investigation determined that the probable cause of the accident was that the aircraft was shot down by an Alouette III helicopter from the Rhodesian Army. The source does not specify the aircraft type, registration, date, operator, or exact location beyond the northeastern part of the country.

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