On February 26, 2022, a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan (registration 5H-MZA) operated by AB Aviation was involved in an aviation accident near Mohéli-Bandar es Eslam, Comoros Islands in flight. 14 people were killed. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).
A single-engine airplane on a scheduled flight from Moroni to Mohéli crashed into the sea near Mohéli-Bander es Eslam Airport. Only debris such as a wheel and wing fragments were found; no trace of the 14 occupants.
Incident Details
The single-engine airplane departed Moroni Airport at 1155 local time on a scheduled flight to Mohéli. The aircraft carried 12 passengers and two pilots. While approaching Mohéli, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions. The aircraft crashed into the sea approximately 2.5 kilometers northwest of Mohéli-Bander es Eslam Airport.
Search and Recovery
Following the crash, search efforts commenced immediately. After 24 hours of intense search operations, only a few pieces of debris were found floating on the water. Recovered items included a wheel and wing fragments. Despite extensive searching, no trace of the 14 occupants was found. The debris field was located in the sea northwest of the airport, consistent with the reported impact location.
No further details about the aircraft or the flight were released. The investigation into the accident is ongoing.
