What happened
On January 23, an aircraft carrying the writer Ernest Hemingway and his wife Mary crashed while they were traveling near Muchison Falls, Uganda. The Cessna 180, bearing registration VP-KLI, struck a utility pole before coming down in a field. Due to injuries sustained by the passengers during this initial impact, an emergency medical transfer was arranged to Entebbe.
A chartered DH.89 operated by East African Airways was utilized for the evacuation. During the takeoff sequence from Butiaba Airstrip, the aircraft experienced a sudden explosion. The resulting fire caused the plane to crash, leading to the total destruction of the airframe. All four individuals on board the DH.89 suffered serious injuries and burns as a result of the mid-air explosion and subsequent impact.
Findings
The specific reason for the second accident remains undetermined, as investigators were unable to establish a definitive origin for the explosion that destroyed the DH.89.