What happened
During a local aerial photography operation conducted for the Shell Oil Group, an aircraft carrying three operators and three crew members was destroyed in flight. The aircraft was configured with a 30-meter cable attached to its tail, which supported a sensor system containing various measurement instruments.
While the crew was communicating with Air Traffic Control regarding a heading change, the plane was struck by two surface-to-air SAM-7 missiles. The first missile impact occurred at the tail section of the aircraft, while the second strike hit the left engine, causing it to explode. Following these impacts, the aircraft lost control and entered a steep dive, resulting in a crash. There were six fatalities among the occupants.
Findings
Investigations into the incident suggest that the aircraft was mistakenly targeted by the Mozambican Army. The military forces reportedly believed the plane was a military asset because of the unidentified equipment being towed by the cable.