Incident Overview
An aircraft conducting a local aerial photography mission on behalf of the Shell Oil Group was shot down by two surface-to-air missiles, resulting in the deaths of all six occupants. The aircraft carried three operators and three crew members.
Aircraft Configuration
The aircraft was equipped with a 30-meter-long cable fixed to the tail, supporting a sensor system with various measurement equipment for the photographic mission.
Events During Flight
En route, air traffic control (ATC) contacted the crew to change heading. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft was hit by two SA-7 (SAM-7) surface-to-air missiles. One missile struck the tail, and the second struck the left engine, which exploded. The aircraft lost control, entered a dive, and crashed.
Casualties
All six occupants—three operators and three crew members—died in the crash.
Probable Cause
According to the official investigation, it is believed that the aircraft was mistakenly shot down by the Mozambican Army, which thought the aircraft was a military airplane towing unidentified equipment.