No fatalities

Collision with Warthogs During Takeoff at Harare Airport (Z-WPJ)

Harare, ZimbabweTakeoff (climb)

On November 3, 2009, a Xian MA60 (registration Z-WPJ) operated by Air Zimbabwe was involved in an aviation accident near Harare, Zimbabwe during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Loss of control during takeoff following a collision with five warthogs. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Source recordUpdated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards
Aircraft registered Z-WPJ
Aircraft registered Z-WPJ. Photo: Maarten Visser from Capelle aan den IJssel, Nederland / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

During takeoff roll at Harare Airport, an aircraft collided with five warthogs, tearing off the left main gear. The aircraft veered left off the runway and came to rest. All 38 occupants evacuated safely; the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Incident Overview

On an unspecified date, an aircraft was performing a takeoff roll at Harare Airport. As it was about to lift off, it collided with five warthogs that had entered the runway. The impact tore off the left main landing gear, causing the aircraft to become uncontrollable. It veered off the runway to the left and eventually came to a stop.

Occupant Evacuation

All 38 occupants on board evacuated the aircraft safely. No injuries or fatalities were reported in the source.

Aircraft Damage

The aircraft sustained substantial damage during the collision and subsequent ground excursion. It was later assessed as damaged beyond repair.

Probable Cause

The official investigation determined the probable cause to be a loss of control during takeoff following a collision with five warthogs.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 3 Nov 2009 Xian MA60 accident near Harare, Zimbabwe?

During takeoff roll at Harare Airport, an aircraft collided with five warthogs, tearing off the left main gear. The aircraft veered left off the runway and came to rest. All 38 occupants evacuated safely; the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Were there any fatalities in the 3 Nov 2009 Xian MA60 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 3 Nov 2009 involved a Xian MA60, registration Z-WPJ, operated by Air Zimbabwe, at Harare, Zimbabwe.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

Loss of control during takeoff following a collision with five warthogs.