TANZANIA: Precision Air Plane Halts Takeoff Due To Engine Fire

Thirty-four passengers and 4 crew members were evacuated after fire alarm was raised moments before a Precision Air plane took off from Zanzibar's Karume Airport last Thursday.

The airline said in a statement that the pilot of the plane with registration number 5HPWB between Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam had immediately initiated standard operating procedures to extinguish the fire and taxied the aircraft back to the apron.

"No one was harmed during this incidence; all 34 passengers and 4 crew members were safely evacuated and given accommodation for the night," the airline said in a statement.

After the fire incident, another engine was sent from Dar es Salaam and a rescue flight was also sent to take engineers and Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) officials for investigation into the matter.

"We wish to inform all our passengers and the general public that due to our strict adherence to safety, immediate measures were taken to send another engine from Dar es Salaam.

"We have also sent a rescue flight to take TCAA officials together with our engineers to conduct required standard investigations for such an event. The same equipment will also airlift the passengers back to Dar es Salaam to continue on their journeys."

The aircraft had already performed flight PW-432 from Dar es Salaam to Kilimanjaro, then flight PW-2433 from Kilimanjaro to Zanzibar that day and was scheduled to continue to Dar es Salaam following the intermediate stop in Zanzibar.

Precision Air is an IOSA certified airline therefore the safety of our passengers, crew and aircraft is always a priority, the airline said in the statement and apologized to their passengers for the inconveniences