The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Jinja, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A small aircraft being operated by a student from the Jinja city-based Vine Air Flight Academy veered off the runway at Kimaka airstrip on Thursday afternoon, and crashed about 20 meters away.
The unnamed student was immediately rescued from the aircraft and taken to an undisclosed location. The damaged aircraft, which is visible from the airstrip fence has been covered with orange-colored plastic bags under the tight watch of tourism police to deter members of the general public from accessing the area.
Vincent Makanga, the Kimaka cell LC1 chairperson in Jinja City Southern division, says that the residents who had pitched camp along the fence were dispersed by tourism police who fired unspecified rounds of ammunition.
Peterson Mugabo, a motorcyclist in the area says that he heard the crash and sped off to the airstrip only to sight tourism police condoning off the accident scene. The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority spokesperson, Vianney Luggya confirmed the accident, saying the affected student escaped unhurt and the situation is under control.
Dodd Katendeigwa, the Chief Executive Officer of Vine Air Flight Academy, says there was minor damage on the aircraft. He says that experts from the Ministry of Works will examine the crash scene to qualify it as an accident scene or an incident.
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