LAM E190 over Botswana/Namibia on Nov 29th 2013, aircraft found crashed

A LAM Linhas Aereas de Mocambique Embraer ERJ-190, registration C9-EMC performing flight TM-470 from Maputo (Mozambique) to Luanda (Angola) with 27 passengers and 6 crew, was enroute at FL380 over northern Botswana when the aircraft suddenly began to descend at about 6000 feet per minute until radar contact and radio contact was lost with the aircraft at about 11:30Z. The aircraft did not arrive in Luanda (scheduled arrival at 14:10L, 13:10Z), the aircraft would have run out of fuel by now. There are no reports of an unscheduled landing anywhere in the region along the flight track. The aircraft was found crashed and burnt down on Namibia's territory in the Bwabwata National Park east of Rundu (Namibia) the following morning (Nov 30th), no survivors were found.

The following morning (Nov 30th) Namibia's Civil Aviation Authority reported that villagers in the Bwabwata National Park (Sambesi Region) reported the aircraft crashed in their neighbourhood with no survivors. A helicopter has been dispatched on site.

On Nov 30th late morning Namibia's Regional Police reported a rescue team has reached the crash site on the ground, the aircraft has completely burned down, there are no survivors.

On Nov 29th in the afternoon, a few hours after the aircraft disappeared, the airline released a press statement saying that they have information the aircraft landed in Rundu (Namibia) in northern Namibia. The airline and aviation authorities are currently trying to establish contact to verify the information. Late evening the airline stated, they still have no word about the whereabouts of C9-EMC.

Namibia's Authorities have initiated a search for the aircraft confirming the aircraft had been last heard over northern Namibia. The aircraft has not landed on Rundu's Airport. There are unverified reports of the aircraft having gone down 200km/108nm east of Rundu, a national park with mainly wetlands and dense forests.

Mozambique's government said, it can not be ruled out that the aircraft crashed in the border region of Namibia and Botswana, a search for the aircraft is underway in both countries. The search however is hampered by very bad weather in the region and darkness. The government still hopes the aircraft managed a forced landing in the forested area.

On Saturday (Nov 30th) the airline reported the search for the aircraft is ongoing in Botswana, Namibia and Angola. The aircraft carried 10 citizens of Mozambique, 9 Angolans, 5 Portugese, 1 French, 1 Brazilian and 1 Chinese citizen, 1 passenger and the crew not yet listed. As of current Namibian police helicopters are searching the area, that is forested without roads, the search is extremely difficult therefore.

On Nov 30th 2013 Namibia's Regional Authorities of the Kavango Region reported that Authorities in Botswana saw smoke and heard explosions on Friday (Nov 29th) afternoon shortly after the time of loss of contact with the aircraft and informed their Namibian Counterparts. Another short time later villagers sent photos suggesting the aircraft had crashed in the region, due to weather rescue teams were able to reach the crash site on Saturday only.

On Nov 30th 2013 Botswana Authorities reported they originally thought the aircraft had crashed within the boundaries of Botswana, a search was launched. On Friday (Nov 29th) about 15:00L (14:00Z) search personnel observed smoke and explosions on Namibian territory and informed Namibian Authorities.

On Nov 30th 2013 Portugal's Foreign Ministry reported the passenger listed Brazilian has in fact dual citizenship of Portugal and Brazil.

On Nov 30th 2013 14:45Z Mozambique's government, the airline as well as most of Mozambique's media are not reporting the aircraft has been found but still maintain the aircraft is missing. Mozambique's government confirmed however the aircraft was the newest Embraer 190 in LAM's fleet (thus identifying C9-EMC too).

On Nov 30th 2013 rangers of Bwabwata National Park reported that both blackboxes (flight data and cockpit voice recorder) have been found and recovered by accident investigators.

On Nov 30th 2013 17:30L (15:30Z) the airline confirmed the Embraer ERJ-190 tailnumber C9-EMC manufactured in 2012 has crashed killing all 27 passengers (revised from previous day where the airline stated 28 passengers) and 6 crew. The aircraft had entered service with the airline on Nov 17th 2012 and had since accumulated 2905 flight hours in 1877 flight cycles.

On Nov 30th 2013 aviation sources reported that according to radar data the aircraft suddenly started to descend at about 5000 feet per minute until the aircraft disappeared from radar. Radio contact was lost at the same time. The captain of the flight was a senior pilot with over 4000 hours with LAM and also held an instructor rating, the first officer had about 1000 hours of total flight hours with airlines in Mozambique. The captain had repeatedly flown the route.

Late Nov 30th 2013 Mozambique's government confirmed the aircraft crashed in the border area between Botswana and Namibia, authorities in Namibia were informed by Botswana on Friday by about 15:00L (14:00Z) that smoke and explosions were observed by Botswana officials on Namibian soil. Mozambique's government has been informed by Namibia on Saturday that the wreckage has been identified as the remains of C9-EMC, there have been no survivors. An international commission led by Namibia is going to investigate the crash, Brazil (state of manufacture) and Mozambique (state of operator) are going to participate in the investigation. A preliminary report is anticipated within 30 days according to ICAO rules. Mozambique's government established a second commission to examine the Civil Aviation Authority of Mozambique and the airline LAM.

According to information provided by Namibia's lead investigator the aircraft was enroute at FL380 when it began to descend at about 100 feet per second (6000 feet per minute), it remained visible on radar until about 3000 feet MSL. The two boxes recovered from the aircraft were the cockpit voice recorder and one ELT, the flight data recorder however is still missing.

The airline operates 3 Embraer ERJ-190 registrations C9-EMA, C9-EMB and C9-EMC. The airline also operates two Embraer ERJ-145, two Boeing 737-200s (which are already phased out however) and one Boeing 737-500. The subsidiary Mocambique Express operates 3 Embraer EMB-120 and 3 de Havilland Dash 8-400s.

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