Safari plane strikes zebra on takeoff, makes emergency belly landing
A safari aircraft departing from Seronera collided with a zebra, forcing a gear-less landing at Kilimanjaro International Airport; all 30 occupants were unharmed and the animal died on site.
A chartered safari flight carrying 26 passengers and four crew members took off from Seronera airstrip in the Serengeti National Park when it struck a zebra on the runway. The collision was followed by a malfunction that prevented the aircraft from extending its landing gear, leading pilots to divert to Kilimanjaro International Airport close to Arusha for an emergency belly landing. The aircraft touched down safely without any injuries among the 30 people on board.
The zebra died at the scene. One outlet's reports confirm the incident, and Tanzanian aviation authorities have launched a formal inquiry, though they have not yet determined whether the animal strike caused the gear failure. Airport operations at Kilimanjaro were temporarily suspended while the aircraft was secured. The incident highlights the challenges of operating flights in close proximity to wildlife in protected areas.
Why it matters
It shows the safety risks of aviation operations near wildlife and prompts regulatory scrutiny.
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