​​Wild Passenger

Today, flight safety is upheld to the highest standards. In the past, people somehow managed to smuggle firearms onboard; nowadays, even a bottle of water gets confiscated. However, in Africa, the rules can be quite different. Sometimes passengers bring along rather exotic items - ones that can lead to tragedy.

On August 25, 2010, a Let L-410 Turbolet aircraft operated by the local airline Filair was en route to the city of Bandundu from the Central Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. On board were 18 passengers, 3 crew members - and a crocodile. This is not a typo. One of the passengers had brought the crocodile onboard in a sports bag.

During the final approach to Bandundu Airport, the aircraft suddenly lost control and crashed into a house about one kilometer from the runway. Of the 21 people onboard, 20 were killed; only one passenger survived.

Initially, the absence of a post-crash fire led to speculation that the aircraft had run out of fuel. However, thanks to the testimony of the sole survivor, the real cause of the crash came to light. As mentioned, one of the passengers had a live crocodile hidden in the cabin. As the aircraft was preparing to land, the crocodile escaped from the bag and crawled into the aisle. Panic broke out. The passengers, led by the flight attendant, rushed toward the cockpit in fear. This sudden stampede shifted the aircraft’s center of gravity, severely upsetting the balance.

The crew lost control, and the L-410 crashed.

Ironically, the very creature that caused the tragedy - the crocodile - survived the crash. However, it was later killed with a machete by rescue workers at the crash site.